Parliamentary questions

Trade Data

Bernard Durkan

176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which Irish-manufactured products continue to compete on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23500/24]

Job Creation

Bernard Durkan

177. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department continue to ensure an even spread of job creation investment throughout the country, with a view to ensuring the availability of an increasing number of job opportunities in those areas previously not experiencing this, with consequent benefits in respect of road transport, traffic congestion and journeys to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23501/24]

Economic Data

Bernard Durkan

178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which the level of investment in jobs here continues to keep pace with other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23502/24]

Business Supports

Bernard Durkan

179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which assistances towards small- and medium-sized enterprises here continues to equate with those available in other EU and non-EU jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23503/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Bernard Durkan

180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which the concept of working from home or via digital hubs is being progressed, with a view to ensuring the optimum results for employer, employee and the taxpayer; the extent of recent progress in this area; the extent to which the need for flexibility can be recognised by all parties within working from home arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23504/24]

Education Policy

Bernard Durkan

181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department continue to liaise with the educational sector in order to ensure the ready supply of suitably qualified employees for a competitive workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23505/24]

Trade Data

Bernard Durkan

182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the countries whence he sees the greatest competition for Ireland over the next five years in respect of the manufacturing and services sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23506/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Noel Grealish

61. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has been consulted with and provided observations on proposals to raise the legal age for smoking, particularly given concerns expressed by retailers on the workability of have differing age limits applying to the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products. [23037/24]

Departmental Priorities

Catherine Connolly

62. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 18 April 2024, for an update on his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to developing a new business and human rights action plan and implementation body; his plans for independent oversight of the implementation of the new action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23077/24]

Work Permits

Aindrias Moynihan

63. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the up-to-date position on the introduction of a single permit system for work permits and visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23082/24]

Business Supports

Aindrias Moynihan

64. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if supports are being considered for SMEs in the use of AI technologies for their businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23083/24]

Job Creation

Aindrias Moynihan

65. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being considered in increasing the current number of IDA-supported jobs for the mid Cork region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23084/24]

Employment Rights

Marc MacSharry

66. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any legislative measures in existence or planned to provide for employment rights for contract workers within the film industry where substantial tax incentives are provided to boost profitability, yet many workers and service providers are only being provided with temporary and/or rolling contracts with no employment rights or benefits as would normally accrue such as social insurance, pension, sick leave, holiday pay and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23142/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

67. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he or the Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail plan to sign the new draft contract cleaning employment regulation order which was submitted to him by the Labour Court in April 2024; when the new order will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23211/24]

Immigration Policy

Carol Nolan

68. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is proposing any measures in relation to enhanced enforcement of immigration compliance in the workplace to minimise illegal employment of foreign nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23217/24]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

69. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department collates data regarding the number of businesses found to be employing foreign nationals illegally; if so, if he will provide this data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23218/24]

Employment Rights

Brendan Griffin

70. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will formally confirm the terms of a registered employment agreement variation order (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23233/24]

Work Permits

Brendan Griffin

71. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a decision has been made on an application for an employment permit by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23260/24]

EU Regulations

Louise O'Reilly

256. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if own-resource income generated by IDA Ireland, and spent by IDA Ireland, is excluded from EU state aid rules. [22919/24]

EU Regulations

Louise O'Reilly

257. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the scope for the State to utilise the EU Chips Act Regulation 2023 to allow Ireland to provide State subsidies for chip factories and fab manufacturing and avoid EU state aid implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22922/24]

Flexible Work Practices

Seán Canney

258. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will request the Workplace Relations Commission to update its website as a matter of urgency to allow workers to lodge a complaint about an employer who is ignoring a remote working request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22523/24]

Work Permits

Brian Leddin

259. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit renewal applications received in each of the past six months; the number of renewal applications completed; the number of renewal applications awaiting processing; the number of renewal applications in the processing stage, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22547/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Griffin

260. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a late increased cost-of-living business grant application will be taken from a business in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22583/24]

Business Supports

Carol Nolan

261. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications made by county to the increased cost-of-business scheme; the funding allocated to each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22604/24]

Departmental Data

Louise O'Reilly

262. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of Irish SMEs using cloud, big data and AI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22721/24]

Business Regulation

Carol Nolan

263. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that directors of a company (details supplied) have 37 directorships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22727/24]

Employment Rights

Carol Nolan

264. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the delays in bringing forward the employment regulation order for security officers in 2024; if he is aware that these delays are impacting the wages of thousands of low-paid security officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/24]

Employment Rights

Catherine Murphy

265. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date on which the ERO for the security industry will commence. [22742/24]

