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  The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), has announced it will commit up to €140m as a cornerstone investor in a major new climate action fund. The fund has been set up by TirNua Capital Partners (TirNua), an independent, employee-managed private markets investment manager. ISIF has led the investment round in TirNua’s climate action infrastructure fund to accelerate its €2bn climate action investment programme and to continue to act as a catalyst for leveraging additional co-investment from other investors into Irish businesses and projects. Commenting David O’Brien, TirNua CEO described the fund as “a first-of-its-kind private markets platform focused on Ireland’s energy transition […] represent[ing] an exciting new way for investors to channel long-term capital into the projects that have the potential to positively shape Ireland’s future.” Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  The Gross Output of the Green Economy was €12.1 billion in 2023, up 10 percent on 2022, according to figures released by the CSO office in their Business in Ireland 2023 – Green Economy. The release, which provides insights on activities that can be classified by their environmental purpose and the business sectors in which they take place, found that the increase was mainly driven by the increased output of the Energy sector. Green Economy statistics are part of environment accounts which constitute a satellite account to national accounts. The release also revealed that the Green Economy represented €5 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the country and supported 48,400 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs, up 13 percent on 2022. The Industry sector generated €10.2 billion in Green Economy output, up €0.6 billion on 2022 and accounting for 84 percent of total Green Economy output. Within this, construction contributed €3.1 billion (31 percent) underlining its role in delivering environmentally focused infrastructure projects. A separate publication revealed that emissions from the enterprise economy have fallen 12 percent since 2018, notwithstanding strong economic growth. Business In Ireland 2025 - Emissions and Energy Use by Enterprises is the first in a series of releases that looks at data relating to the enterprise economy through the lens of sustainability and climate targets. In the publication, ‘enterprise economy’ refers to activity in the Industry (including Construction) and Services sectors in Ireland. The release revealed that Ireland’s economy is becoming less emissions-intensive and is producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic activity. Greenhouse gas emissions per euro of Modified Gross National Income (GNI) fell by 25 percent between 2018 and 2023.   Commenting on the release, Morgan O’Donnell, Statistician in the Sustainability, Circular Economy & Transport division said:  “Sustainability is of increasing importance to enterprises, in terms of meeting environmental regulations and expectations, but also from an economic and social perspective. There is increasing national and international recognition that economic growth alone is not a sufficient measure of success, and that long term prosperity depends on achieving a balanced integration of economic, environmental, and social outcomes. … This release looks at energy use by the enterprise economy, as it underpins productivity, competitiveness, and employment, while also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.  By examining energy consumption alongside associated emissions, this release highlights the relationship between business activity and its environmental impact, addressing the dual national goals of sustaining economic activity while reducing emissions.” Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  Irish businesses are set to benefit from expanded Government support to help cut costs and accelerate the move to zero-emission transport. Changes to the Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle (ZEHDV) grant scheme will make it easier and more flexible for companies to invest in electric trucks and buses, with grants of up to €500,000 per year now available. Speaking at an industry working group event, the Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rails and Ports, Sean Canney TD described decarbonising transport “a national priority but […] also a major commercial opportunity”. The updated scheme allows businesses to phase investment over time, rather than relying on a one-off funding opportunity, helping companies manage cash flow while modernising their fleets. Alongside the vehicle purchase support, businesses can also access grants of up to €300,000 under the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Scheme (ZEHDV-I) to install depot charging infrastructure and support charging logistics hubs and urban locations. The Government is also supporting businesses at the planning stage through the EV Fleet Assessment Grant, which offers fully funded expert assessment to help companies understand how electric vehicles can operate within their existing fleets. Assessments cover routes, vehicle suitability, charging needs and total cost of ownership providing a clear roadmap to electrification. Separately, Minister of Transport Darragh O’Brien TD has announced the launch of a public consultation on the draft National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026-2028, setting out the next phase of Ireland’s plan to expand and future proof the national EV charging network. Businesses, members of the public, local authorities, representative organisations and community groups are invited to make submissions as part of the consultation process, by 5pm on 24 April 2026. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) has convened a meeting of the Government's Energy Security Group to assess the current implications of the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region. The meeting brought together senior officials from relevant government departments, state agencies, and regulators and reviewed current supply and pricing conditions across oil, gas and electricity, and assessed the local impacts arising from the evolving situation. The group reiterated International Energy Agency (IEA) updates that while oil prices continue to fluctuate, there has been some stabilisation; however, commentators argue that the crisis in the Middle East exposes over-reliance on fossil fuels, particularly LNG as a liability for Ireland, and call for investment in household energy security and clean energy alternatives. Separately, Enterprise Ireland has announced the launch of Propel Ireland, a new innovation centre designed to drive collaboration, innovation and supply chain development across Ireland’s offshore wind sector. Representing a key action under Powering Prosperity: Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, Propel Ireland supports the development of a globally competitive offshore wind industry and positioning Irish companies to capitalise on significant domestic and international opportunities.  Its launch reflects a coordinated, cross-Government approach to developing Ireland’s offshore wind sector, aligned with national climate, energy and enterprise policy. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has urged employers to publish their gender pay gap reports, pointing to new research showing how a gender pay gap is evident in the early stages of young women’s careers. A gender skills gap has also been a priority area for certain sectors across Europe. Research published in February 2026 by the ESRI found that Ireland has the largest gender gap in Europe for advanced workplace digital skills use, with consequences for Ireland’s competitiveness, innovation and resilience. A report published on 11 March by the European Parliament similarly argued that improving the labour market participation and working conditions of women could help address skills and labour shortages and improve the EU’s productivity and growth. This echoes comments from Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD in the Foreword to the Eighth Report from the independent business-led Review Group Balance for Better Business (B4BB), published in November 2025: “For Ireland to remain competitive in the global market it is vital that we see this progress continue, as we know that the companies with the greatest gender diversity tend to be the best performing, more innovative and more resilient.” The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative basis for annual gender pay gap reporting in Ireland. Since 2024, all employers with over 150 employees have been legally obliged to report on their gender pay gap, with this requirement extended in November 2025 to include employers with over 50 staff. However, not all employers are doing this. Legislation will be introduced to make it mandatory to report on their gender pay gap to a centralised reporting database-the Gender Pay Gap Portal. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

Tánaiste and Minister of Finance, Simon Harris, has signed into law the Statutory Instruments creating the Irish framework of the European Single Access Point (ESAP), an EU-wide data portal centralising free source of public information about EU companies and investment products. The portal, which is established via EU legislation, aims to improve public access to companies’ financial and non-financial information, including that of SMEs. Minister with responsibility for Small Business and Retail and the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD, described the rollout of the portal as “mark[ing] an important milestone for Irish businesses, particularly SMEs seeking greater visibility and investment opportunities. By providing a single, standardised source of company information, this platform will simplify cross border engagement, improve investor confidence, and contribute to a more connected and competitive European marketplace.” Commenting, the Tánaiste stated that the portal benefits the green transition by centralising sustainability related financial information and illustrates the commitment the Irish government and the EU has to simplifying the investment journey for retail investors and finding ways to boost investment in Ireland’s domestic industry: “Altogether, the ESAP has the potential to bring a myriad of benefits to Irish people whilst simultaneously supporting the objectives of the Savings and Investment Union and making it easier for firms to raise capital across the EU.” The ESAP will be established and administered by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Designated national collection bodies as well as the European Supervisory Authorities will provide data to ESMA for the purposes of ESAP. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin