Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic

Holly Cairns

116. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on pursuing existing flexibilities in the WTO TRIPS agreement to allow for compulsory licensing regarding Covid-19 vaccines and facilitate the universal and equitable access to vaccines. [43804/21]

Departmental Meetings

Pa Daly

117. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on any meetings or engagements he or his Department have held with the play and leisure industry or amusement trade associations. [43475/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Michael Moynihan

118. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to facilitate hybrid working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43823/21]

Data Centres

Jennifer Whitmore

119. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a review of Government policy on the development of data centres in Ireland until a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out in relation to energy security, energy prices and their potential to impact on Ireland’s ability to meet climate targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43753/21]

Enterprise Policy

Aindrias Moynihan

120. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the South-West Regional Enterprise Plan. [43848/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

121. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will intervene via legislation or otherwise to protect workers who must stay at home with their school-aged child who has to self-isolate in accordance with public health guidelines; if he will ensure leave is available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43755/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Rose Conway-Walsh

122. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that have been taken to protect businesses such as retail and hospitality from commercial landlords attempting to recoup rent waived during periods of lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43819/21]

Legislative Measures

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

123. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the general scheme of the sick leave Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43752/21]

Dublin Bus

Louise O'Reilly

124. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or his office have had engagement with Dublin Bus drivers or their trade unions in relation to the current industrial relations dispute at the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43728/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

125. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in County Carlow that have applied to the small business assistance scheme; the number of same that have received funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43791/21]

Enterprise Policy

Brendan Smith

126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the North-East Regional Enterprise Plan. [43733/21]

Data Centres

Jennifer Whitmore

127. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are plans to update the Government statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy report taking into account increased growth in the sector since the policy was devised in 2017, new climate action legislation that has been enacted since and other relevant Government policies that have been drafted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43754/21]

Brexit Issues

Matt Carthy

128. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the interactions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding the extension of Brexit grace periods. [43526/21]

Trade Missions

Neale Richmond

129. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the recent trade mission to the UK, France and Germany; the number of Irish companies that have expanded into these markets during the Covid-19 pandemic period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43727/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kieran O'Donnell

130. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies by county that have availed of the Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme since its introduction; the closing date for this scheme; his plans to introduce further schemes to support businesses in the budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43812/21]

Cybersecurity Policy

Niamh Smyth

131. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to upgrade the IT systems of his Department and bodies under his remit with a view to maximise the protection against cyber criminals. [43845/21]

Job Losses

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

132. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of collective redundancies on a monthly basis have been notified to his Department in July and August and to date in September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43751/21]

Dublin Airport Authority

Darren O'Rourke

133. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has had any involvement in the ongoing industrial dispute at the Dublin Airport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43843/21]

Enterprise Policy

Christopher O'Sullivan

134. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will put in place measures to solve the current staffing crisis in the hospitality industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43827/21]

Insurance Industry

Brendan Griffin

135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts he is making to reduce insurance costs in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43788/21]

Enterprise Policy

David Stanton

136. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress being made by his Department in providing supports to businesses under the Sustaining Enterprise and Accelerated Recovery Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43382/21]

Work Permits

Bernard Durkan

137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he can facilitate the increased number of requests for work permit-related visas having particular regard to the acute shortages of staff in the various sectors; if an urgent evaluation can be undertaken of the waiting times involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43620/21]

National Minimum Wage

Violet-Anne Wynne

138. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address the fact that 116 workers employed by Shannon Group are currently working below the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44156/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

158. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has utilised the services of organisations (details supplied) at any time from 1 January 2015 to date; if so, the expenditure costs related to same; the purpose of any such engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43236/21]

Redundancy Payments

Niall Collins

159. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the case of a person (details supplied); if any help or advice will be provided in relation to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43353/21]

Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement

Catherine Murphy

160. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated full-year cost of recruiting five additional full-time professional accountants grade 1 and two additional full-time solicitors for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. [43411/21]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which efforts are being made to source an adequate supply of operatives to facilitate the meat-processing sector, having particular regard to the serious backlog that currently exists affecting the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43416/21]

Labour Market

Sorca Clarke

162. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to deal with the reported current shortfall in construction workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43493/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Sorca Clarke

163. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has engaged with local enterprise offices on their funding allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43494/21]

Labour Market

Matt Carthy

164. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to address the labour shortage in the mushroom industry; if he plans to reintroduce the pilot labour permit scheme; if he further plans to implement other supports in this regard; the status of the referenced review in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 5 May 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43510/21]

Fire Safety

David Stanton

165. Deputy David Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 44 of 23 June 2021, if his Department has completed its review of the public consultation submissions on furniture fire safety regulations; when he expects further recommendations on revised regulations to be issued; if his attention has been drawn to comparative domestic fire mortality rates in the EU and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43617/21]

Legislative Process

Ivana Bacik

166. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Bills prepared by his Department since 27 June 2020; the number and title of those Bills that included regulatory impact assessments; the title of the regulatory impact assessments that have been published by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43704/21]

Industrial Development

Aindrias Moynihan

167. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA Ireland site visits to County Cork in quarter 2 of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43956/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aindrias Moynihan

168. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in County Cork that have applied to the small business assistance scheme; the number of same that have received funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43957/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Catherine Murphy

169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures he has put in place and or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and penalty payments. [44001/21]

State Bodies

Catherine Murphy

170. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments in each of the years from 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 made by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors, in tabular form; and the measures that each respective body has put in place or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and-or penalty payments. [44017/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Paul Murphy

171. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to ensure that workers who wish to do so can work from home. [44022/21]

National Minimum Wage

Paul Murphy

172. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on lower minimum wages for young workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44023/21]

Employment Rights

Paul Murphy

173. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to ensure rapid implementation of the employment regulation order for the security sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44024/21]

Consumer Protection

Catherine Connolly

174. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 24 March 2021, the engagement his Department has had with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on the need to conduct an investigation into potential mis-selling by Irish agents involved in the French leaseback property scandal, particularly in view of the fact that the Direction générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des fraudes in France has now completed its investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44042/21]

Work Permits

Catherine Connolly

175. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to remove care workers and home carers from the ineligible list of occupations for employment permits in view of the ongoing recruitment issues facing the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44043/21]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by various sectors in the economy in obtaining the necessary levels of staff in the aftermath of Covid-19; if he has in mind specific actions to address this issue sector by sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44168/21]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

177. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which he has received communications from employers throughout the country who are experiencing difficulty in recruiting staff as Covid-19 restrictions are eased; if his attention has been drawn to the need for the expeditious processing of work permit applications or the use of other methods in order to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44169/21]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he expects staff shortages in the construction sector to be met with particular reference to the need to address such deficiencies in full at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44170/21]

Work Permits

Bernard Durkan

179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit-related visa applications currently awaiting processing, with particular reference to various aspects of the economy particularly affected by staff shortages; the means by which the Minister expects to address this issue in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44171/21]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to monitor difficulties experienced by Irish exporters arising from Brexit; the measures in place or proposed in respect of these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44172/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he continues to monitor each trade and industry to identify how they are impacted by Covid-19 and Brexit; if he remains satisfied that adequate steps can be taken to address such issues in the short and medium-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44174/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which investment in employment-creating sectors continues notwithstanding the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit; if he is satisfied that industry can look to the future with optimism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44175/21]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

183. 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44176/21]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which particular efforts are being made to assist employers particularly hit by staff shortages in the wake of Covid-19; if specific measures are being taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44177/21]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which employment has fluctuated over the past two years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44178/21]

Enterprise Policy

Bernard Durkan

186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which his Department has identified barriers to the recovery of the economy in the wake of Covid-19; his proposals to deal with such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44180/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Bernard Durkan

187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he remains satisfied that Ireland remains an attractive location for foreign direct investment notwithstanding changes to corporation tax levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44182/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Bernard Durkan

188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which the concept of working from home or through digital hubs is being progressed with a view to ensuring the optimum results for employer, employee and the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44184/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Bernard Durkan

189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department can address any issues arising from any lack of competitiveness for foreign direct investment in the wake of changes in corporation profits tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44185/21]

Enterprise Policy

Denise Mitchell

1. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland plans to open an office in Rome, Italy. [41463/21]

Health and Safety

Martin Browne

2. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of HSA investigations carried out to date in 2021, by county. [41515/21]

Departmental Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

3. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; the disability quota of his Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41591/21]

Weather Events

Seán Sherlock

4. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the compensatory measures that will be put in place for businesses (details supplied) following weather events in February 2021. [41610/21]

Work Permits

Paul Kehoe

5. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to reopen applications for work permits for dairy farm assistants in early 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41660/21]

Enterprise Policy

Rose Conway-Walsh

6. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding through technology gateways received by each EU NUTS 2 and 3 regions in the State per year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41688/21]

Company Registration

Fergus O'Dowd

7. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current length of time it is taking for documents to be scanned and uploaded on the CRO system; the reason for any delays; if further resources have been ringfenced for the CRO section in order to address any such delays in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41723/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Réada Cronin

8. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department or a State agency booked or paid for an event (details supplied); if so, the date the booking was made; the reason for the event and the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41735/21]

Zero-hour Contracts

Jim O'Callaghan

9. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action that can be taken in relation to carers on zero hour contracts (details supplied). [41736/21]

Departmental Meetings

Louise O'Reilly

10. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the meetings held by his Departmental officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in relation to the issue of infant nutrition in Ireland from 2016 to date, including the issue of infant formula; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41842/21]

Company Registration

Éamon Ó Cuív

11. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to defer the latest date for filing returns to the Companies Registration Office due to the difficulties businesses and accountants have had due to Covid-19 restrictions in which many of their staff are working remotely and also where response times from departments and State agencies are often delayed also affecting the ability of businesses and their accountants to access necessary information for returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41859/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Griffin

12. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if advice will be provided on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41878/21]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Réada Cronin

13. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will address the situation in relation to the removal of seating in shopping centres in the context of Covid-19 which is a serious barrier to persons with a disability who need to rest while they shop; if he will restore seating for this group as a matter of urgency who have suffered a disproportionate limit on their independence during the Covid-19 emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41907/21]

