Parliamentary questions

Business Supports

Alan Dillon

263. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what supports are in place for a start-up construction business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16455/24]

State Bodies

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

264. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits hosted by the IDA in County Carlow in 2023 and for the first two months of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16606/24]

Construction Industry

Ivana Bacik

265. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in developing a dashboard of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) metrics to benchmark, and subsequently track, levels of MMC adoption in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16652/24]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

266. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the next ERO pay increase for security officers who remain the lowest paid sector and who have had just one incremental pay increase in almost five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16758/24]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Connolly

111. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions of a bank (details supplied) with reference to its intentions to lay off more than 168 workers in its Dublin headquarters; if he has met with the bank to ensure that they are fully compliant with all relevant redundancy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15887/24]

Low Pay Commission

Patricia Ryan

112. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide, in tabular form, the capital costs and initial set-up costs for the Low Pay Commission from set-up in 2020. [15913/24]

Low Pay Commission

Patricia Ryan

113. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide, in tabular form for the years 2020 to 2024, the costs of staffing the offices of the Low Pay Commission, to include initial start-up costs, office costs, CEO appointments and all other relevant costs. [15914/24]

State Bodies

Catherine Murphy

60. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits hosted by the IDA in County Kildare in 2023 and for the first two months of 2024. [15560/24]

Employment Rights

Louise O'Reilly

61. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a second pay increase will be commenced under the Employment Regulation Order for workers in the security sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15666/24]

Health and Safety

Louise O'Reilly

62. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of health and safety issues in the fishing sector (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that the health and safety of fishers is prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15687/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Aindrias Moynihan

371. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to ensure that proposed working conditions measures will not have a negative impact on SMEs in increased operating costs as they will not be in a position to absorb such costs over the proposed period for these changes to be implemented in working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15209/24]

Official Travel

Peadar Tóibín

372. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent by his Department on travel and accommodation costs associated with Ministerial visits abroad to date in 2024, in tabular form. [13803/24]

Departmental Properties

Peadar Tóibín

373. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of properties either owned or leased by his Department, which are currently vacant; the length of time the properties have been vacant for; and the location of the properties, in tabular form. [13821/24]

Economic Sanctions

Robert Troy

374. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the analysis that has been done on the Russian trade sanctions; and if he is satisfied they are working and not being circumvented in any way. [13999/24]

Civil Service

Robert Troy

375. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the civil service mobility transfer list in relation to positions in Mullingar, County Westmeath; how many positions have been filled through this list within the past year; and the position of a person (details supplied) with regard to this particular list. [14082/24]

Departmental Advertising

Jackie Cahill

376. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department uses community radio for advertising and public awareness campaigns; if not, the reason, given the vital role community radio often plays in the dissemination of information to local communities; if his Department will consider using community radio for public awareness campaigns in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14170/24]

Tax Reliefs

Michael Healy-Rae

377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if employer PRSI will be reformed to ease the burden on businesses and to mitigate against the effects of Government induced payroll measures (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14218/24]

Work Permits

Patrick Costello

378. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of active employment permits in the State (details supplied), broken down by type of permit, i.e. Critical, General, Other and SOC Code (4 digit). [14223/24]

Energy Policy

Rose Conway-Walsh

379. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the targets for commercial building emission reductions and energy targets; the steps being taken to achieve this target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14260/24]

Trade Agreements

Robert Troy

380. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of full ratification of CETA; and if he considers the recent decision by the French parliament to reject CETA will impact on the agreement. [14378/24]

Departmental Priorities

Darren O'Rourke

381. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on Co-Operative Societies Bill 2022; when he expects the Bill to progress to the next stage; if he expects it will pass through the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14391/24]

Income Inequality

Louise O'Reilly

382. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on forecasted data taken from the Central Statistics Office earnings, hours and employment costs survey and using 2024 forecasts of wage growth of 5% as projected by the Central Bank and inflation of 2.9% as projected by the ESRI, all of which indicate two consecutive years of real wage decline, 2023 and 2024, projecting that workers will be worse off by the end of 2024 than they were in 2020. [14403/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Louise O'Reilly

383. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what supports are available where an entrepreneur is seeking to set up a groundworks and civil engineer company in Ireland and Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14531/24]

Departmental Policies

Michael Healy-Rae

384. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14622/24]

Departmental Staff

Paul Donnelly

385. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of WTE senior digital forensic investigators and senior analysist investigators both at the grades of HEO working for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [14795/24]

Legislative Measures

Louise O'Reilly

386. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the Cooperative Societies Bill 2022; when drafting is expected to be completed; and if there is a timeline for the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14936/24]

