Media release
Thursday, 20 November 2025
Minister Jerry Buttimer, TD, opens the Seventh National Social Enterprise Conference takes place in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
- The Conference, hosted by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, is an annual highlight in the social enterprise calendar
- It is an opportunity for social enterprises, and the organisations that support them, to consider insights on the sector, to share best practice, and to network with their peers
Minister Jerry Buttimer TD, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities, today (Thursday, 20 November 2025), provided the welcome address at Ireland’s Seventh National Social Enterprise Conference, to a gathering of more than 500 delegates, in person and online, from across the social enterprise sector. The conference took place at the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
The theme of the conference was ‘Trading for Impact’. The annual conference is a unique opportunity that provides networking opportunities, information dissemination, sharing of best practice and the opportunity to contribute to policy implementation and future policy development. The MC for the event was Kim MacKenzie-Doyle, CEO of social enterprise ‘the Big Idea’.
Opening the Conference, Minister Buttimer said:
“The work social enterprises deliver throughout Ireland is important to so many communities. They are tangibly helping to address many of the key social issues affecting society while providing employment, opportunities and making a positive impact in people’s lives. I have witnessed the tremendous contribution and impact social enterprises are making in our communities. I firmly believe this sector can have an even more significant role in our society, economy and environment and look forward to supporting them to do so.”
The Minister Continued:
“Where we go from here depends on how effectively we can collectively deliver on Trading for Impact’s ambitious vision for the future. We must be innovative and inclusive, but also practical and effective. Partnership is key to the realisation of our collective ambition for the social enterprise sector. My department will continue to actively engage across government, local authorities and state agencies to make sure social enterprise is kept to the forefront with regard to policies and programmes, social procurement or access to services.”
Key Speakers at the Conference:
- Minister Jerry Buttimer TD,
- Bairbre Nic Aonghusa, Assistant Secretary at DRCDG, Head of Community Development
- Richard Bruton (Chairperson at SERI)
- Gerry O’Grady (LEO Centre of Excellence, Enterprise Ireland)
- Steven Egan (InterTradeIreland)
- Margaret Larkin (DLDC, representing LDCN)
- Siobhán Cafferty (CEO Simpliified)
- Peter Williams (Clare County Council)
- Anthony Burrowes (Sisk)
- Debbie Tierney (Triest Press)
- Dr. Helen Johnston (NESC)
- Colin Jess (Social Enterprise Northern Ireland)
- Charlie Fisher (Development Trusts NI)
- Maeve Monaghan (NOW Group)
- Seán Mullan (Third Space)
- Clare Allen (Rethink Ireland)
- Anne Graham (Western Development Commission)
- Helen Nolan (Spraoi agus Spórt)
- Máirín Ó Cuireáin (LDCN)