Parliamentary questions

Flexible Work Practices

Ruairí Ó Murchú

54. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the progress of the actions contained in the National Remote Work Strategy; the status of outstanding actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53103/21]

Departmental Reviews

John Lahart

55. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the review of the retail sector will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52619/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Peadar Tóibín

56. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the reported 59% fall in foreign investment in 2020 to €28 billion; and the response his Department has taken to reverse this decrease. [52010/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Pa Daly

57. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies or organisations the IDA has discussed with visits to County Kerry during 2021 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52995/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Michael Moynihan

58. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the remote working strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52576/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Willie O'Dea

59. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding which is being set aside by his Department in 2022 for Covid-19 related measures which come under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52768/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Thomas Gould

60. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role his Department is taking in the planned refurbishment of the Butter Exchange in Shandon, Cork city to be used as a hub for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. [53167/21]

Trade Agreements

Matt Carthy

61. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the interactions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52449/21]

Employment Rights

Mick Barry

62. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce measures to improve the rights of workers to avail of sick leave and paid sick leave in all sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53176/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cormac Devlin

63. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Covid credit guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52617/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Dara Calleary

64. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new jobs that have been created or supported in County Mayo by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to date in 2021. [52615/21]

InterTradeIreland

Brendan Smith

65. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the increased supports being provided for InterTradeIreland to respond to the increased complexity of cross-Border trade post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52553/21]

Joint Labour Committees

Kathleen Funchion

66. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Joint Labour Committee examination of the pay and working conditions of childcare professionals; and when he expects the steering group to publish its report. [48273/21]

Food Industry

Jackie Cahill

67. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the support his Department is providing for the food transformation fund scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52655/21]

Industrial Development

Willie O'Dea

68. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount being provided for an advanced manufacturing centre in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52769/21]

Data Centres

Denis Naughten

69. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions his officials have had with IDA Ireland with regard to the development of data centres in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48276/21]

Insurance Industry

John Lahart

70. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the implementation of the insurance reform measures under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52618/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Louise O'Reilly

71. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there has been movement in regard to Ireland calling on the European Union to support a temporary TRIPS waiver on Covid-19 vaccines, medicines and diagnostics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53074/21]

Low Pay Commission

Paul Murphy

72. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his recent appointments to the Low Pay Commission; and his plans for further changes to the make-up or remit of the commission. [53138/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

73. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the new IDA building in County Carlow will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52991/21]

Enterprise Policy

Pa Daly

74. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times it is anticipated that the Shannon Estuary Task Force will meet before the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52996/21]

Joint Labour Committees

Brendan Griffin

75. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress by the Joint Labour Committee on pay and conditions in the early years sector; when the process will conclude; the way the Government will act thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

76. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the review of the Work Safety Protocol presented on 19 October 2021 is still valid in view of current situation with Covid-19; if a further review is being undertaken or scheduled to be presented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53109/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which efforts are being made to facilitate sectors of industry having difficulty filling staff vacancies; the degree to which particular sectors have been severely affected by this issue; when it is expected that there might be a resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52709/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Louise O'Reilly

80. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the current debate on a pandemic recognition dividend for front-line workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53075/21]

Banking Sector

Peadar Tóibín

81. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the proposed instant payments system proposed by banks (details supplied) and the objection filed by an organisation with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52007/21]

Work Permits

Mary Butler

82. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the status of a work permit (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52081/21]

Home Care Packages

Catherine Murphy

83. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to challenges in sourcing workers in the homecare sector; his plans to include this cohort on the critical skills list under the caring personal services heading to ensure non-EEA workers can gain permits to work in this important sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52109/21]

EU Directives

Alan Kelly

84. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the failure to implement the EU Copyright Directive; the reason given to the European Commission for not implementing same; if the assurances given by Ireland in relation to the matter have been followed through; and when the Directive will be transposed into Irish law. [52131/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Louise O'Reilly

85. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will give a detailed and written outline of the expectations on workers and employers over the coming number of months regarding the return to workplaces and remote working. [52245/21]