Employment Rights

Steven Matthews

266. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the new draft employment regulation order for security officers; if he is concerned about the impact any delays are having on those who work in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22755/24]

Employment Rights

Eoin Ó Broin

267. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the employment regulation order for security officers will be signed and enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22862/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Smith

268. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if additional measures will be implemented to assist small-scale manufacturing, small-scale hospitality and small-scale retail to meet increased business costs that have occurred over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22748/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Smith

269. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if additional measures will be implemented to assist small and medium enterprises to meet increased business costs that have occurred over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22747/24]

EU Regulations

Louise O'Reilly

270. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if own-resource income generated and spent by Enterprise Ireland is excluded from EU state aid rules. [22918/24]

State Bodies

Louise O'Reilly

271. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the own-resource income generated by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in 2023; the amount each was sanctioned to retain; and the amount that was remitted to the Exchequer as an extra Exchequer receipt, by agency, in tabular form. [22920/24]

National Standards Authority of Ireland

Ged Nash

272. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a matter (details supplied); if he is satisfied the agency referenced is sufficiently staffed and has sufficient senior staff who have the necessary qualifications staff to fulfil the agency’s regulatory and industry-facing role in respect of a key industrial sector; the steps his Department and the agency concerned have taken to address high senior staff turnover and attrition rates at the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22921/24]

Legislative Process

Pauline Tully

273. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of the companies (corporate governance, enforcement and regulatory provisions) Bill; and when the Bill will move to the next Stage. [22953/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses, broken down by each local authority area in the State, that registered for the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, in tabular form. [22232/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

168. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding issued to businesses under the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, by local authority area, in tabular form. [22233/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reopen the increased cost-of-business grant. [22234/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Griffin

27. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a late increased cost-of-living business grant application will be accepted from a business (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21958/24]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of publicly funded contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department in each of the past ten years; the cost of each contract; and the purpose for which each contract was awarded. [18662/24]

Information and Communications Technology

Louise O'Reilly

29. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital investment in computer and data infrastructure, by investment, in each of the years since 2011, in tabular form. [21990/24]

Work Permits

Verona Murphy

30. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the new employment scheme for non-EEA fishermen; the estimated start date for the employment scheme, which was to replace the atypical working scheme for non-EEA fishers; when stakeholders will be notified and informed of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22062/24]

Business Supports

Paul Kehoe

258. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration can be given to allow late applications for the increased cost of business grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21181/24]

Vacant Sites

Niamh Smyth

259. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures his Department is taking to address vacant or derelict retail units in small towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21186/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

260. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current list of designated services of economic interest nationally as reported to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21199/24]

Employment Support Services

Louise O'Reilly

261. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what supports are in place under his Department to assist a person with a disability to get back to work, including supports for entrepreneurs; and the organisations that might assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21351/24]

State Bodies

Sorca Clarke

262. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if IDA Ireland put out a tender for a full-time United Arab Emirates based business development consultant in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [21417/24]

State Bodies

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

263. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the Enterprise Ireland office in Vietnam since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21428/24]

State Bodies

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

264. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the IDA office in Japan since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21429/24]

Middle East

Matt Carthy

265. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will immediately suspend the granting of export licences for dual-use items to Israel in light of the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution demanding an arms embargo on Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21468/24]

Trade Agreements

Matt Carthy

266. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his engagements regarding the Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21469/24]

Legislative Process

Matt Carthy

267. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the engagements he has had with Cabinet colleagues in relation to the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023; the work completed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21470/24]

Business Supports

Jim O'Callaghan

268. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many businesses registered for the ICOB grant as of the deadline of 1 May 2024, by each local authority, in tabular form; if late applications are being accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21488/24]

Export Controls

Catherine Connolly

269. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Annual Report on activity under the Control of Exports Act 2008, covering the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21500/24]

Work Permits

Michael Healy-Rae

270. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21531/24]

Business Supports

Matt Shanahan

271. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that need to be taken to complete a ICOB scheme application given that the MyCoCo programme timed them out and shut down (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21555/24]

Industrial Relations

Paul Murphy

272. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the development of an action plan for increasing the collective bargaining coverage rate. [21629/24]

Trade Unions

Paul Murphy

273. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he agrees with the asks of a campaign (details supplied). [21630/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

274. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of his Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if he will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if he will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21689/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

275. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21862/24]

Business Supports

Robert Troy

165. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications received for the cost of business support grant on a county-by-county basis and the corresponding amount of grant awarded. [21101/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

170. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if local enterprise offices do not offer grants to financial advisors working in the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20193/24]

Departmental Data

Louise O'Reilly

171. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 6 March 2024, the expected default rate on State-backed loans of 80%; how such a rate is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20289/24]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employees within his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department who are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations; to outline, in tabular form, the length of time these employees have been under suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20312/24]

EU Programmes

Matt Carthy

173. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the EU programmes or funds outside of the multiannual financial framework that Ireland has paid into from the year 2014 to date; any receipts from same, by programme or fund, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20353/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Louise O'Reilly

174. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current rate of basic level digital intensity of Irish SMEs. [20428/24]

Business Supports

Claire Kerrane

175. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide, in tabular form, all grants available to new businesses setting up in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20440/24]

Ports Policy

Neasa Hourigan

176. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a ship, the Sarah M, certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and seeking to head towards Greenore, County Louth; whether he is assured this vessel will not port and engage in export, which would be in contravention of sanctions placed upon Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20454/24]

Work Permits

Fergus O'Dowd

177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide their views on a report in relation to work permits (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20598/24]

Workplace Relations Commission

Paul Donnelly

178. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant WTE positions currently in the Workplace Relations Commission; the estimated full-year cost of filling each of those vacancies; and when each of the vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [20635/24]

Departmental Data

Louise O'Reilly

179. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of Irish businesses using Cloud, Big Data and AI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20706/24]

Departmental Policies

Fergus O'Dowd

180. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond and address serious concerns raised by local business owner in respect of the current pressures facing the food and hospitality sectors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20727/24]

Business Supports

Darren O'Rourke

181. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the trading online voucher scheme can be used to help businesses migrate from a copper broadband connection to a fibre broadband connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20785/24]

Company Law

James Browne

150. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding a personal situation related to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19920/24]

EU Directives

Cormac Devlin

151. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the transposition of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19994/24]

Business Supports

Jim O'Callaghan

152. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail, in tabular form, on the basis of a local authority breakdown, the number of businesses that have registered for the Increased Cost of Business Scheme grant as of 29 April 2024, or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20073/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

153. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 25 April 2024, the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to social enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20102/24]

Industrial Development

Brendan Howlin

154. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; the number of site visits organised by the IDA for companies in each of the past three years, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20103/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Howlin

155. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20104/24]

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

132. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department, and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19572/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Neasa Hourigan

133. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to small and medium enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19619/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Jim O'Callaghan

134. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his response to the recommendations of the Report on Offshore Renewable Energy published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19905/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Niamh Smyth

135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for a sole trader (details supplied) to deal with rates; and what grants are available to them. [19906/24]

Work Permits

Michael Healy-Rae

267. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 23 April 2024, if he will provide further information in relation to production staff for fish processing in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19195/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

268. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18732/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

269. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond to concerns raised by a local business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18805/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

270. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18834/24]

Brexit Supports

Catherine Murphy

271. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the €15 million allocated to his Department under the 2023 EU Brexit Adjustment Fund was spent; and if he will provide headings and sub-headings and amounts associated with same. [18898/24]

Visa Agreements

Matt Carthy

272. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of an issue impacting upon non-EU citizens working in Ireland whereby they are unable to secure appointments to apply for Schengen area visas; if he has engaged with relevant EU Member State embassies in Ireland or his EU counterparts in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

273. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19163/24]

Business Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

274. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in a situation where a business in the hospitality trade is paying above the €30 thousand rates criteria to access the ICOB grants, if he will provide details of all other supports that would be available to this business considering the pressures on the sector at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19318/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

275. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19358/24]

Artificial Intelligence

David Stanton

276. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current composition of the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council; the number of times it has met since its establishment; the advice, if any, he has received to date from the Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19392/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

277. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if digital innovation vouchers can be used to help businesses migrate from a copper broadband connection to a fibre broadband connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19405/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

278. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the nature of and the current situation with regard to the European Commission’s announcement of 20 September 2022 that it was sending Ireland a formal notice (INFR(2022)0369) in respect of Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19498/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

279. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the nature of and current situation with regard to the European Commission’s announcement of 26 January 2023 that it was sending Ireland a reasoned opinion (INFR(2018)2235) for the non-conformity of Irish legislation with Directive 2014/67/EU on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19499/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

167. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to multinational corporations for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18572/24]

Business Supports

David Stanton

168. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the supports, if any, available to refurbish vacant or derelict properties to use for retail or business purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18584/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses, broken down by every local authority area in the State, that have registered for the increased cost of business grant to date. [18587/24]