Foreign Direct Investment

Fergus O'Dowd

387. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the advanced building solution facility in Drogheda, County Louth; when he expects construction to commence on the facility and any other related details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15293/24]

Departmental Priorities

Fergus O'Dowd

388. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the implementation of the North East Regional Enterprise Plans, considering the need to provide employment in the area and reduce the outward commute from towns such as Drogheda, Ardee and Dunleer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15349/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Aindrias Moynihan

389. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is considering for SMEs to assist in high staffing costs due to the proposed increases in minimum wage, sick pay entitlements, pension contributions and employer PRSI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15207/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Aindrias Moynihan

390. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the current volatile business environment and national competitiveness difficulties experienced by SME’s are being considered in changing the current planned phased measures scheduled to commence in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15208/24]

Employment Rights

Seán Canney

193. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what supports are in place for employees who are owed wages and holiday pay from an employer who has closed down its business and is no longer contactable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13466/24]

Work Permits

Brendan Smith

194. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals, if any, there are to improve the visa criteria for the farming and agri-food sector, in view of the shortage of workers in some areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13489/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Smith

195. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when additional financial provision will be introduced to assist local authorities, particularly those councils with a small rates base, to develop enterprise centres, as such workspaces are of extreme importance in enabling the establishment and growth of small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13490/24]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Griffin

196. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 33 of 8 September 2022, the progress that has been made on the review of the eligibility for the insolvency payment scheme to date; the anticipated timeframe in finding a solution to this long-running saga (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13498/24]

EU Directives

Seán Haughey

319. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will transpose the EU directive on adequate minimum wages into Irish law; the implications of this directive for early years educators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11538/24]

Departmental Data

Louise O'Reilly

320. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to the Dáil debate on the forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Agreement on a Unified Patent Court) Bill 2024, the source of the Minister for State’s statement that “for every redundancy that has been announced, there have been four jobs created” in the technology sector; the timeframe this is based over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11579/24]

An Garda Síochána

Carol Nolan

321. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has had the need to contact An Garda Síochána due to verbal, written (including electronically) or physical threats being addressed to staff or Ministers, at any level, working within the Department during the period 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11592/24]

Departmental Policies

Sean Fleming

322. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a response will issue to matters raised in correspondence in relation to the new sick pay scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11779/24]

EU Directives

Johnny Mythen

323. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is an established action plan prepared or being prepared regarding the transposition of the EU Directive on an adequate minimum wage, including the facilitation to exercise collective bargaining; if so, when this plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11935/24]

EU Directives

David Stanton

324. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the situation with respect to the transposition into Irish law of EU Directive 2019/1152 on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11949/24]

Energy Conservation

Louise O'Reilly

325. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the take-up rate of the LEO energy efficiency grant, by the number of businesses issued with a grant, the number of businesses supported per local authority, and the funding issued per local authority, in tabular form. [11951/24]

Departmental Meetings

David Stanton

326. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the presence, if any, he or his Departmental officials will have at the Wind Europe annual event in Bilbao, Spain from 20-22 March 2024; his Department’s proposed contribution to the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12007/24]

Industrial Development

Mattie McGrath

327. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason no businesses are operating in the IDA business and Technology Park, Fermoy, County Cork in 2024, 22 years after the official opening of the park; the amount that has been spent on the development and maintenance of Fermoy IDA business and technology park since it has been opened; the number of businesses that have applied to operate in the business and technology park since its official opening; the reason for rejecting applications by businesses to locate in the park; if businesses have been refused permission to locate there; the IDAs current plans for the business and technology park; if no businesses are planned to go into park in the near future, if the Government will consider restoring the park back to residential land considering the lack of housing in the Fermoy area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12010/24]

Business Supports

John Lahart

328. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the rates rebate for businesses that was announced as part of Budget 2024 will be rolled out; how qualifying businesses will receive these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12069/24]

Business Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

329. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a response will issue to queries raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the Increased Cost of Business Grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12258/24]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

330. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 6 March 2024, whether the beneficiary of the end of service payment has been engaged by Enterprise Ireland or any other State body on a consultancy basis. [12326/24]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

331. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of exit and or severance and or redundancy packages granted by his Department, and bodies under his aegis and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €100,000 and above but less that €200,000, by the amount and by each body in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [12347/24]

Workplace Relations Commission

Louise O'Reilly

332. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage breach rate of employment law uncovered from the total number of WRC investigations in 2023, in tabular form. [12428/24]

Company Law

Mairéad Farrell

333. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a complaint can be referred to the Corporate Enforcement Authority by an Oireachtas Committee (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12493/24]

Official Engagements

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

334. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he met the Indian Prime Minister during his recent visit to India for St. Patrick's Day events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12572/24]