Parliamentary questions

Work Permits

Martin Browne

165. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average wait time for employment permit renewals; and if his attention has been drawn to delays in the system (details supplied). [17328/21]

Future Growth Loan Scheme

Imelda Munster

166. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to open the future growth loan scheme to new applicants for long term loans of seven to ten years, given the extended period of lockdown expected in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17623/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Pa Daly

167. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if approval will be given for bridal wear shops to be classified as essential retail outlets in accordance with NPHET guidelines, given the exceptionally lengthy process involved in ordering and altering bridal clothing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16310/21]

Legislative Programme

Neale Richmond

168. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered implementing additional public bank holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16317/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

John Brady

169. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the due diligence mechanisms that will be put in place to ensure that an Israeli-headquartered entity seeking investment opportunities in Ireland does not operate in or profit from Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16342/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

John Brady

170. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the IDA will use the UN database of companies operating in Israeli settlements in order to screen for companies that may be guilty of human rights abuses in the context of the planned IDA campaign to situate a business development consultant in Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16343/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

John Lahart

171. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for small businesses that may not survive if rent arrears are demanded to be paid by landlords post Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16354/21]

Departmental Projects

Louise O'Reilly

172. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the agreement reached by the Spanish Government to trial a four-day working week under a small pilot project; if his Department is examining the matter and the possibility of introducing a similar pilot project here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16443/21]

Co-operative Sector

Louise O'Reilly

173. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will re-establish the cooperative development unit as a worker co-operative development unit in order to coordinate the existing worker cooperative network and to provide capital and technical assistance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16444/21]

IDA Ireland

Bríd Smith

174. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the IDA seeking to establish links with businesses in Israel; if he will take steps to ensure that there is no cooperation between Ireland and the Israeli state, given its treatment and repression of the Palestinian people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16445/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Willie O'Dea

175. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the click and collect service is having a disproportionately negative effect on smaller family run retailers; if he will consider reversing the ban on non-essential retailers operating a click and collect or call and collect service in order to help these businesses survive the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16459/21]

Company Registration

Catherine Murphy

176. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the monthly revenues the Companies Registration Office received in December 2020 and January, February and to date in March 2021 from company documents purchased; and the revenues generated from company documents from the corresponding months in December 2019 and January, February and March 2020. [16464/21]

Company Registration

Catherine Murphy

177. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount the Companies Registration Office has paid to suppliers for its new information technology platform introduced on 16 December 2020; the number of complaints the office has received regarding the introduction of the new platform; and the nature of those complaints. [16465/21]

Company Registration

Catherine Murphy

178. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the ongoing challenges in introducing the new information technology platform of the Companies Registration Office; and if the office has withheld payments to suppliers due to the ongoing difficulties. [16466/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Peadar Tóibín

179. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Covid-19 supports and funds paid out per sector in 2020. [16538/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Peadar Tóibín

180. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Covid-19 supports and funds paid out per sector to date in 2021. [16539/21]

Departmental Legal Cases

Mairéad Farrell

181. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts in each of the years 2017 to 2020. [16590/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Niamh Smyth

182. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that have been introduced for small businesses, as in the case of a business (details supplied) that has no choice but to offer redundancy packages to employees, given the business will struggle to reopen. [16690/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Emer Higgins

183. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available to private coach and bus operators who do not have a premises and do not pay rates to their local council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16711/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Emer Higgins

184. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available for microbusinesses that do not pay rates to their local council but still have fixed costs to meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16778/21]

Economic Policy

Neale Richmond

185. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor; the way they will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16799/21]

Economic Policy

Neale Richmond

186. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the proposed timeline of the implementation of the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16800/21]

Economic Policy

Neale Richmond

187. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the benefits the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor will bring to businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16801/21]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Alan Dillon

188. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government has considered working with IDA biopharma industries to set up a vaccine manufacturing plant here for generic or third party manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines; and the level of engagement he has had with the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, NIBRT, and manufacturing companies based here (details supplied) for site manufacturing of same. [16820/21]

Retail Sector

Brendan Griffin

189. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if advice will be provided on a matter (details supplied) in relation to developing a pilot town programme for retail development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16905/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neale Richmond

190. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered classifying children’s clothing and shoes as essential goods that can be purchased in-store during level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16906/21]

Legislative Programme

Holly Cairns

191. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on making St. Brigid’s Day a public holiday; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16944/21]

