This journey created 'Brand Ireland' as a country where anyone can belong, regardless of background, creed, or identity. For the business community and society at large, this social cohesion was a reliable background condition that allowed markets to function and enterprises to thrive. The growing undercurrent of hostility is no longer a fringe issue; it is a threat to our national wellbeing. True social cohesion is the glue that holds different people together in pursuit of a common good. Protecting our humanity is not a distraction from economic policy; it is the heart of it.

Source: Irish Examiner January 13, 2026 05:30 UTC