IBEC Annual Review - Irish Business and employers confederation

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
IBEC Annual Review
03 04
IBEC | the Irish Business and Employers Confederation

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Mission Statement IBEC will vigorously promote
the interests of Irish business and employers by working
to create and sustain a competitive business environment
that encourages enterprise and growth.
As the recognised independent voice of business, IBEC is
dedicated to meeting member needs by providing
leadership and excellent services through its team of
professional and committed staff.

president’s
message
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
The second year of my term of office has been a
time both of radical change and of sober
consolidation. My presidency closes with what is
probably the most significant event in Europe for
decades – perhaps even centuries: the accession
of ten new member states to the European
Union. On the domestic level, Irish business
continues to concentrate its efforts on survival in
the face of pervasive, unnecessary regulation, cutthroat
global competition, and rising input costs.
EU Enlargement coincided with the Irish
presidency of the Union. I was delighted to work
with Mr Jacques Schraven, president of the Dutch
business federation, VNO-NCW, and with our
partners in the European business body, UNICE, to
ensure that the Lisbon Strategy found its proper
place in the European presidency’s agenda. Far
too much remains to be done to achieve the
Lisbon goal of ‘making Europe the most
competitive and knowledge-based economy in
the world’ by 2010, but I am confident that, with
tenacity and hard work, European business can
persuade governments of the necessity for a
sound, dynamic, flourishing trading environment.
Nowhere is this need more evident than in the
glut of regulation, both national and European,
that constricts business. All too often, regulation
is imposed in response to single issue demands,
to solve a single perceived problem, with little
sense of perspective and taking little account of
its effects on other areas of either social or
commercial life. The fact is that over-regulation is
costing jobs, cramping the start-up of new
businesses, imposing unmanageable levels of
bureaucracy, damaging competitiveness,
sometimes irreparably – and probably not always
achieving the purpose for which it was imposed.
The business answer is simple: count the cost, as
well as the benefit.
Counting the cost is something Irish companies
have learned to do very well. Ireland can be a very
expensive place in which to do business - the
various reports in this review all give evidence of
that – and, although insurance costs have
moderated and the rate of inflation has decreased
to manageable proportions, our input costs are still
such as to enable our competitors to undercut us
on the world markets on which we trade.
The cost of pay is one of those input costs over
which we can exercise control. The first part of
Sustaining Progress was front-loaded in an effort
to alleviate for employees the strain of high
inflation (although business was the first to suffer
from this). The second round must be more
realistic: with competition from the Far East and
from the lower-cost accession countries, Irish
enterprises will need to be leaner and more
dynamic than ever. This is something for which
everyone must take responsibility - government,
employers and employees – because everyone will
suffer if we fail in this.
As this is my last annual review as your President,
I would like to pay tribute to the entire team at
IBEC, so capably led by our Director General,
Turlough O’Sullivan. I have had the opportunity to
work particularly closely with Turlough in the past
two years, and to witness at first hand from the
many meetings we attended around the country,
the respect and regard in which he is held by
colleagues, members, civil servants and the
government. He is an articulate and skilful
advocate of our views, and he always placed the
best interests of member companies at the centre
of his actions. I am grateful to Turlough and
everybody in the organisation for the support,
help, and guidance they offered me at all times
during my term in office.
Maurice Pratt
1

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
Compared with previous years, 2003 was a less turbulent time for Irish
industrial relations. The first phase of Sustaining Progress worked well. High
compliance with its terms provided a stable industrial climate. Fewer days were
lost to industrial disputes, particularly in the private sector. Although non-pay
business costs were rising rapidly, productivity levels held up.
According to feedback from IBEC members, the overall experience of
Sustaining Progress was positive. The new ‘assessment’ process agreed
by the social partners was much more successful than in other years. No
claims went to the Labour Court: they were all settled either at local or
assessor level.
The Performance Verification Groups established under Sustaining
Progress completed their work concerning benchmarking payments due
on 1 January 2004. IBEC worked through the National Implementation
Body to ensure that the performance verification terms operated as
intended: to implement the delivery of real and effective change in
modernisation and flexibility across the public service.
IBEC director Brendan
McGinty at the
launch of the Equality
Authority’s video,
‘Quality through
Equality – how to
build an equality
infrastructure in the
workplace’.
In the public sector, difficulties arose in 2003 with both the ASTI
directive to members not to teach the new syllabus at second level, and
with the INTO threat of industrial action over the level of funding for
building improvements. Both unions deferred their action. The
implementation of benchmarking awards to teachers was delayed
beyond 1 January until agreement was reached on the standardisation
of the school year.
Discussions on phase two of the national pay deal under Sustaining
Progress began. In the run up to these discussions, the Confederation
consulted its members through a series of well-attended meetings.
Business established a strong consensus. Ireland had lost its competitive
edge. Producers could not continue to price themselves out of the
world market. Future wage increases had to be in line with our trading
partners.
Redundancies in the private sector rose to worrying levels as companies
strove to hold their place in increasingly competitive markets. There
were over 27,700 redundancies in the private sector. Many of these jobs
were lost in the high tech, high value-added sectors of the economy.
Manufacturing firms were again particularly badly hit. Their biggest
threat came from Eastern Europe, the Far East, and China.
2
Two substantial pieces of employment legislation were signed into law:
the Redundancy Payments Act and the Industrial Relations Act.

IBEC Annual Review 03 04
industrial
relations/
human
resources
At the HR Summit in November 2003 were (l-r):
RTE’s Bryan Dobson, who chaired the conference;
An Tánaiste Mary Harney TD, the keynote speaker;
and IBEC director Brendan McGinty.
An enhanced code of practice on voluntary
dispute resolution and a new code on victimisation
were finalised. This legislation arose out of
commitments in Sustaining Progress between
the social partners to effect dispute resolution
procedures where collective bargaining
arrangements were not in place. Agreements on
voluntary codes of practice for dispute resolution
in essential service provision were finalised in the
health and local government sectors. IBEC
welcomed the codes, but believed more needed
to be done to give them legal effect. Unions’
threatened disruption to transport services early
in 2004 highlighted this need.
IBEC’s IR/HR team continued to provide
representation for individual companies at the
Labour Relations Commission, the Labour Court
and the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
During the year, IBEC delivered a varied and
extensive schedule of programmes. Over 300
delegates attended the HR Summit, HR: Ignite
the Passion, which attracted prominent
contributors from home and abroad. IBEC joined
the National College of Ireland to present a
successful series of lunchtime lectures. In
addition, the Confederation’s management
training service provided comprehensive and
popular training programmes. Following
member requests for information and best
practice examples in core HR areas, a series of
workshops was organised. The
Confederation’s submission on the
‘Workplace of the Future’,
presented early in 2004, was
rooted in IBEC’s business vision,
which saw Ireland as one of the
most competitive economies
in the world by 2012.
IBEC’s Irish Profit Sharing Association had a busy
year. It held its annual awards and dinner in
June. Despite stock market declines, the level of
employee share ownership in Ireland was
expected to continue to expand. Member
briefings and workshops were held around the
country.
IBEC completed its 2003 national survey on
rates of pay and conditions of employment. The
survey looked at the manufacturing and wholesale
distribution sector. It provided an overall
statistical analysis of basic pay rates for each
category of employee. A total of 473 companies
responded, employing over 70,930 employees
nationally. The survey analysed over 50
categories of employee, by size of company,
industry and region. The results are available
only to survey participants.
The National Partnership Training Skillnet, an
IBEC/ICTU initiative supported by Skillnets, organised
a conference in January to explore alternative
dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms and their links
with industrial relations. Pictured at the conference
were (l-r): Professor Paul Teague, Queen’s University,
Belfast; Bryan Dobson, RTE, who chaired the
conference; Maureen Brogan, National Partnership
Training Skillnet; Fergus Whelan, ICTU; and Liam
Doherty, IBEC.
At a series of lunchtime lectures in the National
College of Ireland (NCI) were (l-r): Joyce O’Connor,
NCI; Brendan McGinty, IBEC; and EU Commissioner
David Byrne.
3

