EU experts looking ahead to 2040 have calculated that the best win-win possibility of maintaining Europe’s current agricultural production, while halting harm to environment and biodiversity, comes from maintaining Common Agricultural Policy subsidies, but redesigned to promote agricultural diversification (rather than specialisation) and local multifunctionality, with strict environmental policies and regulations on land use changes in place.

Cork has cemented its place as a key European tech hub with over 300 ICT-related companies employing more than 29,000 people in the region.

Rural dwellers can be forgiven for not getting excited by the Government’s €116bn Ireland 2040 plan for infrastructure, housing, health and the environment.

The success of the Ireland 2040 strategy will depend on the extent to which Cork succeeds at an increasingly important national role, argues William Brady.