Ireland must “go against the cycle” and begin pumping money into infrastructure despite the looming risk of a global trade war, the boss of IBEC has warned.

Danny McCoy said that a potential economic slowdown presents an “opportunity” for Ireland to get its house in order when it comes to our creaking infrastructure.

He said yesterday: “The public sector is currently competing with the private sector.

“Intel delivered a €17bn plant between 2019 and 2023.

“Meanwhile the National Children’s Hospital isn’t even open yet.

“If things slow down, the labour market might ease up slightly and that will help deliver infrastructure.

“We should be working now to put projects in place to redirect these workers.

“We must go against the cycle.”

He warned Taoiseach Micheál Martin last week the Government must “accelerate” plans to boost the company’s competitiveness as US president Donald Trump is seeking to lure multinationals back to the States.

Mr McCoy is a member of the State’s Labour Employer and Economic Forum, which met last Friday to discuss implications of Trump’s tariffs.