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
The global economy turned around in the course of 2003,
as the world moved out of the slowdown that had characterised the preceding
two years. The pattern of recovery was by no means evenly distributed, with the
euro area economy seriously lagging behind the rest of the world. World GDP
growth showed a significant acceleration in the second half of 2003, providing a
firm platform for growth in 2004. The European Commission estimates that
world GDP growth was 3.7%, following a growth of 2.7% in 2002.
The regional distribution of growth in 2003 widened, with stronger
than expected contributions coming from the US (3.1%), CIS countries
(7.5%), OPEC (7.3%) and Asia (6.2%). By contrast, the euro area
managed to achieve a growth of only 0.4%. Strong US growth was
helped by accommodating monetary policy with interest rates of only
1%, a fiscal boost from expenditure increases and tax reductions, and
dollar weakness. One of the features of global economic developments
in 2003 was the 30% contribution of China to the growth in world
imports - a positive spin-off for the Japanese economy, which grew by
2.7% following two years of stagnation.
At the launch of
IBEC’s budget
submission in
September 2003
were (l-r): IBEC
director Brian
Geoghegan; IBEC
director general
Turlough
O’Sullivan; and the
chairman of IBEC’s
ECOTAX
Committee, John
McNerney,
Readymix plc.
Euro area growth picked up in the second half of 2003 largely as a
result of a surge in exports, while the growth contribution of domestic
demand was negligible. In particular, investment growth was negative
and was barely offset by a lacklustre performance of consumer
expenditure. The competitiveness of the euro area economy was not
helped by the strength of the euro. The euro area bore most of the
brunt of the dollar decline as so many global currencies moved in
sympathy with the dollar.
Irish GNP growth recovered from the 0.1% increase in 2002 to record a
gain of 3.3% in 2003. Because of the timing of factor income flows
associated with multinational companies, Ireland’s GDP growth at 6.9%
was much higher than GNP growth in 2002, but significantly less in
2003 at 1.4%. Growth in GNP accelerated in the final quarter of the
year reaching 5.5%. Overall performance of many sectors of the
economy was disappointing. Consumer spending grew by only 1.9%,
down from 2.7% in 2002 and significantly down on the 7.9% average
growth of the preceding three years. Despite a record 69,000 houses
being built, investment fell by 2.9%, the first fall in investment since
1993. Exports of goods and services fell by 5.6%, but this outturn was
distorted by significant VAT fraud in the UK involving a carousel
arrangement. But for this, there could have been a marginal growth in
exports.
4

the economy
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
IBEC’s publication, the Quarterly Economic Trends, is
widely recognised as one of the most authoritative
periodicals in the field. Pictured at the presentation
of the ‘new look’ Trends in July 2003 were IBEC
director Brian Geoghegan and chief economist
David Croughan, the editor of the publication.
Anxious attention focused on Ireland’s declining
competitiveness and on inflation, which had
been significantly above the euro area average
for the past three years. It fell back from 5.1%
in February to 1.9% in December, averaging
3.5% for the year. Much of the downward
impetus came from the rise in the exchange rate
of the euro against the dollar of some 40%
between January 2002 and the end of 2003.
Against sterling, the euro rose by almost 15% in
the same period.
However, while inflation fell rapidly in the traded
goods sector, there was a much slower response
in the service sector where the high pay increases
in recent years, in excess of the pay agreements,
and a lack of competition, especially in
administered services served to keep inflation
high. IBEC campaigned vigorously throughout
the year, drawing attention to the gulf between
inflation in the traded sectors of the economy
and the much higher rate in sheltered sectors.
Significant further progress was made in the first
quarter of 2003 and inflation fell to 1.3%. On
an EU harmonised basis Irish inflation was 1.8%
in March 2003, no longer an outlier in the euro
area where inflation was 1.7%.
GDP – Real Percentage Change, 2001-2005
01 02 03e 04f 05f
Ireland 6.2 6.9 1.2 3.7 4.6
Germany 0.8 0.2 -0.1 1.5 1.8
France 2.1 1.2 0.2 1.7 2.4
UK 2.1 1.6 2.2 3.0 2.8
US 0.5 2.2 3.1 4.2 3.2
Euro area 1.6 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.3
EU-15 1.7 1.1 0.8 2.0 2.4
Consumer Prices – Harmonised Index, Percentage Change, 2001-2005
01 02 03e 04f 05f
Ireland 4.0 4.7 4.0 2.1 2.3
Germany 1.9 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.1
France 1.8 1.9 2.2 1.9 1.5
UK 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.9
US 2.8 1.6 2.3 1.4 1.2
Euro area 2.4 2.3 2.1 1.8 1.6
EU-15 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.7
At the presentation of its
Quarterly Economic Trends in
late March 2004, IBEC set the
scene for the second phase of
the pay talks in the national
agreement, Sustaining
Progress. Pictured at the press
conference were (l-r): chief
economist David Croughan;
director Brian Geoghegan;
and director general Turlough
O’Sullivan.
Employment – Percentage Change, 2001-2005
01 02 03e 04f 05f
Ireland 3.0 1.3 1.8 0.8 1.3
Germany 0.4 -0.6 -1.1 -0.1 0.7
France 1.8 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.7
UK 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.4 0.3
US -0.3 -0.3 0.9 0.9 0.6
Euro area 1.4 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.9
EU-15 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.8
5

