Fifty years ago, Sean Lemass was leading a decisive and fundamental shift in government economic policy and public attitudes as to how Ireland would ‘secure the economic foundation of independence’. During this period, in March 1959, he delivered a seminal paper at the IPA on the role of state bodies. He discussed their role in economic development and how they might contribute to ‘progressive business management with a proper degree of public accountability’.

The IPA has now prepared a special reprint of the paper, together with the resonses given by the Chairpersons of CIE and IDA .A special morning conference at the institute on 13 March will mark the occasion.