Skip to main content
Normal View

Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

Questions (11)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

11. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by his Department during 2021; and his main priorities for 2022. [62192/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department’s Statement of Strategy, which was launched in January 2021, sets out the Department’s strategic goals and priorities for the 2021-2023 period. During the year, my Department has progressed a range of policy initiatives which will contribute to the achievement of these objectives.

We continued to provide assistance to businesses in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19 and Brexit including by launching the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme, development of the Innovation Equity Fund, and extension of Credit Guarantee Schemes. We launched the national Remote Work Strategy to maximise economic, social and environmental benefits and provide opportunities for balanced regional development. Final progress reports on the nine Regional Enterprise Plans to 2020 were published and work on developing new Plans to 2024 was advanced. Implementation of the SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan will help SMEs to start up, scale up and access international markets. We also continued to provide support for the retail sector, including an increased focus on digitalisation.

During the year, the third call for the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund saw funding of €95 million provided to 29 collaborative projects across a range of sectors. A fourth call is now open. Future Manufacturing Ireland was established to ensure coherent and cohesive national research support structure for Advanced Manufacturing, and we launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Sick Leave legislation was progressed to introduce a fair and affordable statutory sick pay scheme for Ireland. In October, I received Government approval for draft legislation to protect employees’ tips and give customers transparency in respect of how tips are distributed and what happens to the service charge they pay. I am also awaiting a review of collective bargaining and the industrial relations landscape in Ireland.

Sale of Tickets legislation was enacted to regulate the secondary ticket market where tickets are resold after their original purchase. We continued to update the Work Safely Protocol to assist employers in operating safe businesses, reflecting COVID restrictions and how they affect workplaces.

A Plan for Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency was published setting out commitments to further safeguard the rights of workers. We also launched the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect and a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission of a 30 cent increase in the National Minimum Wage will take effect from 1st January next.

We continued work on implementing the Action Plan on Insurance Reform and on legislation to amend the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Acts. Consumer Rights legislation was progressed with the aim of further strengthening protections afforded to consumers. The Consumer Rights Bill will be enacted in early 2022 and the Corporate Enforcement Authority will be established in the coming weeks.

The Trade and Investment Council was established to bring together Government Ministers with responsibilities for implementation and promotion of trade and investment. We continued to promote Irish business abroad including through the recommencement of Ministerial-led Trade Missions. Work on a new Trade and Investment Strategy was progressed. In 2022, we will publish and enact the Control of Exports Bill.

My Department also contributed to Ireland’s 2050 carbon neutrality ambition with actions under the Climate Action Plan 2021 and with enterprise targets. We are also ensuring that climate action is reflected in policy and programme implementation by the agencies under our remit.

Work on many of these priorities will continue in the coming year as my Department progresses the Strategic Goals outlined in the Statement of Strategy.

Top
Share