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
The past year demanded an intense level of activity, offering little respite
between IBEC’s Nice Treaty referendum campaigns of 2001/2 and the Irish EU
Presidency in 2004. In particular, the presentation of a draft EU Constitution, and
the start – and end – of the international trade talks in Cancún, served once
again as a reminder that Ireland needs to be particularly conscious of the
international context in which its open economy operates.
At the EU President’s
meeting in Brussels
in February 2004
were (l-r): Anne
Anderson,
Permanent
Representative to
the EU; IBEC director
Maria Cronin; IBEC
president Maurice
Pratt; and IBEC
director general
Turlough O’Sullivan.
Promoting actions at national and European level on the Lisbon
Strategy constituted a major priority for IBEC throughout the year. At a
meeting of the EU Tripartite Social Summit on the eve of the Spring
Summit in March 2003, IBEC’s director general Turlough O’Sullivan
presented the Confederation’s position paper, ‘Competitiveness Issues
for Irish Business within Europe’, to the prime ministers of Greece, Italy
and Ireland. A further IBEC report, in advance of the 2004 Spring
Summit, was prepared by the EU Policy Committee during the
Christmas period, and handed to the Taoiseach after its approval by the
National Executive Council.
Of central importance during the year were the preparations for the
January-June 2004 Irish Presidency of the European Union. IBEC and its
Dutch counterpart, the VNO-NCW, presented the business priorities for
the presidency in a joint submission to both the Irish and the Dutch
governments. The outcome of this co-operative venture was that the
specific priorities articulated by business became the central focus of
the Irish/Dutch presidency programme, launched in December 2003.
IBEC’s contribution to the work of UNICE, the European business and
employers body, increased steadily over the year, as we prepared for
our role as ‘presidency federation’ in 2004. The highlight of this will be
IBEC’s hosting of UNICE’s ‘Council of Presidents’ programme in June
2004, a major event that will showcase IBEC with our partner
federations from 29 European countries.
Work on specific advocacy actions was also of key importance to the
work of the Brussels office. In particular, the office has been very active
in IBEC’s advocacy on the future chemicals regulation (REACH) at EU
level. IBEC is working with the overall industry lobby, including UNICE
and the European Chemical Manufacturers Federation (CEFIC), to
ensure a more workable system for the monitoring and control of
chemical substances and the protection of the competitiveness of
European industry.
6

european and
international
affairs
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
Businesses all over Europe are worried about the unmanageable –
and increasing - level of regulation they have to service. IBEC's
main EU Presidency event, the conference entitled ‘Is regulation
killing business?’, was a response to this concern. Pictured at the
event were (l-r): Erkki Liikanen, EU Commissioner; IBEC president
Maurice Pratt; and IBEC director general Turlough O' Sullivan.
IBEC members continued to benefit from the
production by the Irish Business Bureau (IBEC’s
Brussels office) of EU issue trackers, which
monitor developments on draft EU legislation.
These covered such areas as employment and
social affairs; economics and taxation; environment
and energy; transport; and information
society. IBEC’s European Monthly Newsletter and
quarterly EU Update were also sent to members
throughout the year. These publications,
complemented by a constantly updated website
– www.ibec.ie/ibb - kept IBEC members
informed of key developments both at home
and in Brussels. In addition, IBEC’s Brussels
offices also served as the secretariat for the Irish
Belgian Business Association (IBBA). Through this
connection, IBEC delegations were able to meet
the people at the centre of activity in Brussels.
IBEC was delighted to welcome EU Enlargement
on 1 May. The Confederation in general, and
the IBB in particular, had worked consistently
and extensively over the years to create good
relations with the business federations in the
accession countries. These efforts will continue
in the decades ahead.
Global trade
In response to the ever-increasing demands of
the global economy, the Confederation stepped
up its activities in the area of world-wide trade.
The Trade Council, comprising representatives of
IBEC’s many business federations, as well as
personnel from relevant government
Departments, published a comprehensive
position paper on Ireland’s place in global
commerce. It also launched a periodical, Trade
News, to cover current concerns and activities.
IBEC/CBI Joint Business Council
The IBEC/CBI Joint Business Council was
established to sustain and develop cooperation
on the island of Ireland and advance international
competitiveness. During a busy year, the
council published three reports aimed at
improving the business environment. The council
also published reports on promoting crossborder
mobility of labour in the Interreg region
and on developing education/business linkages
to improve innovation and entrepreneurship.
At a meeting of Irish and European business
representatives in January were (l-r): Philippe de Buck,
UNICE secretary general; IBEC director Maria Cronin;
IBEC director general Turlough O’Sullivan; UNICE
president Dr Jurgen Strube; IBEC president Maurice
Pratt; and Arthur Forbes, IBEC’s Irish Business Bureau.
The European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy visited
IBEC to discuss the way forward for world trade talks
following the collapse of the Cancun conference. Mr
Lamy is pictured here with Ciaran Fitzgerald, IBEC
director with responsibility for trade (left) and with
William Maher, IBEC.
7

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
Conscious of the social dynamic between business and the broader
community, IBEC continued to offer services in the social policy area at
enterprise, national and international level. IBEC activity in the area was informed
by a strategic approach to developments at home and abroad, coupled with a
careful and pragmatic focus on the requirements of the individual IBEC member.
Legislation
Of particular interest to IBEC members and officials during the year were
the Protection of Employees (Fixed-term Work) Act, 2003, which
prohibited discrimination against those on fixed-term contracts, and the
Data Protection Amendment Act, 2003, which brought manual systems
under the terms of the legislation for the first time.
At a breakfast
meeting organised
by IBEC to give
business the
opportunity to
discuss best practice
in the area of
diversity were IBEC
director Maria
Cronin and (right)
Mary Robinson,
Executive Director
of the UN Ethical
Globalisation
Initiative.
Work in progress during the year included the draft Directive on Temporary
Agency Work (stalled at EU level as we went to press) and the Equality Bill.
In addition, the Confederation began working on the implementation of
the Voluntary Agreement on Teleworking – the first agreement of its kind
in Ireland. The European Working Time Directive continued to be under
review by the EU Commission.
IBEC responded to the government’s consultation paper on the Directive on
Information and Consultation with a comprehensive position paper and a
series of breakfast seminars on the Directive and its implementation.
Human resources and social policy
IBEC’s Human Resources and Social Policy Committee (HRSPC) set up five
working groups to develop policies in relation to legislation, education/
training/lifelong learning, partnership, diversity in the workplace and
corporate social responsibility. The committee provided essential feedback
to members on specific issues in the policy area, one of its main concerns
being to bring relevant matters to the attention of the wider membership.
8
Work through partnerships
Over the years, IBEC has worked through partnerships with other
organisations to develop understanding and tools in a number of areas:
anti-racism, with participation in the third Anti-Racist Workplace Initiative
and in the Interact Project, which developed tools for the integration of
non-Irish nationals into the workplace. In addition, a group established
under Sustaining Progress constituted an additional forum for developing a
national strategy. IBEC hosted several workshops for employers on
employing people with a disability, taking part in the Workway project and
sitting on the board of the European Year of People with Disabilities. The
National Flexi-Work Partnership joined the Confederation to publish the
first guideline in Ireland about the employment of older workers.