Work Permits

Catherine Murphy

86. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to update, amend and or increase the prescribed list of work on the critical skills list; and his plans to make the application process more efficient for the applicant. [52270/21]

Work Permits

Catherine Murphy

87. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications to the critical skills employment permit in the past three years to date in 2021; the number accepted, refused and appealed, respectively; and the average time to receive a permit from date of application to the date of issuing the permit. [52271/21]

Grant Payments

Brian Leddin

88. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a grant awarded under the regional enterprise development fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52281/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Duncan Smith

89. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the recently announced updated guidelines include the continuation of appointments only for the hair and beauty industry; the way this will be enforced and monitored; the additional guidelines that will be in place for those availing of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52329/21]

EU Agreements

Richard Bruton

90. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when Ireland will complete ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52363/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

91. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA inspections carried out specifically in relation to Covid-19 in third-level over the academic year 2020-2021 and to date in the current academic year. [52584/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Alan Kelly

92. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he plans to introduce a bill to provide for a right to request remote working; the protections that are in place now for employees who want to continue working from home but are directed to return to office despite being able to carry out their duties at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52649/21]

Employment Rights

Alan Kelly

93. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on plans for a statutory sick pay scheme; when the legislation will be published; if he has a deadline for when he plans to introduce the bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52650/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Alan Kelly

94. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if legislation to provide for a right to request remote working will be in place before the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52651/21]

Living Wage

Alan Kelly

95. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which he intends to introduce a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52652/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Catherine Murphy

96. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the take-up of Enterprise Ireland innovation vouchers since the scheme was introduced; the number of vouchers used; the number of participating SMEs; the amount spent on the scheme; the type of institutions to which the vouchers go; the sectors and areas in which the vouchers were utilised in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52659/21]

Unfair Dismissals

Mick Barry

97. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way a person (details supplied) who made a successful complaint for unfair dismissal against their former employer at the Employment Appeals Tribunal in 2012 and obtained an enforcement order for a greater sum from the Circuit Court on 20 March 2015 but never subsequently received their due compensation due to the failure of the sheriff to execute the order against the former employer who ceased trading with that company can have their rights vindicated; if there is no remedy at this point in time to extract the sum from their former employer, if they can obtain a statutory redundancy from the social insurance fund for their years' service with the former employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52760/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which staff remain available to return to their respective employment post-Covid-19; if any specific challenges have arisen in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52829/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he remains satisfied that job opportunities are being restored as soon as possible to pre-pandemic levels; the actions already in hand in this regard or contemplated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52830/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Bernard Durkan

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which new enterprises continue to be funded in various forms in order to address the negative impact of Covid-19 and Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52831/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which incentives continue to be made available to encourage the manufacturing and services sectors given the impact of both Brexit and Covid-19; if new measures are planned or currently in hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52832/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if particular incentives are being considered to encourage the entrepreneurial skills of younger persons throughout the country particularly in the aftermath of Covid-19 and Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52833/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which a demand still exists for the location of international call centres in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52834/21]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he remains satisfied that Ireland’s export market continues to be accessible in the immediate aftermath of Brexit; if particular or specific challenges have been identified as potential major obstacles for Irish exporters and importers; if contingency measures have been fully decided upon and are now in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52835/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Bernard Durkan

105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he remains satisfied that Ireland will continue to be attractive as a location for foreign direct investment with particular reference to the recent changes to Ireland's corporation tax rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52836/21]

Employment Schemes

Bernard Durkan

106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which Irish persons overseas can be encouraged to return to Ireland in order to meet staff vacancies throughout industry; if there are specific plans or measures in hand in respect of same at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52837/21]

Construction Industry

Bernard Durkan

107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which job replacement or restoration throughout the construction sector has been or is being realised; if further steps are necessary in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52839/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which he continues to support and drive the creation of new enterprises in the indigenous sector nationally with particular reference to the need to encourage the generation of employment in all regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52840/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Bernard Durkan

109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which employment levels have improved in both the manufacturing and services sectors following the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions; the extent to which he has identified particular issues needing attention; the action taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52855/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Bernard Durkan

110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if foreign direct investment has been to any extent affected by changes in the corporation profits tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52856/21]

Trade Promotion

Bernard Durkan

111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which his Department continues to vigorously press for new markets for Irish products at home and abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52857/21]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which particular changes have been noted in international markets in which Irish goods and services are competing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52858/21]

Economic Growth

Bernard Durkan

113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which fuel and energy shortages and immigrants who might be in a position to join the workforce early if admitted is likely to affect economic growth here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52860/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Bernard Durkan

114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which the island of Ireland is likely to continue to be an attractive place for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52862/21]

Redundancy Payments

Bernard Durkan

115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that entitlements to redundancy payments will not be affected other than during the period of lockdown and that actual entitlement will be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48450/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Michael Healy-Rae

116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address a scenario (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52938/21]

Work Permits

Richard Bruton

117. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if healthcare assistants have been removed from the ineligible list for work permits, yet organisations providing home care have been excluded from eligibility, even though it is public policy to support persons remaining independent for as long as possible and pay levels in the sector are now comparable with those in residential settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52993/21]

Ticket Touting

Louise O'Reilly

118. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of venues that have applied to be a designated venue under the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act 2021 since it was enacted; and if the upcoming World Cup qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Portugal has been designated a venue under the legislation. [53011/21]

Vacant Properties

Darren O'Rourke

119. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant properties at the IDA Business Park, Johnstown, Navan, County Meath. [53047/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

120. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of his engagement with regard to pursuing existing flexibilities in the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, TRIPS, to allow for a waiver of intellectual property rights concerning Covid-19 vaccines to facilitate the universal and equitable access to said vaccines. [46660/21]

Departmental Contracts

Mary Lou McDonald

121. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of existing contracts of an indefinite period entered into by his Department prior to the enactment of the EU Procurement Directive. [53227/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

122. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the meetings or consultations that took place between his Department and representatives of the live performance and nightlife sector, including workers and businesses, in the week prior to the announcements on 19 October of the plans to ease restrictions on the sector. [53306/21]

Ticket Touting

Sorca Clarke

123. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications his Department received from venue operators to have one or more of their venues designated for the purpose of the Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Act from its implementation in July to date. [53345/21]

Redundancy Payments

Emer Higgins

152. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider an alleviation to the calculation of the average salary for the purpose of calculating severance packages to allow for a normal salary to be averaged as opposed to the actual reduced earnings which are currently being used and have been significantly lower for the past 19 months for some workers due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51878/21]

Legislative Programme

Ged Nash

153. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the proposed right to request legislation; if the legislation will be enacted by the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51809/21]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

63. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or any official from his Department has held meetings or conducted correspondence with a company (details supplied) from 1 January 2017 to date; if his Department has engaged the services of the company for any purposes from 1 January 2017 to date; if so, the nature of such services and the costs incurred; if a tender process was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51352/21]

Climate Change Policy

Alan Farrell

64. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts being made by his Department to sustain and grow the green economy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51592/21]

Insurance Industry

Catherine Murphy

65. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 12 October 2021, if he will provide a schedule of the steps he has taken to reduce insurance costs. [51702/21]

Universal Basic Income

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

239. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work being undertaken to deliver a universal basic income pilot separate to the pilot basic income for arts; the reason these two schemes have been separated; and when he expects both to be delivered. [50974/21]

Employment Rights

Ivana Bacik

240. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if undocumented workers who report illegal employment practices as described in Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 7 October 2021 will be referred to immigration authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50449/21]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig MacLochlainn

241. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the State organisation that assumed responsibility for ensuring the quality of concrete blocks from the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards after it was merged with the National Board for Science and Technology to form Eolas in 1988 and then Forbairt in 1993. [50457/21]

Work Permits

Neale Richmond

242. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of non-EEA doctors that are offered critical skills work permits from 2015 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50472/21]

Work Permits

Neale Richmond

243. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a programme to encourage non-EEA doctors and their families to work and stay in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50473/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Carol Nolan

244. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address concerns (details supplied); the business supports that may be available to severely impacted cottage industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50654/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Bernard Durkan

245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date in the National Remote Work Strategy; when it is expected to implement the recommendations from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50690/21]

Work Permits

Carol Nolan

246. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address concerns that the delay in issuing work permits for persons from outside the EEA is having an extremely adverse impact on capacity of certain sectors to maintain viability, particularly the pig sector and the slaughtering plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50855/21]

Industrial Development

Louise O'Reilly

247. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to French President's five-year, €30 billion industrial strategy and investment plan aimed at boosting domestic high-tech industries and reducing dependence on imported raw materials and electronic components; if he has plans for developing a comprehensive, cross-sectoral industrial strategy for the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50946/21]

Work Permits

Emer Higgins

248. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for his decision to exclude home carers from the critical skills exemption list to the non-EEA employment permit system on recruitment in the sector; the steps he will take to remedy same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50977/21]

Departmental Offices

Peadar Tóibín

249. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated amount spent by his Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51102/21]

Departmental Offices

Peadar Tóibín

250. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of his Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51119/21]

Work Permits

Richard O'Donoghue

251. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address concerns by farmers that factories are advising pig farmers that they may be unable to process their pigs as they are unable to source staff. [51171/21]

Departmental Working Groups

Gary Gannon

252. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the working groups his Department has with industry; the members of the groups; and the way the members of each group were selected. [51312/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Louise O'Reilly

81. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are supports available to a business owner in circumstances (details supplied). [50252/21]

Departmental Properties

Emer Higgins

82. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a list of buildings either owned or managed by her Department in Blanchardstown village, Dublin 15; and if they are currently being used. [50318/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Emer Higgins

83. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there will be a review of the application of the Workplace Relations Commission code of conduct on the right to disconnect by either the Workplace Relations Commission or his Department to examine the number of workplaces that have adopted it and the way they it is applied in practice; and the monitoring and evaluation of the policy that is being conducted. [50327/21]

Work Permits

Catherine Connolly

94. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to remove hospitality workers from the ineligible list of occupations for employment permits in view of the ongoing recruitment issues facing the hospitality sector as it continues to reopen in line with the Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49993/21]

Company Law

Louise O'Reilly

95. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to amend the Limited Partnership Act 1907; if not, if he will take other measures to prevent the use of limited partnerships in the State to facilitate offshore tax evasion or money laundering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50022/21]

Company Law

Louise O'Reilly

96. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policy steps he will take in response to the release of documents (details supplied) and Ireland's role in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50023/21]

Work Permits

Michael Creed

97. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has received a work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if so, when it will be processed. [50056/21]

Work Permits

Charles Flanagan

23. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he plans to expand the work permit scheme; if he will consider the pig industry having regard to the concern expressed regarding labour shortages in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49167/21]

Data Centres

Violet-Anne Wynne

24. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to introducing environmental policy and guidelines in relation to data centres in conjunction and consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49170/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Paul Murphy

25. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a number of employees that have been deemed unable to return to their place of work full-time by their healthcare professional under circumstances in which they are able to fulfil their job in full while working from home when they are experiencing inflexibility from their employers given the absence of remote working legislation; if his Department will be introducing measures to safeguard these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49216/21]

National Development Plan

Bernard Durkan

26. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which projects that fall within the aegis of his Department and are within the revised National Development Plan are at an advanced stage at present or are in course thereof; the extent to which preliminary work has taken place or on-site works are in hand or proposed; the expected delivery date of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49251/21]

Departmental Communications

Brendan Griffin

27. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when additional advice (details supplied) will be issued to employers and employees in relation to the return to the workplace. [49474/21]

Employment Rights

Catherine Murphy

28. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps his Department is taking to engage with payroll software developers in the planned roll-out of statutory sick pay for 2022; the degree of engagement that has taken place; his plans to open a consultation in advance of the roll-out; if his attention has been drawn to a perceived absence of a detailed specification of requirements regarding the calculation and reporting of the proposed statutory sick pay; and the date on which he plans to make that information available to the relevant stakeholders. [49489/21]