Parliamentary questions

Departmental Schemes

Michael Ring

75. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason businesses that paid in cash are excluded from the business users support scheme for kerosene (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51407/23]

Work Permits

Peter Burke

76. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is any expansion of the work quota permits for employers. [51410/23]

Industrial Development

Matt Carthy

77. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an IDA business development consultant has been hired; if Government have reconsidered the creation of such a role in light of the ongoing breaches of international humanitarian law and ongoing war crimes committed by Israel. [51416/23]

Business Supports

David Stanton

204. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports, if any, made available by his Department to businesses that were not actively trading at the time of the recent flooding caused by Storm Babet, but whose assets are now beyond repair and unsellable as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50557/23]

Departmental Reviews

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

205. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the review of the critical skills list will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50693/23]

Departmental Policies

Jackie Cahill

206. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the requirements for dormant clubs when filing their annual returns to the Companies Registration Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50743/23]

Official Engagements

Ivana Bacik

207. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has met with so-called fast fashion retailers in operation in Ireland; and, if so, if he will detail his representations in respect of the environmental and workers' rights practices of same. [50777/23]

Cybersecurity Policy

Louise O'Reilly

208. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many staff members in his Department have received training in cyber security in the past three years; what types of cyber security training programmes have been conducted; if he will provide details of these programmes; and of the staff trained in cyber security, how many have obtained accredited cyber security qualifications. [50795/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Louise O'Reilly

209. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the expenditure on cyber security consultants and companies within his Department in the past three years; if his Department engaged in cyber security audits with outside firms in the past three years; if so, the expenditure on same; the amount his Department spent on cyber security consultants and companies in the past three years; and for a breakdown of these expenditures by year and type of service provided [50813/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Louise O'Reilly

210. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any ongoing contracts or commitments with cyber security firms; and if details can be provided [50831/23]

Cybersecurity Policy

Louise O'Reilly

211. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has a policy and plan in place to address a ransomware attack and restore his Department's IT systems. [50849/23]

Industrial Development

Catherine Murphy

212. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if IDA Ireland plans to open an office in Italy. [50941/23]

Work Permits

Carol Nolan

213. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he plans to announce the completion of the review of the occupations lists for employment permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51009/23]

Work Permits

Carol Nolan

214. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if dental hygienists will be included in the updated list of occupations for non-EEA work permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51010/23]

Work Permits

Carol Nolan

215. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if dental nurses will be included in the updated list of occupations for non-EEA work permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51011/23]

Departmental Contracts

Paul Murphy

216. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has any current contracts with any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company; and if so, the value of those contracts. [51042/23]

Departmental Contracts

Paul Murphy

217. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department or any of its agencies are involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which includes involvement by any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company. [51060/23]

Food Industry

Matt Carthy

218. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the announcement by a company (details supplied) that it intends to close two facilities in County Monaghan along with a further facility in County Down; whether he has engaged with the company to have this decision revised; the supports that his Department and associated agencies will provide the workers involved; and whether he has any concerns for further job losses in the agri-food sector in County Monaghan. [51107/23]

Commercial Rates

Ged Nash

219. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the rates rebate payable in early 2024 to rateable business with a rates liability of €20,000 or less will be paid to all rateable businesses in this category, regardless of whether rates have been paid or not by the individual businesses in the relevant year, or if it will be paid to those businesses which have paid their rates for the relevant year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51171/23]

Budget 2024

Róisín Shortall

220. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the figure provided by his Department to maintain existing levels of service in 2024, under his respective remits ahead of Budget 2024; the figure granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51176/23]

Commercial Rates

Bernard Durkan

134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether any action is proposed in respect of commercial rate payers, who have only recently have had their rateable valuations increased and who now find themselves marginally short of relief announced in Budget 2024, to the effect that the proposed relief stops suddenly, as opposed to a graduated period within which they may qualify for part rateable relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50469/23]

Regional Development

David Stanton

64. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, his Department has to implement the recommendations from the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Report pertaining to his Department's policy responsibilities; if similar recommendations are being considered for Cork and Bantry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50223/23]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Cathal Crowe

65. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he would consider additional mitigation measures to ensure that small and medium sized business are able to absorb some of the additional costs that they have recently faced, e.g. increased wage bills, overheads and so on. [50062/23]

State Bodies

Catherine Murphy

66. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant full-time staff, by grade, currently in the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court; the estimated full-year cost of filling each of these vacancies; and when each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [50077/23]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Willie O'Dea

67. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what plans or strategies he has to support the SMEs of Ireland to prevent hours from being cut, job layoffs, or businesses shutting down as a result of the rising costs of doing business, including as a result of extra costs from measures introduced by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50228/23]

Industrial Development

Fergus O'Dowd

68. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the masterplan for the IDA land bank in Killally, Dundalk; when he expects to see progress on this project and the long-term objectives of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50264/23]

Trade Promotion

Paul Donnelly

159. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the Enterprise Ireland office in Singapore since its establishment. [49300/23]

Trade Promotion

Paul Donnelly

160. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the IDA office in Johannesburg since its establishment. [49301/23]

Work Permits

Louise O'Reilly

161. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 382 and 383 of 7 November 2023, if he will provide a breakdown of general employment permits (not critical skills employment permits) issued in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by 4-digit SOC Code of employment and further broken down (details supplied). [49405/23]

Work Permits

Louise O'Reilly

162. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 382 and 383 of 7 November 2023, for a breakdown of general employment permits (not critical skills employment permits) currently held in the State by 4-digit SOC Code of employment and further broken down (details supplied). [49406/23]

Patent Applications

David Stanton

163. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his plans, if any, for the establishment of an oversight committee to support the work of a referendum on the Unified Patent Court; the membership of this committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49445/23]

Patent Applications

David Stanton

164. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the establishment of an Irish local division of the Unified Patent Court; the work carried out to date in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49449/23]

Patent Applications

David Stanton

165. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is intended to allow Irish judges to participate in the Unified Patent Court on a part-time basis; if so, what changes to legislation of the constitution would be required to enable this to happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49451/23]

Middle East

Mick Barry

166. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of licences for dual use items issued for trade with Israel in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49502/23]

Pension Provisions

Michael McNamara

167. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the reason for the long delay in processing the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Relation to Pension Entitlements of Retired Persons) Bill 2021, which has remained at Second Stage since 11 February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49531/23]

Trade Promotion

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

168. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown of the number of site visits hosted by IDA in counties Carlow and Kilkenny during the first three quarters of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49577/23]

Work Permits

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

169. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on when the Employment Permits Bill 2022 is likely to be progress to report stage in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49656/23]

Trade Promotion

Brendan Griffin

170. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will examine the current situation regarding the use of an IDA advance facility in Kerry (details supplied); his views on whether the county is being badly served by the arrangement; the cost to the IDA and taxpayer of developing this facility in the first place; what contractual arrangements, if any, the IDA has with the company in respect of this property; if the terms have been breached by the company; if the company is paying to use the premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49703/23]

Departmental Meetings

Matt Carthy

171. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 20 September 2023, if there have been any further engagements by his Department or associated State agencies with the owners or management of a factory in Carrickmacross (details supplied); when it is now expected that the factory will move to trial production stage as referenced in the previous response; the current number of employees at the factory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49753/23]

Business Supports

Jim O'Callaghan

172. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the increased-cost-of-business grant scheme will be up and running; and if the upper limit of €20,000 rates paid could be extended. [49784/23]

Business Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

173. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects the details of the increased cost of business grant to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49838/23]

Business Supports

Carol Nolan

174. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of recent media reports of heightened numbers of closures of restaurants, cafés and other food-led businesses across the country in recent months; to outline his plans to help hospitality businesses that are currently struggling with high costs and tight margins to stay open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49951/23]

Human Trafficking

Paul Murphy

175. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given that serious concerns in relation to the WRC labour inspectorate's interactions with migrant workers - and, in particular, undocumented migrant workers - were raised in "protected disclosures" by a WRC labour inspector to the WRC and the Department in 2015, to Minister Frances Fitzgerald in 2017 and to Minister Simon Coveney in March 2023, and given also that similar concerns have been raised by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, by the GRETA Report on the Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings by Ireland, by successive US State Department Reports on Trafficking in Persons and by a UN Special Rapporteurs’ Report on trafficking in human beings in the Irish fishing industry, if he can detail how the concerns raised in these successive “protected disclosures” were addressed and, in particular, how Minister Frances Fitzgerald dealt with the July 2017 “protected disclosure” to her, detailing how evidence provided in the 2015 disclosures to the Department had not been investigated and, similarly, how the current Minister and his Department dealt with the March 2023 “protected disclosure” to him detailing how the previous “protected disclosure” to Minister Fitzgerald had not been investigated. [50021/23]

Protected Disclosures

Paul Murphy

176. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will confirm whether a disclosure to Minister Fitzgerald in July 2017 (details supplied) was included in the Department’s Protected Disclosures Report for 2017, as required under Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act; and, if so, what specific wording was used to declare that disclosure. [50022/23]