Ministerial Appointments

Réada Cronin

14. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the formal or informal roles held by a person (details supplied) with his Department or with any associated State agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41909/21]

Industrial Development

Thomas Pringle

15. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the new solar farm (details supplied in Cork accessed funding through the IDA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41927/21]

Work Permits

Paul Murphy

16. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide information in relation to his Department’s recent decision to allow non-EEA care assistants to work in hospitals and nursing homes but not in private homes; the reason home carers remain on the ineligible occupations list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41940/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Carol Nolan

17. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the costs this has generated in terms of the provision of laptops, desktop computers or contributions to wi-fi costs or phone-related expenses; the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41950/21]

Work Permits

Neale Richmond

18. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to issues in recruitment within the homecare sector which is believed to have been worsened by the decision to not allow providers to recruit staff from outside the EEA; if he has taken steps to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41967/21]

Enterprise Policy

Thomas Gould

19. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available to disabled entrepreneurs. [42180/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

20. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available to businesses that missed the deadline for the small business assistance scheme for COVID; and if he will consider allowing businesses to apply for this important grant after the closing date. [42191/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Sean Fleming

21. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of requests for appeals in respect of the restart grant plus scheme for Covid-19 when the closing date was abruptly introduced; the number of appeals and the estimated quantum value of the appeals by county together with the number of appeals and the quantum of amounts that were approved on appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42217/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pa Daly

22. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on previous and upcoming scheduled meetings with the play and leisure industry to discuss the need for ongoing business supports due to the Covid-19 pandemic and plans to reopen the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42228/21]

Intellectual Property

Neale Richmond

23. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has a draft timetable for full preparations up to and including the necessary referendum on the European Unified Patent Court system which Ireland signed up to and is now expected to be operational in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42435/21]

Intellectual Property

Neale Richmond

24. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the preparations to host an Irish local division of the Unified Patent Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42436/21]

Intellectual Property

Neale Richmond

25. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are plans in place to develop a strategy to market the Irish local division of the Unified Patent Court internationally to ensure it is successful and delivers on its full economic potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42437/21]

Intellectual Property

Neale Richmond

26. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering making a bid to host the central division of the Unified Patent Court system given that the UK’s withdrawal from the agreement means that the central division court destined for London will have to find a new home (details supplied); if there have been discussions with the enterprise agencies on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42438/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

27. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or his Department played any role in the procurement of ventilators from China at any point from 1 January 2020 to 1 January 2021. [42589/21]

Brexit Supports

Richard Bruton

28. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the new Brexit impact loan scheme an important support for Irish businesses who are facing challenges arising from Brexit and Covid-19 will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42591/21]

Business Regulation

Róisín Shortall

29. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the licensing and regulatory framework in place for the barbering trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42638/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Dara Calleary

30. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that being taken to facilitate remote working within his Department in particular to encourage remote working for those who live in the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42704/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Holly Cairns

31. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are accommodating requests for persons to work from home. [42754/21]

Intellectual Property

Holly Cairns

32. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to ensure that Covid-19 vaccine trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights waiver is addressed through the WTO TRIPS Agreement. [42776/21]

Government Communications

Gary Gannon

33. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has ever used his personal phones for Government business; and if so, if the personal phones have been hacked during his term of office. [42940/21]

Freedom of Information

Matt Carthy

34. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of freedom of information requests responded to by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of responses that included documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through an application (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42962/21]

Commissions of Investigation

David Cullinane

35. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost of each commission of investigation under the remit of his Department over the preceding decade. [42991/21]

Industrial Development

Martin Browne

36. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of properties owned by the IDA in Tipperary town; and the number of vacant IDA properties in Tipperary town. [43005/21]

Ministerial Appointments

Réada Cronin

37. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of formal and informal roles held by a person (details supplied) in the name of his Department or associated agency in the lifetime of this Government; when they were appointed to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43035/21]

Work Permits

Paul Kehoe

38. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to reopen applications for work permits for dairy farm assistants in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43049/21]

Government Communications

Catherine Murphy

39. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he and or his special advisers and or officials use or have used services (details supplied) to communicate in the past 18 months. [43069/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gary Gannon

11. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of Ireland considering the TRIPS waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41394/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cormac Devlin

12. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when in the Roadmap for Reopening the Economy and Society it is expected further details will be provided on arrangements for trade fairs and exhibitions. [41419/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Brady

13. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will take through the European Commission and European Council to support the aims of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39074/21]

Enterprise Policy

Martin Browne

14. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to capitalise on the potential transport links such as the N24, Limerick Junction and the motorway links that County Tipperary has to offer; his views on the way these links might be best used; the work he has carried out to capitalise from the strategic location of County Tipperary in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39318/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Duncan Smith

15. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has plans to introduce an apprenticeship programme for airplane pilot training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39391/21]

Aviation Industry

Duncan Smith

16. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures his Department is taking to reduce the disparity in gender balance in airplane pilot jobs given that only 6% of pilots are female; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39392/21]