Thank you Minister for your kind words and for being our guest of honour on this special occasion.

Transcription

1 Ibec President s Dinner Address by Danny McCoy, Ibec CEO Thursday 20 September 2018 Thank you Minister for your kind words and for being our guest of honour on this special occasion. I would like to thank all of our guests this evening and for your attention and patience. If falls on me to draw to a conclusion the formal proceedings of the evening, and I will do so shortly. But just before dinner is served, I would like to introduce a short video to mark the occasion of the 25th birthday celebration and to then offer a brief reflection on Ibec in the context of this anniversary. Video There you have it Reeling In The Years as brought to you by Ibec I hope you enjoyed that quick trawl down memory lane. In reflecting on those 25 years, I am reminded of an old Irish proverb that We live in each other s shadows 1

2 When I look around the room, and when meeting many of you tonight, I am reminded of the importance of the succeeding generations of Irish business leaders who have made Ibec what it is tonight: Ireland s largest and most influential lobby and business representative organisation. And the best is yet to come. Without the businesses here, Irish society would not and could not enjoy the significant economic regeneration and growth the country is currently experiencing... So on behalf of Ibec, I would like to say thank you and to commend you for your enormous contribution to this country. The dynamic of this relationship between Ibec and a membership base drawn from right across the economy gives us credibility and builds trust. Government and stakeholders may not always agree with what Ibec has to say and to offer in the form of remedies such is the nature of a healthy democratic process. But there is widespread respect and trust for what we bring to the table. Business is a hugely important stakeholder in our society and one which is making an invaluable contribution to Ireland. In attempting to put the last 25 years in perspective, I incline towards what economics calls the long-run trend. Yes, there are cycles. Yes, there is boom and bust and recovery. But what matters most of all is the long-term trend. 2

3 If you look at the long-run trend from 1993 to the present day, you see a dramatic transformation 25 years later, we have 1 million more people in work the highest growth in employment in the developed world over that period. We now export 10 times as many goods and services the highest growth rate in exports in the world over that time. We now have an average Irish household, excluding housing, spending about one-third more in real terms weekly compared to Today, Ireland is a global hub with a global footprint and world class companies and clusters. There is deep substance to our business model. Reflecting on the contribution of Irish business and Ibec s role in helping to shape this new Ireland over the last 25 years, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan in his departing speech We've done our part. We weren't just marking time, we made a difference. All in all, not bad. Not bad at all Looking to the next 25 years, that remains Ibec s mission. To continue to make a difference. 3

4 In conclusion, I would like to say some thank you s, beginning with our two sponsors this evening, A&L Goodbody and Facebook. I find myself in the slightly invidious position of attempting to say thank you to a great many people who have made enormous contributions over 25 years to making Ibec the success it is today. Rather than name-check individuals, at the fear of omitting some, I will thank all those concerned in the collective. As CEO, I find myself standing on the shoulders of giants, as the expression goes. We are delighted that so many of the Ibec alumni past Presidents, Director Generals, directors, executives, stakeholders, adversaries and colleagues could join us in this celebration this evening. And we appreciate the kind sentiments of those who could not be here with us this evening, while taking a moment to remember those who have passed in the intervening years. Like all the best family gatherings, the presence of multiple generations of the Ibec family and friends makes for the very best of occasions. Finally, I would like to thank each and every person gathered here this evening. We appreciate your support and hope you enjoy dinner and have a wonderful evening. Thank you. 4

5 5