07/02/2014 – The Prime Minister of Ireland, Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, and Deputy Prime Minister Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD, visited the OECD on 7 February 2014, to discuss Ireland’s economic recovery and its partnership with the Organisation as a key ally supporting their reform agenda. They were joined by four Irish ministers for the day-long visit as part of the OECD’s Leaders Programme, which brings Heads of State and Government to the OECD to discuss their policy priorities, making it one of the largest ever such delegations to visit the Organisation.

Secretary-General Gurría also hosted the Taoiseach and Tánaiste as they addressed over 300 invited guests on the theme of “Jobs and Recovery: Ireland after the bailout”. He paid tribute to the resilience of the Irish people in facing up to their recent economic challenges, noting that that the pace of GDP growth and job creation was picking up (Read his speech).


In an hour-long bilateral meeting, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría reaffirmed the OECD’s readiness to support Ireland as it implements its structural reform agenda. Their conversation covered Ireland’s economic outlook, efforts to tackle unemployment, and Ireland’s international development efforts. The afternoon Leaders’ Policy Forum covered policy areas in more depth, including public sector reform, innovation policy, youth employment, and the green economy as an engine of growth.