The rule of law, governance and ESG are increasingly shaping where capital is deployed, how businesses assess risk and how legislators can create a stable economic and political environment across Europe. That was one of the recurring themes from today’s Matheson event - ‘Governing for Growth: Rule of Law and ESG as Europe’s Competitive Edge’ held in partnership with University College Dublin (UCD) in the O’Connor Centre for Learning at UCD.
Hosted and moderated by journalist and entrepreneur, Mark Little, and attended by senior leaders from the legal, policy and business communities, the event included an address by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, TD, who also took part in a wide-ranging panel discussion with Attorney General of Ireland, Rossa Fanning SC, and Professor Imelda Maher, Sutherland Full Professor of European Law at UCD.
Drawing on the theme of sustainability, the event also examined Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency and discussed the ongoing and future legislative and policy changes to the legal system across Europe and Ireland, and what this means for business.
Matheson Managing Partner, Darren Maher, said: “The rule of law is not a constraint on business. It is one of the primary reasons that long-term investment comes to Europe and to Ireland. For our clients, this is not abstract. Legal certainty, consistency of enforcement and the strength of institutions directly shape where capital is deployed and how risk is priced.”
“The same is increasingly true of ESG. While we recognise the regulatory burden which ESG regulation brings, the companies that are managing it well are approaching it strategically, as part of how they secure long-term growth and resilience, rather than as a compliance exercise.”
Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD, delivered a keynote address, highlighting the rule of law and core values as central to Ireland’s Presidency priorities and to economic stability and growth.
Rossa Fanning SC, Attorney General of Ireland, pointed to the strength and independence of Ireland’s judiciary and the integrity of its common law system as fundamental to investor confidence and to Ireland’s continued success in attracting foreign direct investment.
Minister O’Callaghan and Mr Fanning subsequently joined a panel discussion with Professor Imelda Maher, Sutherland Full Professor of European Law at UCD, examining the evolving role of governance frameworks in shaping Europe’s economic future.
Ken Bowles, Executive Vice President and Group Chief Financial Officer, Smurfit Westrock, participated in a fireside discussion with Mark Little, providing a business perspective on the integration of sustainability into corporate strategy. He later joined a second panel discussion alongside Dr Lisa Koep, Chief ESG Officer at Tirlán, and Susanne McMenamin, Corporate partner and Chair of Matheson’s ESG and Sustainability Group. They discussed how boards integrate ESG into competitive positioning and long-term value creation – moving the conversation from operational reality to strategy, governance, and Europe's broader competitive position.
The event formed part of Matheson’s programme of Presidency-linked engagements supporting substantive discussion ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It also explored how values, an expected theme of the Presidency, including the rule of law, governance and ESG, shape investment decisions and competitiveness.
The interactive format enabled active participation and discussion, and overall made the case that Europe's commitment to the rule of law and to ESG standards is not a constraint on competitiveness — it is increasingly a foundation for it. Participants examined the relationship between legal certainty, regulatory frameworks, supply chain resilience, and long-term value creation.
Matheson provides Irish and EU legal expertise and strategic insight for businesses engaging with EU institutions and preparing for upcoming legislative and regulatory developments. For more updates, visit Matheson’s EU Presidency Hub.