Business Supports

Mattie McGrath

36. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will make funding available to businesses in County Tipperary that have been damaged by flooding following recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48919/23]

Departmental Data

Ivana Bacik

381. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons in receipt of sub-minima rates of pay for those aged 17, 18, and 19 years, in tabular form. [47280/23]

Work Permits

Louise O'Reilly

382. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a breakdown of general employment permits (not critical skills employment permits) issued in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by four-digit SOC code of employment. [47302/23]

Work Permits

Louise O'Reilly

383. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a breakdown of general employment permits (not critical skills employment permits) currently held in the State, by four-digit SOC code of employment. [47303/23]

Artificial Intelligence

Holly Cairns

384. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail any ongoing or previous use of artificial intelligence within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47333/23]

Artificial Intelligence

David Stanton

385. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on Ireland's response, if any, to the EU Council Spanish Presidency’s call for feedback on the Artificial Intelligence Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47375/23]

Redundancy Payments

Emer Higgins

386. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied with the manner in which a company (details supplied) managed its recent redundancy process, particularly in light of reports suggesting that affected employees were requested to sign for tax treatments on their pensions before receiving the relevant figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47382/23]

Work Permits

Cian O'Callaghan

387. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will extend the critical skills permit to include non-EU healthcare workers whose salary does not meet the income threshold to apply for a family visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47522/23]

Company Registration

Jim O'Callaghan

388. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies registered in Ireland in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47527/23]

Company Registration

Jackie Cahill

389. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is possible for a golf club to submit a simplified set of accounts as part of its annual returns to the Company Registration Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47619/23]

Work Permits

Colm Burke

390. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the employment permit process and the employment visa process are streamlined under the jurisdiction of one Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47630/23]

Ministerial Staff

Catherine Murphy

391. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of statements of interests for the purposes of section 19 filed by his special advisers in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will provide a schedule of same. [47644/23]

Departmental Advertising

Robert Troy

392. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of his Department and agencies under the remit of his Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years from 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47729/23]

Official Engagements

Matt Carthy

393. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Government of Israel, any state body of the Government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel, in 2021 and 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47804/23]

Official Engagements

Matt Carthy

394. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the occupied Palestinian territory, in the years 2021 and 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47822/23]

Data Centres

Eoin Ó Broin

395. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether the Government statement on the role of data centres in Ireland's enterprise strategy was screened for a strategic environment assessment. [47847/23]

Legislative Measures

Robert Troy

396. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the introduction of the Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47852/23]

Redundancy Payments

Ged Nash

397. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times his Department, under the Protection of Employment Act 1977 (as amended), has been notified to date in 2023 of a collective redundancy situation; to supply a list of companies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47854/23]

Redundancy Payments

Ged Nash

398. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that the current round of redundancies undertaken by Google does not fall under a collective redundancy situation; and to outline what steps his Department has made to ascertain the number of redundancies taking place currently in Google; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47855/23]

Job Creation

Marian Harkin

399. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new IDA-sponsored jobs, by county or by region, for the years 2016 to 2022, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47860/23]

Job Creation

Marian Harkin

400. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in IDA-sponsored jobs, by county or by region, for the years 2016 to 2022, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47861/23]

Job Creation

Marian Harkin

401. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new Enterprise Ireland-sponsored jobs, by county or by region, for the years 2016 to 2022, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47862/23]

Job Losses

Marian Harkin

402. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in Enterprise Ireland-sponsored jobs, by county or by region, for the years 2016 to 2022, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47863/23]

Industrial Development

Sorca Clarke

403. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on progress being made to acquire an IDA purpose-built facility in Longford town. [47883/23]

Budget 2024

Jim O'Callaghan

404. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will respond to issues raised in relation to budget 2024 (details supplied). [47922/23]

Enterprise Policy

Catherine Connolly

405. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it has been brought to his attention that approximately 100 engineers have recently come to Ireland from Israel to work with Intel; if it is the case that Israel is to be a key partner in the development of Ireland's weapons industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47945/23]

Departmental Contracts

Réada Cronin

406. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department engages a company (details supplied); if so, the duration and nature of the work; the cost of same to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48009/23]

Enterprise Policy

Louise O'Reilly

407. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland has the capacity for analysing novelty in the technology space; and if it needs to develop a more holistic perspective to the tech sector. [48031/23]