UN Conventions

Holly Cairns

192. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role of his Department, if any, in ensuring that the State meets its commitments under the UN International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; if so, if he will provide details of same for the years 2019 and 2020 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16945/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Lowry

193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the turnover criteria in relation to funding for small business through the small business assistance scheme for Covid, given that applicants are required to have a minimum turnover of €50,000 for each rateable premises; his views on whether many small businesses that are looking to avail of these supports from the scheme will not be able to fulfil this minimum turnover criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17026/21]

Enterprise Ireland

Claire Kerrane

194. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the companies in Galway city that have benefited from grants from Enterprise Ireland in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [17032/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul McAuliffe

195. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to provide the supports available under the Covid-19 business aid scheme for those without commercial rates contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17038/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Rose Conway-Walsh

196. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for new businesses starting up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17101/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Cormac Devlin

197. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will seek a review of the regulations surrounding the sale of children's clothes, in particular children's shoes, which require correct measurements and regular changes to reflect their essential nature; the timeline for the reopening of shoe shops and retail outlets that sell shoes and clothes for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17282/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Alan Dillon

198. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide clarification regarding applications to the small business assistance scheme for Covid; and the way in which a business demonstrates its ineligibility for the Covid restrictions support scheme; if a formal rejection is required from the scheme; if a business can self-declare itself ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17373/21]

Irish Sign Language

Holly Cairns

199. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit are meeting obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17424/21]

Commencement of Legislation

Holly Cairns

200. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the Acts falling under his Department that have been signed into law but have not been commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17442/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Louise O'Reilly

201. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 24 March 2021, the number of breaches to be relayed in relation to the NACE sector in which the breach took place by year in tabular form. [17466/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Carol Nolan

202. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are grants available for businesses with a turnover of less than €50,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17471/21]

Grant Payments

Catherine Murphy

203. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the IDA and Enterprise Ireland can claw back grant aid to companies in instances in which the company has reneged and-or breached its agreed targets; and if he will provide a schedule including amount and company name of grants clawed back in the past 10 years. [17528/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Christopher O'Sullivan

204. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a return to click and collect for retail will be explored as opposed to click and deliver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17547/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Gary Gannon

205. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many SMEs and microenterprises are excluded from the support provided by the small business assistance scheme for Covid, given that they are not listed as ratepayers; if recourse will be provided for those that cannot access the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17597/21]

Retail Sector

Fergus O'Dowd

206. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in relation to the current pressure on retailers will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17603/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Mairéad Farrell

207. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the spend for his Department on public procurement disaggregated by spend on goods, services and capital works in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [17958/21]

Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland

Brendan Griffin

1. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if additional funding will be provided to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland Covid-19 loan scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16126/21]

Departmental Communications

Eoin Ó Broin

2. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the dedicated email addresses for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact his Department and bodies under its aegis as outlined in circular 25/2016. [16002/21]

Protected Disclosures

Catherine Murphy

3. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number that were accepted as a protected disclosure; the number that were in part or fully examined by a third party or consultancy; the number of protected disclosures under investigation over this period; and the number that were finalised and the contents accepted and acted on. [16028/21]

Protected Disclosures

Catherine Murphy

4. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 from officials within his Department; the number of officials who made protected disclosures over the period and who are now not working in his Department; and the number of protected disclosures received from retired officials of his Department over the period. [16046/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the pandemic supports available to businesses trading under €50,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16209/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Alan Dillon

6. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to increase the ease of setting up new businesses (details supplied); if there are dedicated new business supports for such businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16262/21]

Job Creation

Denis Naughten

7. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for replacement jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Galway; the steps he has taken to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16282/21]

Intellectual Property

John Brady

138. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement Ireland had in respect of the position taken by the European Commission at the March 2021 World Trade Organization meeting on the proposed temporary TRIPS waiver on intellectual property in respect of Covid-19 vaccines and technology; if Ireland supported the decision by the European Commission to oppose such a waiver; if he will engage further with the European Commission on this issue in advance of the next World Trade Organization meeting in April 2021; his views on the implications of this matter for global public health and the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15381/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

David Cullinane

139. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if businesses which were non-trading in March 2020 but began or were due to begin trading in 2020 or 2021 during the pandemic will qualify for the Covid-19 business aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13884/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Neale Richmond

140. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the redundancy protections in place for women who have had to cut back on their hours or take leave during the Covid-19 pandemic to manage unpaid domestic, childcare and homeschooling demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13896/21]

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Catherine Connolly

141. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action taken by his Department 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; the steps he plans to take on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13952/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Canney

142. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans being put in place in the form of a job retention scheme to assist SMEs to take on long-term employees and to encourage persons to return to work post Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14001/21]

Labour Market

Seán Canney

143. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans being developed to entice emigrants to return to Ireland to join the workforce, especially in construction, in which there is a deficit in workers which will impact negatively on the capital programme from 2021 onwards. [14025/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Marian Harkin

144. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount businesses have drawn down from the €2 billion Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme launched in 2020; and if a quarterly breakdown of the amounts drawn down will be provided. [14026/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Matt Shanahan

145. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available under the Covid-19 business aid scheme for those without commercial rates contributions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14046/21]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Sorca Clarke

146. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the feasibility studies and engagement that has been carried out to date on the potential to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines in Ireland given the level of pharmaceutical companies and activities here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14127/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Louise O'Reilly

147. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the data which show that 46% of inspections in meat processing plants between 2015 and 2020 uncovered breaches of employment law; the number of workplace inspectors the Workplace Relations Commission has; and his further views on whether this is sufficient for it to successfully investigate and uncover breaches of employment law in the meat processing sector and other sectors. [14201/21]

Work Permits

Paul Kehoe

148. 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. [14209/21]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Gino Kenny

149. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the person or body negotiating with pharmaceutical companies on behalf of the IDA vis-à-vis the production of vaccine in the Irish pharmaceutical sector; the person or section with which the IDA is liaising in his Department; the proposition being put to the pharmaceutical companies; the companies that have been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14255/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul McAuliffe

150. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grants available for online businesses in cases in which they are not entitled to the Covid restriction support scheme and Covid business aid scheme payments; the alternatives available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14387/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Paul McAuliffe

151. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports available for mobile businesses that are not entitled to the Covid restriction support scheme and Covid business aid scheme payments and do not pay commercial rates; if he is considering supports for these businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14388/21]

Legislative Process

Peadar Tóibín

152. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the process through which his Department drafts and produces legislation; if his Department outsources the drafting of legislation; if so, the Bills for which the drafting was outsourced since he took office; and the costs associated with the drafting of each Bill. [14417/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pearse Doherty

153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if businesses with no rateable premises will be denied access to the Covid-19 business aid scheme; if funding will be made available to cover this cohort of businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14488/21]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Murphy

154. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement he or bodies under his aegis had in respect of redundancies at a company (details supplied); if he will encourage the company to negotiate an enhanced redundancy payment in respect of those impacted; his plans to review and report on the reason for the company making these redundancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14621/21]

Enterprise Ireland

Catherine Murphy

155. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount in grants and-or funding provided by Enterprise Ireland by year to a company (details supplied). [14629/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Catherine Connolly

156. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the development of the Covid business assistance scheme; if the scheme will include backdated payments which take into account the loss of income and the costs incurred over the past 12 months, since the start of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14655/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Marian Harkin

157. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the targets set by IDA Ireland for foreign direct investment to each NUTS III region as required by the regional enterprise action plan; and the progress to date in meeting the respective targets. [14687/21]

Regional Enterprise Development Fund

Marian Harkin

158. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the distribution on a NUTS III basis of the regional enterprise development funds to date; and the breakdown of the projects funded in each NUTS III region of the regional strengthening projects which seek to stimulate community-based and local enterprise initiatives. [14688/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Pearse Doherty

159. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an international transport business operating as a sole trader (details supplied) in County Donegal can apply for the Enterprise Ireland Ready for Customs grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14768/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Pearse Doherty

160. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Enterprise Ireland Ready for Customs grant is open to sole traders and limited companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14769/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pearse Doherty

161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports for wedding photographers and videographers who have closed their businesses due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14770/21]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Richard Bruton

162. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the five most recent significant capital projects in the major functional responsibilities of his Department which require his sanction; the time which elapsed between the initial submission of the proposal for consideration until the construction commenced; the significant elements making up this period; the time spent in assessment prior to approval in the planning process; the time spent in assessment prior to approval in the procurement process of contractors; and the way this duration compared with the targeted time to delivery set out at the outset of the process. [14775/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Neale Richmond

163. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the restart grant will be reintroduced once businesses can reopen to support them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14815/21]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

164. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new HSA inspectors hired since June 2020 and January 2021, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/21]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

165. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Covid-19-related compliance checks undertaken by the HSA since June 2020 and January 2021, respectively; the number of inspections undertaken at sites of known outbreaks since these dates; the number of enforcement actions taken and completed since these dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14818/21]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

166. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Covid-19 complaints received by the HSA since June 2020 and January 2021, respectively; the percentage of these complaints that have been processed; the number of inspections and enforcement orders that were taken, respectively, as a result of these complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14819/21]

Health and Safety Authority

Ged Nash

167. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he has taken to prevent employers obliging employees to attend the workplace in circumstances in which remote working is a possibility in spite of current Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14820/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Denis Naughten

168. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a period spent on the pandemic unemployment payment can be included when reckoning continuous service to be eligible for a redundancy payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14869/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

169. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if shoe fitting for young children will be considered an essential retail service under level 5 restrictions (details supplied). [14926/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Louise O'Reilly

170. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections carried out by the Workplace Relations Commission in each of the years 2015 to 2020 by NACE sector; the number of breaches detected; and the type of breaches detected in tabular form. [14981/21]

Data Centres

Louise O'Reilly

171. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of data centres in the State; and the location and size of each centre in tabular form. [14982/21]

Brexit Supports

Louise O'Reilly

172. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if research has been carried out similar to research by Bord Bia on the UK export footprint in key European manufacturing markets; and the actions State agencies are taking to link with Irish manufacturing companies to help secure trade that may arise due to the new trading relationship between the UK and the EU. [14983/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Catherine Murphy

173. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide ongoing fixed costs supports for SMEs after all levels of public health restrictions have ceased in order for businesses to scale up activities. [14992/21]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Murphy

174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has engaged with a company (details supplied) in respect of proposed redundancies; if he has made enquiries as to whether the redundancies are mandatory or voluntary; and if he has engaged with the company and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on plans to retain jobs. [15088/21]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Murphy

175. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of Enterprise Ireland grants for the 22 regulatory roles affected by the redundancies at a company (details supplied) in 2021 and future years. [15089/21]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Murphy

176. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he and-or his officials have engaged with a company (details supplied) in respect of redundancy packages in order to secure the statutory two weeks that will be given an additional six weeks' pay for each year of service, as is industry standard. [15090/21]

Departmental Transport

Duncan Smith

177. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vehicles owned or leased and operated by his Department and agencies and semi-State companies under his remit broken down by the number of ICE and non-ICE vehicles and fuel category, that is, petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15117/21]

Intellectual Property

Gary Gannon

178. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement by Ireland on the position taken by the European Commission at the March 2021 World Trade Organization meeting on the proposed temporary TRIPS waiver on intellectual property in respect of Covid-19 vaccine and technology; if Ireland supported the decision by the European Commission to oppose such a waiver; his views on the implications of this decision for global public health and the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15130/21]

Intellectual Property

Martin Browne

179. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the recent discussions on intellectual property waivers for vaccines at the WTO (details supplied); his position on the issue; and if the Irish ambassador to the WTO has clarified the position of Ireland on the proposal. [15179/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

180. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that will be taken to assist towns and retailers to prepare for the reopening of the economy; the guidance on the type of easing of restrictions that is being planned for the next review of Covid-19 measures on 5 April 2021; if there is a return to level 4 as per the framework for living with Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15209/21]

Consumer Protection

Seán Sherlock

181. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to an influx in cases of pyramid schemes in operation; and the steps being taken to combat same. [15217/21]

Joint Labour Committees

Seán Sherlock

182. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will request the creation of a joint labour committee for early years education as a matter of urgency. [15275/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

183. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will re-examine the minimum turnover criteria for small to medium-sized businesses looking to avail of the small business assistance scheme (details supplied). [15324/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Sherlock

184. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering making it permissible for shoe stores to offer appointments for sizing children's feet under public health restrictions. [15350/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Howlin

185. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered the admission of the events industry to supports and schemes (details supplied) until six months after mass gatherings are permitted again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Jim O'Callaghan

186. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an association (details supplied) will be recognised as the representative body for wedding planners in Ireland; and if discussions will take place between him and the association in respect of the recommencement of weddings. [15493/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Chris Andrews

187. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available to SMEs that opened from the beginning of January 2020 and that are now temporarily closed under the current lockdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15505/21]