social policy
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
IBEC’s Export Orientation Programme (formerly the
European Orientation Programme) celebrated its 20th
birthday in 2003. Pictured at the party were founder
member Paddy Jordan and current director of the
programme, Caroline Nash.
At IBEC’s work-life balance
round table in November
2003 were (l-r): IBEC director
Maria Cronin; Robin
Webster, AGE Action Ireland;
and Frank Fahy, Minister of
State with responsibility for
labour affairs. The focus of
the conference was on
employing older workers.
The Confederation was closely involved with the
childcare group established under Sustaining
Progress to develop childcare options for parents
working outside the home.
Equality
The equality unit provided advice to members on
all aspects of employment equality legislation
and successfully represented members in
numerous cases during the year.
The unit trained over 700 managers on
preventing and dealing with bullying and
harassment at work and ran training seminars
on the Employment Equality Act for several
hundred managers during the year.
The unit made submissions to the Department of
Justice, Equality and Law Reform on proposed
amendments to the Employment Equality Act
and was also involved in discussions on
developing a Code of Practice on Parental Leave
and Force Majeure Leave and on tackling the
male/female wage differential.
Education
IBEC played a significant part in developing the
National Framework of Qualifications, which
was officially launched in October 2003 by the
National Qualifications Authority of Ireland.
The Export Orientation Programme, IBEC’s
marketing graduate placement programme,
went from strength to strength over the year,
with nearly a thousand applicants to work
abroad with the sponsoring companies.
Occupational health and safety
IBEC continued to press for measures to reform
the compensation culture, and to alleviate the
high insurance costs to which it gives rise. This
activity contributed to the enactment of the
Personal Injury Assessment Board and to the
publication of the Civil Liability and Courts Bill.
In addition, the Confederation negotiated a
code on communications between insurers and
policyholders for proper consultation on the
handling of personal injury claims.
IBEC members benefited from the training
courses in occupational health and safety, from
the regular publications and from the safety
audits provided by the Confederation’s OHS
experts.
Legal service
The Confederation’s solicitors were kept busy
during the year, representing member
companies (with considerable success) at
employment tribunals and in the Labour Court.
Members benefited from the unit’s contribution
to IBEC’s suite of training programmes on the
complex issue of employment law. Colleagues
valued the expert advice they received on the
day-to-day problems their members
encountered.
At the launch of a major initiative for dealing with injured employees
were Dorothea Dowling, Chairperson of the MIAB and Chairperson of
the Interim PIAB with Tony Briscoe, IBEC. The initiative is supported by
IBEC and ICTU and sets out to provide assistance and rehabilitation as
well as meeting immediate medical needs and costs arising from
workplace accidents.
9

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
Environment. Transport. Waste disposal. Energy. Law.
Climate change. All of these affect business. Consequently, all are of
immediate interest to IBEC and its members. This was amply demonstrated in the
Confederation's submission to the Enterprise Strategy Group, which was
established by the Tánaiste to chart Ireland's enterprise strategy over the next
decade. This comprehensive submission, presented in October 2003, stressed
that future success demanded new thinking, new criteria and a new set of goals
to achieve the world class business environment that Ireland needs.
Environment
IBEC surveys during the year showed significant increases in environmental
costs: waste management, water, rates, planning and development levies.
These added to the already considerable pressures on business and, in
response, the Confederation called for a fundamental review of local
government charges. Waste management in particular was well below
what was required for a modern economy. The lack of progress in this
area has resulted in the highest waste charges in Europe – and the lowest
level of infrastructure.
Pictured at IBEC's
TENS (Trans
European Networks)
conference in
Dublin were (l-r):
Tom Noonan,
Chairman, IBEC
Transport and
Logistics Council;
guest speaker, Iain
Docherty, University
of Glasgow; and
IBEC director
Brendan Butler. The
conference focused
on the €600 billion
TENS Transport
investment
programme and
called for increased
competition in the
Irish transport
market.
IBEC’s Environment Policy Committee developed a major policy paper,
entitled ‘Business and the environment – striking the right balance’, which
set out six fundamental principles designed to furnish a coherent and
consistent checklist for business and policy-makers alike. In addition, the
committee established a steering group to investigate the possibility of
setting up a collective compliance scheme with the WEEE Directive, due to
come on stream in 2005.
Other areas of interest to the committee were IPPC licensing; the
Packaging Directive and Repak; planning and development levies; environmental
liability; the National Spatial Strategy. The committee held a CEO
forum in late November, which enabled over fifty CEOs to question the
Minister for the Environment on issues of interest to a range of businesses.
Energy
IBEC’s Energy Policy Committee (EPC) was seriously concerned that the
current model of liberalisation was not working: it had not delivered true
competitive pressures and, in addition, there had been only limited entry
by private investors into the power generation and energy supply sectors.
Costs, of course, were on everyone’s mind: a cumulative increase in energy
prices of nearly 24% over the period 2001 – 2003 exerted enormous
competitive pressures on business. The committee’s policy paper entitled
‘The need for a national energy policy’, spelled out business concerns on
the issue.
10
The committee worked with the IBEC/CBI Joint Business Council to
produce a business statement on the creation of an all-island energy
market, which could deliver benefits for customers in both markets.

enterprise
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
At a briefing on pensions for IBEC members were
(l-r): Philip Dalton, The Pension Board; Murrough
O’Brien, Marsh Ireland Employee Benefit Services;
and IBEC’s Marie Daly.
At IBEC’s Environmental
Awards 2003/2004 were
(l-r): Gabriel McArdle,
Kingspan GSP, overall
winners; David Manning,
IBEC; Ciaran McCabe,
Cognis Ireland Ltd; Seamus
Gethins, Klinge Pharma.
The awards showcase
environmental excellence
in Irish business.
The EPC also made submissions to the
Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) on its
proposals regarding new market arrangements in
the electricity market and on its review of natural
gas transmission and distribution tariffs. The
Confederation was relieved that its representations
resulted in a reduction of 3.2% on the
proposed rate of increase in the gas transmission
tariffs, set from 2003 to 2007.
Climate change
The Climate Change Working Group, with
comprehensive input from both the environment
and the energy policy committees, focused its
efforts on such issues as carbon/energy tax,
emissions trading, and negotiated agreements.
IBEC vigorously opposed the introduction of a
carbon energy tax, on the grounds of its adverse
impact on competitiveness. The introduction has
now been delayed and, since 2002, has saved
industry in the region of €500 million per annum.
In addition, the government announced that
companies that fell under the scope of the EU
Directive on Emissions Trading would not be
subject to a national carbon energy tax. The
Confederation welcomed this move. However,
IBEC remained concerned regarding the impact of
allocations by the EPA to individual installations
covered by the emissions trading Directive in the
National Allocation Plan.
Also of particular concern to the group was the
integration of negotiated agreements with the EU
Directive establishing an EU-wide Emissions
Trading Scheme. These, the group argued, should
be compatible with the implemented Directive
and any proposed future carbon energy tax.
Transport
IBEC’s Transport Policy Committee worked closely with
government and EU agencies to keep members up to
date with issues of concern: traffic, planning, land
purchase, costs.
Congestion was a widespread problem and the council
was disappointed that government had not fulfilled its
commitment in the Programme for Government to
establish an independent traffic corps which, the
council believed, would go some way to relieving the
gridlock.
During the year, a joint IBEC/CBI NI delegation met
senior EU Commission officials to discuss the TENS
investment programme for transport infrastructure. The
group put a proposal to the Commission for a strategic
study to review transport corridors both on and off the
island of Ireland.
Business law
IBEC made a number of successful representations to
government on the Companies (Auditing and
Accounting) Bill, 2003. Some of the most onerous
proposed requirements of the director’s statement of
compliance were mitigated, as were some of the audit
committee proposals. In addition, clarification was
given to the legal status of directors’ and officers’
insurance. The Confederation particularly welcomed
the announcement that the annual audit exemption
threshold was to be raised to €1.5 million.
IBECs Business Law Council had been lobbying for
some time for the establishment of a dedicated
commercial court, which was finally announced in early
January. The decision, which followed a recommendation
of the Company Law Review Group on which the
Confederation is represented, was welcomed by IBEC.
A particular lobby this year has been the push by IBEC
to reduce and reform regulation. The Policy Advisory
Group has spearheaded the IBEC lobby on this.
11

