Launched on 5 March 2009, the Ideas Campaign was a citizens’ initiative designed to harness ideas for Irish economic recovery and renewal.

The campaign succeeded in generating thousands of compelling ideas from Irish citizens and stimulating conversations about how Ireland can rebuild the economy.

The campaign completed its work in summer 2009 with the publication of an action plan and commitments by Government, businesses and individuals to implement some of the shortlisted ideas.

Campaign highlights

Among the campaign’s highlights were:

• Almost 5,300 ideas logged on the campaign website from 5- 31 March 2009
• Nearly 48,000 visits to the campaign website during that period
• Considerable interest, both nationally and internationally, in this initiative
• Publication by the campaign’s Advisory Group of the action plan which shortlisted 44 ideas for consideration by government, businesses and individuals
• Commitment by Government in July to implement 17 of those ideas and to conduct periodic reviews on their implementation
• Decision by the Government to implement a further idea in this year’s Budget
• Creation of at least three groups – two led by senior business figures, another involving NGOs – which are reviewing how best to implement other ideas in the campaign
• Expressions of interest and implementation by several businesses and NGOs of other ideas in the action plan

On publication of the action plan, the Advisory Group decided that it was best to wind down campaign activities and not play a formal role in implementation.

However, Aileen O’Toole will continue to play an informal role in supporting some of the groups that been formed following on from the campaign.