Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael McGrath

498. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the proposals brought forward by her Department to deal with Covid-19; the number that have availed of each since the start of March 2020, for each policy in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9740/20]

Departmental Advertising

Seán Sherlock

499. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount that has been spent on advertising in 2020 by her Department and its agencies on social media platforms (details supplied) in tabular form; and the name of each campaign advertised. [9832/20]

Work Permits

Paul Donnelly

388. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to include social work on the general employment permit. [7068/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

James Lawless

389. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the procedures pertaining to employment and workplace disputes as a consequence of a number of circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7348/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peter Burke

390. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has considered the effect large essential retailers opening their drapery and clothes sections will have on smaller retail units that are not permitted to open until 8 June 2020 at the earliest; if certain sized retailers can apply to open earlier than this date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7393/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Byrne

391. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the guidance and advice she will provide to gym operators for reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7492/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Róisín Shortall

392. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if podiatrists are permitted to resume non-emergency services under phase 1 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [7551/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Marian Harkin

393. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when retail units without street level entry in shopping centres will be permitted to open in view of the fact that many in enclosed shopping centres have remained open during the Covid-19 crisis, due to the fact that many retailers in shopping centres are regarded as essential retail outlets. [7869/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Seán Crowe

394. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of health and safety officers employed nationwide; where they are located; if additional staff are being recruited or brought in to support inspections; her plans to support this important element in returning to work in view of the challenges for persons returning to work in terms of health and safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8261/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Robert Troy

395. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the differences between the current credit guarantee scheme and the proposed new €2 billion scheme; and the differences regarding terms, conditions and those who may access the scheme. [7046/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Robert Troy

396. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason there has not been any approved facility arising from Covid-19 submitted to SBCI from financial providers under the credit guarantee scheme. [7047/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Donnelly

397. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the guidance to date on PPE and in terms of financing supports for those in the hairdressing industry. [7063/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Alan Kelly

398. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the permission given for shopping centres to open fully will include shops that sell phones, clothes, books, beauty products and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7091/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Alan Kelly

399. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports that will put in place to help businesses reopen; and the additional measures that will be put in place to help with the cost of wages and changes that businesses will need to make before they can be reopened. [7092/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Anne Rabbitte

400. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when physical therapists, reflexologists, homeopathists and yoga instructors can return to work; if guidance has been sought from NPHET for such businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7094/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

401. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if additional measures will be put in place to support the hairdressing industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7096/20]

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

Catherine Connolly

402. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated full-year cost if the budget for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement increased by 25%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7102/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

403. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will work with the Minister for Health to formulate an action plan to safeguard the future of the dental profession and introduce measures (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7150/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Sherlock

404. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the phase personal training falls under regarding reopening. [7157/20]

Job Losses

Emer Higgins

405. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the support other than statutory redundancy that can be provided to workers of a company (details supplied) that has gone into liquidation; if she will invite the company to reconsider its approach and treat its staff fairly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7200/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

406. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to hire new Health and Safety Authority, HSA, inspectors to investigate complaints and enforce social distancing requirements in the workplace; the number of inspectors she plans to hire; when she expects these to be fully trained and available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7233/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

407. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to allocate additional resources to the HSA to regulate and enforce social distancing requirements as set out in the return to work protocols; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7234/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ged Nash

408. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the provisions she plans to put in place to protect workers who make complaints to the HSA over breaches of Covid-19 guidelines in their place of work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7236/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Martin Browne

409. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of workplace inspections carried out by the HSA in January and February 2020. [7258/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Martin Browne

410. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Covid Query No. 5.546, the number of the 415 inspections carried out since March 2020 that were of workplaces in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7259/20]

Commercial Property

Brendan Howlin

411. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to her written reply to the statement by this Deputy in Dáil Éireann on commercial landlords, if she has received a response from the Attorney General on the protection of businesses that are unable to pay commercial rents; if she has had an opportunity to consider this issue further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7262/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

James Browne

412. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when small independent sports retailers may reopen their premises in line with public health guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7311/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Sean Fleming

413. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the plans she has put in place for the reopening of hairdressing salons and barber shops throughout the country in view of the fact they will only be able to open at a dramatically reduced capacity and that the wage subsidy scheme is due to expire on 16 June 2020, but these businesses are not expected to be reopened until 20 July 2020; if a fit-for-purpose scheme to help cash flow rather than the complicated schemes through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland will be put in place; if she will examine models internationally with a high rate of approval for cash flow and assistance during the months after reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7313/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

414. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will address a matter regarding the hairdressing and beauty industry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7327/20]

Health and Safety Authority

David Cullinane

415. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspectors available to carry out enforcement of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7330/20]

Health and Safety Authority

David Cullinane

416. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if additional inspectors will be recruited or seconded to the HSA to carry out inspections in the workplace to police compliance with the HSA guidelines on companies reopening during the Covid-19 emergency. [7331/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

David Cullinane

417. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will establish a confidential phone line for employees to make complaints in respect of potential breaches by employers of health and safety measures and protocols aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19. [7332/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

David Cullinane

418. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if further details will be published regarding the companies that can open and when they are in line with the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [7338/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jackie Cahill

419. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the details of the announced business restart fund and the person or body to apply to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7368/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

420. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the qualifying criteria will be reconsidered for the Covid-19 restart grant for small businesses (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7441/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Alan Kelly

421. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when guidance will be issued to hairdressers and barbers regarding the steps they will need to take to protect customers and staff before they return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7453/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Sean Fleming

422. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications received for the Covid-19 working capital loan scheme by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland to date; the number approved for funding; the number of companies that received loans; the value of the loans issued to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7464/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Robert Troy

423. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if sector-specific task forces made up of key stakeholders will be considered to advice on the measures needed to be introduced to facilitate the safe opening of their business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7476/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pádraig O'Sullivan

424. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will review the criteria required in order to be eligible for the restart grant for small businesses in view of the fact that it excludes many that do not operate from a commercial property; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many of these small businesses that cannot avail of the restart grant will have severe difficulty in restarting their businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7484/20]

Industrial Relations

Ged Nash

425. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will oblige those employers in receipt of Covid-19 business supports to respect Labour Court recommendations relating to trade union recognition and require the full participation of those same employers in the industrial relations infrastructure of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7487/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

426. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to amend the current Covid-19 business supports to ensure direct, targeted and low-cost finance to micro and small businesses; if she has considered a tapered scheme of support for businesses relating to company size; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7490/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Sean Fleming

427. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the detailed proposals in terms of funding, cash flow and capital resources available to the hotel sector, the business of which for 2020 has been decimated due to the Covid-19 crisis; the supports in place for companies whose turnover will be dramatically reduced but will have ongoing commitments in terms of bank repayments and overheads; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7514/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

James Browne

428. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when weddings can be allowed to be held; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7542/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

429. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she plans to redeploy staff from other Departments to the Health and Safety Authority to assist with Covid-19 inspections; if so, the number; the Departments from which; when these staff will be redeployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7549/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

430. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the average training time for a new HSA inspector; her plans to expedite this process in view of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7559/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

James Browne

431. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when she will permit the return of tilers to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7564/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

James Browne

432. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will review instances of large supermarkets selling clothes at discount prices while small clothes shops in town centres remain closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7566/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Steven Matthews

433. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if start-up businesses that began trading in late 2019 or in 2020 are eligible for the restart grant that was confirmed for SMEs recently in view of the fact that in these businesses will not have a record of paying commercial rates for 2019. [7568/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jack Chambers

434. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if there are grants available to business to install safety equipment and other measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7572/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

James Browne

435. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if there are exemptions for workers who travel to Scotland on Mondays and return here on Fridays as part of business travel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7600/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Peter Burke

436. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if pubs that always sold food and tea and coffee can operate during phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business without a restaurant licence if they can guarantee strict social distancing and hygiene measures will be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7602/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Johnny Mythen

437. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the criteria of the new restart grant will be changed to across the board and not be based on the commercial rates of 2019 in view of the fact some businesses due to their nature have been impacted more than others and have suffered a larger loss of earnings. [7634/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Johnny Mythen

438. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if seasonal work and seasonal businesses that rely on a window of a few months to earn their living, for example, seaside resorts, cafés, pubs, restaurants and so on that will lose a full season will be included in Covid-19 payments and the restart grant. [7653/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Sherlock

439. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if businesses that do not pay rates are eligible for the restart grant if their respective landlords pay the rates directly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7682/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

440. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if a proposal to reopen a business (details supplied) will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7724/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Christopher O'Sullivan

441. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will revisit the distinction between homewares and hardware stores with regard to reopening under the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and encourage them to implement safety procedures and initiate reopening as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7811/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Charlie McConalogue

442. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of workplace inspections that have taken place by the Health and Safety Authority in meat factories since the Covid-19 emergency emerged in March 2020 to ensure worker protection by county in tabular form. [7834/20]

Consumer Protection

Cian O'Callaghan

443. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has taken action to seek compensation from car manufacturers over the use of cheat devices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7848/20]

Consumer Protection

Robert Troy

444. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the measures that will be taken to ensure that consumer rights are protected and that no excessive charging for products such as handwash and sanitiser take place during the Covid-19 crisis period; and the recourse consumers have for the excessive charging for such products (details supplied). [7858/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ruairí Ó Murchú

445. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if bouncy castle companies are able to reopen in phase 1 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business if they only supply private homes with equipment for private family parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7893/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Paul Murphy

446. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if additional powers have been granted to the Health and Safety Authority to deal with the issues posed by Covid-19 in terms of health and safety at work. [7897/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Matt Carthy

447. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a bespoke support scheme for private bus and coach operators affected by the Covid-19 lockdown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7918/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Matt Carthy

448. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if businesses that provide a repair service such as jewellers are permitted to conduct drop-off and collection services during this period of the Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7919/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Matt Carthy

449. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the current whole-time equivalent staffing level within the Health and Safety Authority of trained, qualified health and safety inspectors, excluding corporate and support staff and those on career breaks, long-term sick leave, maternity and other long-term leave; the geographical spread of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7921/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Matt Carthy

450. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses that closed due to Covid-19 by sectoral category; the estimated number of businesses that will reopen at each phase of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; if she is satisfied that the necessary resources are available for the inspection and enforcement workload likely to present at each of the reopening phases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7922/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Róisín Shortall

451. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if factories and meat processing plants will be inspected by the Health and Safety Authority to ensure safeguarding of employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7940/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jennifer Whitmore

452. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if businesses selling hemp products are excluded from the range of Covid-19 business grants available through Enterprise Ireland; if so, the reason for such an exclusion; if she will reconsider the eligibility for the grant in view of the fact these companies are also negatively affected by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7986/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dara Calleary

453. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) on confirming the situation regarding the return to work of construction workers who work mainly indoors. [7992/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

454. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to amend the criteria for the restart grant taking into account the needs of recently established businesses that might not have a rates evaluation for 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8002/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael McGrath

455. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the purpose of placing a 50% portfolio cap on the credit guarantee scheme; the portfolio caps on each guarantee scheme run by other EU countries in response to Covid-19 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8014/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Michael McGrath

456. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if an analysis has been carried out by her Department on the impact on productivity in the construction sector as a result of Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing; the impact in terms of input costs; the way in which that will impact the viability of housing and apartment projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8005/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael McGrath

457. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the rules regarding the restart grant; if the grant is based on 2019 commercial rates; the way in which that impacts businesses that do not pay commercial rates or businesses that have recently started and were not liable for 2019 commercial rates; if these businesses are prohibited from applying for the grant; if legislation is required to alter this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8007/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael McGrath

458. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the schemes in her Department in place to assist Covid-19-impacted businesses; the number of loans drawn down since 1 March 2020 in each instance; the aggregate amount drawn down under each scheme since 1 March 2020; the number of businesses that have availed of each scheme since 1 March 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8009/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

459. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the financial supports that will be provided to the retail sector, particularly smaller scale businesses, to resume trading in view of current economic difficulties and the growth in online international business and its impact on smaller retail businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8012/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Imelda Munster

460. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of complaints received by the Health and Safety Authority regarding Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing in workplaces since 12 March 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8020/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Imelda Munster

461. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspection requests relating to Covid-19 received by the Health and Safety Authority since 12 March 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8021/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Imelda Munster

462. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Authority on foot of Covid-19 complaints, inspection requests or other similar correspondence since 12 March 2020. [8022/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Imelda Munster

463. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new inspectors that will be recruited or seconded to the Health and Safety Authority; and the timeline for same. [8023/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Mary Lou McDonald

464. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the business supports she has put in place for self-employed persons with a disability. [8058/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Mary Lou McDonald

465. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the complaints process for the reporting and enforcement of breaches to the Return to Work Safely Protocol. [8059/20]

Health and Safety Inspections

Robert Troy

466. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the number of workplace inspections that have taken place by the Health and Safety Authority since the Covid-19 emergency emerged in March 2020 to ensure worker protection from the virus. [8075/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Robert Troy

467. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she and her colleagues have considered putting in place sector-specific task forces to oversee the lifting of restrictions and get businesses back to operating as quickly and as safely as possible as the United Kingdom has implemented. [8077/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Robert Troy

468. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department or the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has lead authority for the restart grant; and the budget allocation to the scheme and other individual Department allocations. [8078/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Robert Troy

469. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the eligibility criteria for the recently announced restart grant for small businesses will be re-examined (details supplied); and if the scheme will be reviewed to ensure that trades persons and entrepreneurs working from their home offices can access the grant scheme. [8079/20]

EU Regulations

Robert Troy

470. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if there is a mechanism to screen foreign investment here being considered by her Department in view of the way the Covid-19 crisis has underlined the importance of protecting strategic assets, for example, life sciences including medical research and pharmaceutical ingredients; and if proposals are being examined to introduce an investment screening mechanism to safeguard critical national assets and technology in the current crisis which would require primary legislation. [8081/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Norma Foley

471. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when casual traders can return to work. [8100/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Norma Foley

472. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the supports in place to benefit bus and coach operators that are parked up as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. [8101/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Norma Foley

473. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding plans to allow persons over 70 years of age who are deemed medically fit for work to be allowed to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8104/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Imelda Munster

474. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to place the national return to work safely protocol on a statutory footing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8138/20]

Job Losses

Imelda Munster

475. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she has taken, including meetings or correspondence with management and staff at a company (details supplied) and the IDA or other relevant parties, to save the jobs at risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8139/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Imelda Munster

476. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to increase the funding available under the restart grant for small businesses in view of the scale of the financial difficulties facing SMEs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8140/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Imelda Munster

477. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if alternative methods of calculating the restart grant funding needs of businesses will be considered; her views on whether refunding 2019 rates bills does not reflect the restart funding needs of a given business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8141/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Imelda Munster

478. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which microbusinesses that do not pay rates can access restart grant funding. [8142/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Imelda Munster

479. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the credit guarantee scheme will be amended to ensure that loans are available to SMEs to address Covid-19-related financial difficulties. [8143/20]

Enterprise Support Services

Imelda Munster

480. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the loan schemes available to SMEs that allow them to borrow at 0% interest rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8144/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bernard Durkan

481. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if grant funding will be made to cafés and restaurants wishing to operate takeaway services for signage, screens and other equipment to facilitate social distancing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8185/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Holly Cairns

482. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on establishing a rental support scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises adversely affected by the Covid-19 emergency similar to that provided to private home renters. [8200/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

483. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she has met an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the way in which its industry will safely reopen; and if not, her plans to do so in the near future. [8225/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

484. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the reluctance of banks to loan to SMEs in order for them to commence the process of reopening their businesses in accordance with social distancing guidelines; and the grants that will be made available to the hospitality sector to ensure the industry can maintain itself as the Covid-19 crisis abates while the economic conditions remain precarious. [8226/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Niall Collins

509. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when a dog grooming business from home can resume (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5565/20]