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
IBEC’s federations and associations had a mixed year.
The turnaround in the global economy gave grounds for some optimism and the
dramatic reduction in the rate of inflation offered a further boost for business
confidence. However, inexorably rising input costs, coupled with narrowing
margins, cramped competitiveness and forced too many companies trading on
the open market to contract their operations and reduce their workforce.
Prominent among the increasing costs were local authority charges. IBEC’s
federations reported that service charges for waste water treatment, waste
disposal, rates on business premises, contributed to a drop in competitiveness
they – or the economy – could ill afford. The moderation in insurance
prices, greeted with considerable relief by the enterprise sector, was offset
by pay increases in excess of those of our competitors.
As always, business responded by gritting its collective teeth and planning
for the future. Recognising that Ireland will need high value-added
industry to prosper, several associations stepped up their activity in relation
to research and development (R & D). The Irish Engineering Enterprises
Federation (ieef) called for increased government support for R & D to halt
the sector’s falling levels of exports. The Irish Pharmaceutical and Chemical
Manufacturers Federation (IPCMF) set up a working group to encourage R
& D activity and the Irish Medical Devices Association (IMDA) held a
conference, attracting speakers with first-hand experience of the issue.
At the annual
general meeting
of the Irish
Pharmaceutical
and Chemical
Manufacturers
Federation (IPCMF)
were (l-r): Matt
Moran, IPCMF
director; Mark
Glynn, IPCMF; and
Pat McCarthy, Leo
Laboratories.
Training and education, of course, went hand in hand with the intention to
move up the value chain. Concerns that the Polymer Development Centre
in Athlone would close permanently were allayed in the immediate term
following intensive lobbying from the Plastics Industry Association (PIA).
IMDA devised an innovative science programme for school children, Our
Universe, and its Skillnet awarded over forty National Skills certificates.
IPCMF established a modular regulatory affairs training programme, and
issued an information booklet on employment opportunities in the
pharmachem industry. Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) secured
funding to run a project on food safety.
IBEC federations found that conferences, seminars and briefing meetings
were a good way to keep in touch with members and to gain feedback on
matters of concern. ECR Ireland held the first foodservice conference,
‘Meeting consumer needs out of home’. FDII’s annual conference discussed
obesity and lifestyle choices – a very topical issue. EAN Ireland organised its
conference on food traceability. FSI joined Finance Dublin to organise a
colloquium, ‘A European vision for global financial services’.
12

usinesses and
associations
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
Obesity was central to the discussions at the
annual conference of IBEC’s Food and Drink
Industry Ireland in March 2004. Pictured at the
conference were (l-r): Paula Mee, presenter of
RTE’s Health Squad programme; Barney
Whelan, Food Safety Promotions Board; and
IBEC director Ciaran Fitzgerald.
IPCMF joined FÁS and the International Society
for Pharmaceutical Engineering to host a
prestigious conference on good manufacturing
practice (GMP) and quality control. Specialist
seminars for various business sectors were well
attended - the briefings for the engineering
industry by ieef are examples.
Regular bulletins, newsletters and ezines kept
members up to date with the topics of
immediate interest to their business sector. In
addition, many associations published specialist
books and papers. From forestry to food
labelling; from mining to building materials;
from responsible care in the pharmachem
industry to price rises in the grocery sector: the
associations ensured that their members were
fully informed on the complexities of their
business sector.
Lobbying, of course, was the central activity for
IBEC’s federations. This is not to say that IBEC
federations wished to exert undue pressure, but
merely that members believed it was vital to
ensure that both local and national government
were clear on the implications for business of
measures proposed by state and other agencies.
Just one example was Financial Services Ireland,
which lobbied successfully on the regime in
relation to holding companies and on the
changes relating to the financial sector in the
Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill.
Small Firms Association
The Small Firms Association continued to offer
small enterprises its customary high level of
service and representation. Through its many
surveys and publications, its meetings with state
agencies at the highest level, its welcome for
new ideas and new markets, the SFA ensured
that the concerns of Ireland’s SMEs were kept at
the top of the agenda during the year.
IBEC’s Irish Clothing and Textiles Alliance sees
technical textiles as a way forward for the industry in
Ireland. Pictured at the conference, ‘Nanotechnology
– adding value to textiles’, were (left) ICATA director
Susan Doyle and (right) guest speaker Michael
Janecke, Techtextil Fairs Worldwide.
IBEC’s associations represent companies across
the spectrum of business activity and their many
activities during the year were specifically
tailored to reflect their particular sector. Further
information is available on IBEC’s website or on
request from the relevant business association.
IBEC’s Irish Dairy Industries Association hosted the 2003 European Dairy Association (EDA) general Assembly and
World Dairy Forum in UCC in September 2003. Pictured at the event were (l-r): IBEC director Ciaran Fitzgerald;
EDA President Robert Brzusczak; Minister for Agriculture and Food Joe Walsh TD; Herman Versteijlen, Head of
EU Commission Milk Division; and IDIA director Pat Ivory.
13