Enterprise Policy

Louise O'Reilly

408. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the appetite within his Department for the creation of a pilot funding stream for housing supply-related businesses, especially in the property technology/homes market technology space, such as a company (details supplied). [48032/23]

Trade Data

Patrick Costello

409. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the overall trade in goods or services exchanged between Ireland and Israel and Israeli-based firms over the last five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48043/23]

Trade Relations

Patrick Costello

410. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way his Department applies the whole-of-government approach regarding Ireland's policy on differentiation between Israel and the illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land; the practical steps his Department takes in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48044/23]

Corporate Governance

Catherine Murphy

411. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of complaints he has filed to the Corporate Enforcement Agency, CEA, since the establishment of the CEA and-or An Garda Síochána in the past ten years to date in respect of grants and-or funds his Department provided that in his view were misappropriated. [48073/23]

Work Permits

Pauline Tully

412. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the person appointed by his Department to conduct the strategic review of the labour needs of the meat processing industry; the timeframe for the completion of this review; if work permits will be made available to the meat processing industry while this review is underway; and the timeframe within which these work permits will be made available. [48123/23]

Departmental Meetings

Darren O'Rourke

413. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he met the CEO or senior officials from a company (details supplied) during his recent visit to Chicago. [48342/23]

Job Losses

Catherine Murphy

414. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he and-or the IDA has engaged with a company (details supplied) in respect of reports that the company will file for bankruptcy in the United States and the impact of that in Ireland in respect of its operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48541/23]

Consumer Rights

Seán Canney

415. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce a measure to protect persons who pay up front for services and the supplier of the services closes their business prior to the service being delivered, such as orthodontic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48590/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Sean Fleming

416. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Workplace Relations Commission's Code of Practice, due to be finalised in order for the commencement of Part 3 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48620/23]

Food Industry

Joe McHugh

417. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many meetings have taken place, if any, in 2022 and to date in 2023 between his officials and officials from the Department of Health to discuss the range and quality of food offerings in the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48668/23]

Departmental Contracts

Thomas Pringle

418. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48656/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Pádraig O'Sullivan

419. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the remote working code of practice being drafted by the Workplace Relations Commission will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48681/23]

Departmental Contracts

Thomas Pringle

420. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48688/23]

Departmental Contracts

Thomas Pringle

421. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and details of contracts currently held by his Department with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48704/23]

Departmental Meetings

Catherine Murphy

422. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he met with the CEO of a company (details supplied) during his recent visit to South Korea. [48759/23]

Legislative Process

Cathal Crowe

423. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects the Industrial Relations (Provisions in relation to Pension Entitlements of retired persons) Bill 2021 to proceed to its next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48764/23]

Business Supports

Ged Nash

424. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider, given the frequency of flooding events, putting a form of the emergency business flooding support scheme and the enhanced scheme on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48769/23]

Business Supports

Colm Burke

425. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what funding and supports are available to women entrepreneurs looking to start agricultural businesses or agrifood enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48840/23]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Claire Kerrane

173. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has plans to support small and medium businesses with costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47132/23]

Departmental Meetings

Paul Donnelly

174. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he last met the CEO of the Corporate Enforcement Authority; and when he is next scheduled to meet the CEO. [47159/23]

Business Supports

Patricia Ryan

77. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the criteria for the grant for 50% of rates back for local businesses, as announced in budget 2024; and the opening date for applications for same. [46979/23]

Departmental Consultations

Carol Nolan

78. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department, or any body under the aegis of his Department, has facilitated in-person or remote briefings on any issue from organisations (details supplied) from 2021 to date; if so, the topic discussed; the fees paid to the organisations for these briefings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46750/23]

Business Supports

Maurice Quinlivan

79. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the increased cost of business grant will include a provision to aid businesses that may struggle to meet the Government commitment to deliver a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46832/23]

Employment Rights

Joan Collins

80. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline what the Workplace Relations Commission’s response was to a request concerning legislation (details supplied); the reason the directive, guaranteed at the time by the then Minister, was never implemented; and the position of the Government on this vitally important issue. [46846/23]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

81. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has figures on the cost of hiring people on the national minimum wage or national living wage, which will include ten days' sick pay and the cost of auto-enrolment after its introduction in 2024; if he has any estimate on the cost of hiring people in the years up to 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46853/23]

Business Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

82. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will respond to concerns and proposals raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46882/23]

Departmental Functions

Richard Bruton

83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46969/23]

Enterprise Policy

Patricia Ryan

84. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans the Government has for employment and industry incentives in the south Kildare region, specifically, Monasterevin, Rathangan and Athy. [46975/23]