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
ICT Ireland, with its constituent associations, is now established as
the representative body for the information and communications technology
sector. This year, it added two new associations to the roll: the White Goods
Association and the Electronics Industry Association.
ICT Ireland was relieved that there were no significant changes in Budget
2004 with regard to corporate tax or PRSI. The Audiovisual Federation, in
particular, was pleased with the retention of the film tax incentive
scheme to 2008. Through a strong, co-ordinated lobbying effort,
government agreed to a tax credit of 20% to apply to incremental
expenditure on R & D. The Irish Software Association successfully lobbied
to extend the life of the Business Expansion and Seed Capital Schemes.
ICT Ireland, in
association with IEI,
launched a major
new jobs initiative
for unemployed
graduates in June
2003. Pictured at
the event were ICT
director Brendan
Butler in the
foreground; the
Minister for
Education Noel
Dempsey TD (left)
and Peter Langford,
president of the
Institution of
Engineers of
Ireland (right) in
the background.
The activities of ICT Ireland’s associations, too numerous to list here,
reflect the diverse and comprehensive makeup of the federation. The
Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) joined government to
commit €18 million toward the roll-out of broadband to primary and
secondary schools. Conferences included ‘Television in Focus’, organised
by the Audiovisual Federation; a series of debates organised by the Irish
Software Association to cover a range of relevant topics; the launch of a
project to protect mobile phones from theft, arranged by the Irish
Cellular Industry Association.
ICT Ireland launched a Graduate Placement Programme in 2003, in which
220 unemployed graduates secured placements in companies for a
minimum of six months.
ICT Ireland associations and working groups produced position papers on
a broad spectrum of issues, from the physical infrastructure to
international trade policy. ‘Getting Ireland Online’, from IBEC’s Telecoms
Strategy Group, offered recommendations from all the major players in
the telecoms industry in Ireland.
For further details on ICT Ireland and its activities, log on to
www.ictireland.ie
14

new technology
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
Pictured at the ICT Ireland members
evening in December were (l-r): Brendan
Butler, director, ICT Ireland; guest of
honour Mathias Entenmann, PayPal
International; and ICT chairman Jim
OHara, Intel Ireland and Vice President,
Technology Manufacturing Group, Intel
Corporation.
Pictured in October 2003 at the annual conference of
IBEC’s Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF)
were (l-r): Denis O’Brien, Communicorp; Tommy McCabe,
TIF; David McRedmond, Eircom; Paul Donovan, Vodafone;
and Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural
Resources, Dermot Ahern TD.
At an ICT Ireland briefing session in Cork, arranged in
association with Cork Electronics Industry Association
(CIEA) were (l-r): Brendan Butler, ICT Ireland director;
CEIA chairman Sean O' Sullivan; ICT Ireland chairman
Jim OHara; and Joe Gantly, Apple Ireland.
IBEC’s Irish Software Association (ISA)
announced the winners of the Software
Industry Awards 2003 to a packed
audience in Dublin. Awards went to Xsil
Ltd; Am Beo Ltd; Changing Worlds; and
Qumas Ltd. Pictured at the event were
(l-r): ISA chairman Cathal Friel; guest of
honour Ms Mary Hanafin TD, Minister of
State at the Department of the
Taoiseach; and ISA director Kathryn
Raleigh.
15

industrial
relations/
human
resources
the economy
european and
international
affairs
social policy
enterprise
business
associations
new technology
the regions
The past year has been a particularly busy one for IBEC’s Regions.
As the pace of economic recovery improved, the constraints on business became
more apparent.
Transport and infrastructural issues were of particular importance to
the regions – getting the goods to market cannot be neglected. In
addition, environmental costs across the country were a growing
burden on business, particularly when there was little improvement in
the facilities for which the cost was levied. Specifically, the increase in
local government charges – which are, in fact, stealth taxes – was an
urgent issue for all regions.
At a briefing on a
programme of
work for Cork 2005
were (l-r): Julian
Jackson, IBEC Cork
president; Donagh
Corcoran, IBEC
regional director,
Cork; John
Kennedy, director,
Cork 2005; Philip
MacOwen, Cork
2005; and Brian
Callanan, IBEC
director of Regions
and Membership.
The Regions found that dialogue was vital. With representation on
decision-making bodies, and with the ability to arrange meetings
between interested parties (several of the regional presidents met the
board of the National Roads Authority, for example), IBEC was able in
some instances to make the business case for change. The Minister for
Transport, for instance, agreed to revise the completion date of the
Galway to Dublin road from 2010 to 2007 after discussion with IBEC
West. The Cork region successfully lobbied for capital development at
Cork Airport and welcomed the start of work on new facilities.
Human resources, of course, was a central concern for all regions. IBEC
staff provided information and advice to members; they continued to
represent companies at employment tribunals, at hearings and during
negotiations. In addition, many regions established forums to discuss,
for example, HR issues, occupational health and safety concerns,
education, insurance.
All regions believed that contact and consultation with members was
vital. Through periodicals, through special publications, such as the Mid
West Region’s publication, ‘A business perspective on the way forward
for the Mid West’, through personal contact, through AGMs and ad hoc
working groups: IBEC executives and IBEC members continued to build
up a dynamic relationship that was the lifeblood of the business lobby.
16

the regions
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
Pictured at the launch of a Graduate Diploma in Business
Studies from the Institute of Technology Sligo at IBEC’s
North West 2004 AGM were (l-r): Oliver Haslette,
regional president, IBEC North West; Richard Thorn,
director, Institute of Technology Sligo; IBEC director
general Turlough O’Sullivan; Brendan Butler, IBEC;
Patricia Tomlinson, head of business department,
Institute of Technology Sligo.
At the forum for
health and safety
managers which took
place in November
2003 in Dublin were
(l-r): IBEC regional
director Adrian Beatty;
Teresa Doyle and
Karina Cuffe, IBEC; Pat
Salisbury, Fexco; and
Tom Beegan, Health
and Safety Authority.
At the regional president’s lunch in Waterford were (l-r):
regional president Philip Scallan, Celtic Linen; guest
speaker Michael O’Muircheartaigh; and IBEC regional
director John Farrell.
IBEC conducted a series of seminars on the Information
and Consultation Directive. Pictured at the Galway
workshop were (l-r): IBEC’s Heidi Lougheed; IBEC
director Brendan McGinty; IBEC West regional director
John Brennan; and Orlaith Ryan, Eagle Star.
17

18
National Executive Council
President
Maurice Pratt,
Group Chief Executive, Cantrell & Cochrane
Group Ltd
Vice-Presidents
Gary McGann,
Chief Executive Officer, Jefferson Smurfit Group
Maurice Healy, Chief Executive Officer,
Healy Chemicals Ireland Ltd
Treasurer
Tony O'Brien,
Chairman, Cantrell & Cochrane Group Ltd
Trustees
Donal Byrne
Chairman, Cadbury Ireland Ltd
Tom Noonan
Chief Executive, Maxol Group
David Dilger
Chief Executive, Greencore plc
Breege O'Donoghue
Director, Penneys Stores
Regional Presidents
Cork Region
Julian Jackson
Chairman, Southern Milling Ltd
Dublin Region
Tony McClafferty
Operations Director, National Toll Roads Plc
Kerry
Gene Boyd
General Manager, Fujisawa Ltd
Midlands Region
Dónal Lawlor
Director of International Finance and
Administration, Trend Technologies Ltd
North East Region
Seamus Lynch
Manager, Irish Cement Limited
North West Region
Oliver Haslette
Managing Director, Merenda
Mid West Region
Liam Ryan
Managing Director, BMS (Ireland) Ltd
South East Region
Philip Scallan
Managing Director, Celtic Linen Limited
West Region
Pat O’Malley
Managing Director, Hollister ULC
Members
Gerry Andrews, Managing Director, Euroscreen Ltd.
Gene Boyd, General Manager, Fujisawa Ltd
Dermot Breen, Director Corporate Affairs,
Tesco Ireland
Clive Brownlee, Assistant Managing Director,
Guinness Ireland Group
Michael Buckley, Group Chief Executive, AIB Group
John Burke, Chief Executive, Aer Rianta
Donal Byrne, Chairman, Cadbury Ireland plc
Noel Cawley, Managing Director, Irish Dairy Board
Damien Clancy, Managing Director,
Aughinish Alumina
Leo Crawford, Group Chief Executive, BWG Group
Kieran Crowley, Director, Dyno-Rod
John Cummins, Managing Director,
Agtel Communications
Frank Cunneen, Chairman, Health & Safety Authority
Michael Daly, Managing Director, IBM Ireland
David Dilger, Chief Executive, Greencore plc
Paul Duffy, General Manager,
Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals
Paul Donovan, Chief Executive, Vodafone Ireland
Frank Fenn, R&A Bailey, Nangor House
Cathal Friel, Director, Merrion Corporate Finance
Gordon Fryett, Chief Executive, Tesco Ireland Ltd
Joe Gallagher, Managing Director, Tytex Ireland Ltd
Cathal Goan, Director General, RTE
Danuta Gray, Chief Executive, O2 Communications
Michael Grogan, Chief Executive, Roadstone Provinces
Joe Harford, President/CEO,
Yamanouchi Ireland Co Ltd
Oliver Haslette, Managing Director, Merenda
Jim Hoey, Managing Director, Masonite Ireland
Chris Horn, Chairman, Iona Technolgies plc
Julian Jackson, Chairman, Southern Milling Ltd
Bryan Jenkins, Chief Executive, Hibernian Group plc
Angela Kennedy, Business Director,
Megazyme International Ireland
Angela Kerins, Chief Executive, RehabCare
Jim Killeen, Director, Irish Distillers Ltd.
Donal Lawlor, Financial Director,
Trend Technologies Mullingar Ltd.,
Martin Lowery, Chief Executive, Coillte Teo
John Lynch, Chairman, CIE
Philip Lynch, Chairman, IAWS Group plc

IBEC
Councils
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
Seamus Lynch, Manager, Irish Cement Limited
Declan McGrath, Managing Director, Renley Ltd
John McAteer, Director of Human Resources,
Abbott Ireland Ltd
Domhnall MacDomhnaill, Managing Director,
True Temper Ltd
Pat McCann, Managing Director,
Jurys Doyle Hotel Group plc
Tony McClafferty, Operations Director,
National Toll Roads plc
Ted McGovern, Chief Executive, EBS
Padraig McManus, Chief Executive, ESB
John McNerney, Managing Director, Readymix plc
Joe Macri, General Manager, Microsoft Ireland
Mary Meaney, Director,
Blanchardstown Institute of Technology
Kieran Miller, Managing Director,
Gypsum Industries plc
Shane Molloy, Chairman, Unilever Ireland plc,
John Moloney, Chief Executive Officer, Glanbia
Tony Murray, Managing Director, Statoil Ireland
Larry Murrin, Chief Executive, Dawn Farm Foods
Philip Nolan, Chief Executive, Eircom
Tom Noonan, Chief Executive, The Maxol Group
Conor O’Brien, IPCMF
Vincent O’Doherty, Director, Superquinn
Breege O'Donoghue, Director, Penneys Stores
Redmond O'Donoghue, Chief Executive Officer,
Waterford Wedgwood plc
Jim OHara, General Manager, Intel Ireland Ltd
Tony O'Loghlen, Managing Dirctor Ireland,
CRH Europe Materials
Pat O'Malley, Plant Manager/Managing Director,
Hollister ULC
Billy O'Regan, Managing Director,
Northern Foods
David Ronayne, Director,
Irish Mainport Holdings Ltd
Liam Ryan, Managing Director, BMS (Ireland) Ltd
Joe Ryan, Chairman, Smurfit Corrugated Ireland
Niall Saul, Group Head of Human Resources,
Irish Life & Permanent
Philippe Savinel, Managing Director,
Irish Distillers Group plc
Philip Scallan, Managing Director,
Celtic Linen Limited
Reg Shaw, Managing Director,
Wyeth Medica Ireland
John Slattery, Managing Director,
Lapple Ireland Ltd
Willie Slattery, Chief Executive Officer,
State Street International (Ireland) Ltd
Alf Smiddy, Managing Director,
Beamish & Crawford plc
Mike Soden, Group Chief Executive,
Bank of Ireland
Lorraine Sweeney, Chairman, LS Catering
Greg Timmons, General Manager,
Takeda Ireland Ltd
Ferdinand Von Prondzynski, President,
Dublin City University
Gerry Walsh, Chief Executive Officer,
Bord Gais Eireann
Martin Walsh, Head of Lending, EBS
Willie Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Aer Lingus
David Went, Group Chief Executive,
Irish Life & Permanent plc
George Young, Director, Commergy Limited
Lorenz Zimmermann, Managing Director,
Siemens (Ireland) Ltd
Observers
Ian McMorris, Chairman,
CBI Northern Ireland, Managing Director,
Mark Ennis, Chairman,
CBI Northern Ireland,
19

20
Policy Committee, Associations
Chairpersons/Presidents
Asia Pacific Forum
TP Hardiman, Chairman,
I B M Financial Service Ireland
Business Law Council
Martin Walsh, Head of Lending, EBS
Competition Policy
Maurice Healy, Chief Executive Officer,
The Healy Group
CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF
IRISH UNIVERSITIES (CHIU/IBEC)
Eoin O’Driscoll, Managing Director, Aderra Ltd
Economic and Taxation Policy Committee
John McNerney, Managing Director,
Readymix plc
Energy Policy Committee
Joe Harford, President/Chief Executive Officer
Yamanouchi Ireland Co. Ltd
Environment Policy Committee
Jim Killeen, Director, Irish Distillers Ltd
EU Policy Committee
Vincent O’Doherty, Director, Superquinn
Human Resources and Social Policy Committee
Niall Saul, Head of Human Resources and
Organisation Development
Irish Life & Permanent Group
IBEC/CBI Joint Business Council
Maurice Pratt, President of IBEC
Ian McMorris, Chairman of CBI Northern Ireland
Occupational Safety and Health Policy
Committee
Thomas O’Brien, Waterford Crystal
Pensions Group
Donal Byrne, Chairman, Cadbury Ireland Ltd
Policy Advisory Group
Frank Cunneen, Chairman,
Health and Safety Authority
Public Private Partnership (PPP) Council
Jim Barry, Chief Executive, NTR plc
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Declan McGrath, Managing Director, Renley Ltd
Transport and Logistics Council
TJ Noonan, Chief Executive, The Maxol Group
AUDIOVISUAL FEDERATION
John Cummins, Agtel Ltd
BUILDING MATERIALS FEDERATION
Liam O’Gorman, Moy Isover Ltd
Concrete Manufacturers Association of Ireland
Alan Haugh, CPI Ltd
Irish Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association
Gus O’Brien, Cork Plastics Ltd
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS DISTRIBUTORS
ASSOCIATION
Michael O’Shea, Panasonic Ireland Ltd
EAN IRELAND
David Fitzgerald, Glanbia
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY GROUP
Dick Hogan, Benchmark Electronics Ireland
FEDERATION OF AEROSPACE
ENTERPRISES IN IRELAND
Declan O’Shea, FLS Aerospace
FINANCIAL SERVICES IRELAND
William Slattery,
State Street International (Ireland) Ltd
FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY IRELAND
Larry Murrin, Dawn Farm Foods
Chocolate, Confectionery & Biscuit
Council of Ireland (CCBCI)
Catherine Bent, Masterfoods
Coffee Industry Association of Ireland
Tara O’Rourke, Kraft Foods
Consumer Complaints Group
Francis Killeen, Chivers Ireland Ltd
ECR Ireland
Conor Whelan, BWG Foods Ltd and
Jim McNeill, Kellogg Company of Ireland
Federation of Irish Renderers
David McDowell
Food Processors and Suppliers Group
Donald Williamson, C & C Ireland
Health and Beauty Group
Carol Lee, Daelgate
Irish Association of Pigmeat Processors
Irish Bread Bakers Association
Dennis Dargan, Pat the Baker
Irish Breakfast Cereals Association
John Flahavan, E Flahavans & Sons
Irish Brewers Association
Brian Duffy, Diageo Ireland
Irish Cold Storage Federation
Clive Bagnall, Lyonara Cold Stores
Irish Dairy Industries Association
Vincent Gilhawley, Town of Monaghan Co-Op
Irish Spirits Association
Sean Hayes, Clintock Ltd
Margarine Manufacturers Association
of Ireland
Meat Industry Ireland
Petfoods Manufacturers Association
of Ireland
Philip Reynolds, C & D Foods Limited
Snackfood Association
PJ Brigdale, Tayto Ltd
Soup Manufacturers Association of
Ireland
Pat O’Mahoney, Campbell Soups
Sugar Users Group
Tea Association of Ireland

IBEC
Councils
IBEC Annual Review 03 04
GROUND LIMESTONE PRODUCERS
ASSOCIATION
Kevin Buckley, Buckley Quarries Ltd
ICT IRELAND
Jim OHara, Intel Ireland
INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
OF IRELAND
Dr Danny O'Hare
INDUSTRY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Niall Pelley
IRISH BIOINDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Cormac Kilty, Biotrin Technologies Ltd
IRISH CELLULAR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
Joan Keating, Vodafone
IRISH CHEMICAL MARKETERS ASSOCIATION
Nora Tisdall, Corcoran Chemicals
IRISH CLOTHING AND TEXTILES ALLIANCE
Joseph Gallagher, Tytex Ireland ltd
IRISH CONTRACT CLEANING ASSOCIATION
Joe Walsh, Advance Cleaners Ireland Ltd
IRISH CORRUGATED PACKAGING ASSOCIATION
John O’Loughlin, Smurfit Corrugated Ireland
IRISH COSMETICS, DETERGENT
AND ALLIED PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION
Mary Lord, Oriflame International
IRISH ENGINEERING ENTERPRISES FEDERATION
John Slattery, Läpple Ltd
IRISH FOREST INDUSTRY CHAIN
George McCarthy, Coillte
IRISH MARINE FEDERATION
David O’Brien, Irish Marine Press Publications Ltd
IRISH MASTER PRINTER ASSOCIATION
Donagh O’Doherty, The Kerryman
IRISH MEDICAL DEVICES ASSOCIATION
Shaun Connor, Abbott Laboratories
IRISH MINING AND EXPLORATION GROUP
Eero Laatio, Tara Mines Ltd
IRISH PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL
MANUFACTURERS FEDERATION
Conor O’Brien
IRISH PRINTING FEDERATION
Kevin Walsh, Coleridge Fine Arts
IRISH PROSHARE ASSOCIATION
Gearóid Deegan, PricewaterhouseCoopers
IRISH SOFTWARE ASSOCIATION
Cathal Friel, Merrion Corporate Finance
IRISH WASTE MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Jim Kells, Midland Environmental Solutions
MUSIC INDUSTRY GROUP
John Sheehan, Sony Music
PLASTICS INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
David Moffitt, Tech Group
REGIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION OF
IRELAND
John O’Hanlon, Anglo Celt
RETAIL IRELAND
Richard Nesbitt, Arnotts Ltd
SMALL FIRMS ASSOCIATION
Angela Kennedy, Megazyne Ltd
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET
FEDERATION
George Young, Commergy Ltd
TELECOMMUNICATIONS USERS GROUP
Paul McSweeney, Microsoft Ireland
TELESERVICES FORUM OF IRELAND
Ronan Mac Giolla Phadraig, Hertz Europe
Services Centre
WHITE GOODS ASSOCIATION
William Travers, Siemans Ireland Ltd
BILATERAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Ireland Australia Business Association
Frank Grennan, Jemma Publications Ltd
Irish Belgian Business Association
Michelle Gibbons, GPC International
Ireland Canada Business Association,
Matt Giffen, Scotiabank (Ireland) Ltd
Ireland China Association
Donal O’Callaghan, Callaghan Engineering
Ireland France Chamber of Commerce
John King, Ivor Fitzpatrick & Co
Irish Italian Business Association
Mark Galligan, Euroman Consulting
Ireland Japan Association
Peter Denison-Edson
IJA Southern Region
Miriam Walsh, Walsh Warehousing
IJA Western Branch
Conor Kenny, Kennys Export Centre
Ireland Korea Association
Brendan McHale
Ireland South Africa Business Association
Jerry Kelly, Strategic Options Ltd
ISABA - Cork
Michael Geary, Cork Chamber of Commerce
Irish Swedish Business Association
Eamonn Hewitt, Stenaline Ltd
Irish Turkish Business Association
Sean Douglas, Leinster Shipping Ltd
21

IRISH BUSINESS
AND EMPLOYERS
CONFEDERATION
Confederation House
84-86 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-605 1500.
Fax: 01-638 1500
Web: www.ibec.ie
Cork Regional Office
Telephone: 021-429 5511
Fax: 021-429 5534
Mid-West Regional Office, Limerick
Telephone: 061-410411
Fax: 061-412205
North-West Regional Office, Donegal
Telephone: 074-9722474
Fax: 074-9722476
West Regional Office, Galway
Telephone: 091-561109
Fax: 091-561005
Irish Business Bureau, Brussels
Telephone: 00322-5123333
Fax: 00322-5121353
Web: www.ibb.be
South-East Regional Office, Waterford
Telephone: 051-331260
Fax: 051-331261