Parliamentary questions

Departmental Expenditure

David Cullinane

205. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total Covid-19-related spend in 2020 by his Department, agency and budget line item; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16271/21]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Emer Higgins

206. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the payment options available to persons to pay fines, charges or bills by his Department; and if there are plans to provide further online payment facilities. [16290/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John Lahart

1. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if garden centres fully qualify as essential retail outlets under level 5 restrictions; if not, if partial restrictions apply; and if his attention has been drawn to concerns within the industry with the arrival of spring which is a traditionally busy time for the sector. [13613/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Danny Healy-Rae

2. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if matters in relation to funding for businesses (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13649/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Francis Noel Duffy

3. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider extending the COVID business aid scheme to include businesses that have significant maintenance and fixed costs but do not operate on fixed premises such as private coach operators for schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13685/21]

Job Creation

Colm Burke

4. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created in Cork city and county in each of the years 2011 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13716/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Eoghan Murphy

5. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the length of time shops selling essential items including children’s clothes which are not easily purchased online can remain closed without having a disproportionately negative impact on young families. [13748/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Louise O'Reilly

6. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the details of the Covid-19 business aid scheme will be announced, the qualifying criteria outlined and funding paid out. [13796/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Róisín Shortall

7. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount Enterprise Ireland and or local enterprise offices have by way of either funding or investment (details supplied) to start-up microbreweries, alcohol enterprises and or distillery businesses in Ireland in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [13816/21]

Insurance Costs

Brendan Smith

8. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if urgent consideration will be given to the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to insurance costs for a sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13819/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Bernard Durkan

9. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which he continues to support and drive the creation of new enterprises in the indigenous sector nationally with particular reference to the need to encourage the generation of employment in all regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13844/21]

EU Issues

Seán Haughey

129. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland is supportive of the EU Commission's legislative initiative on mandatory and human rights due diligence for EU companies in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12522/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Fergus O'Dowd

130. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the classification of school clothing and school supplies under the level 5 plan following the start of the phased return of schools and the significant associated pressures on parents at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12943/21]

Redundancy Payments

Maurice Quinlivan

131. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the board of a group (details supplied) communicated to him its intention to disregard an agreed severance package and proceed with a reduced package following the consultation period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13054/21]

Economic Data

Bernard Durkan

132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current ranking of Ireland on the Digital Economy and Society Index; the plans to improve Ireland’s position on the index, with particular reference to comparison with EU counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13230/21]

Work Permits

Niall Collins

133. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a matter (details supplied) in relation to critical skills employment permits for immigrant non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13645/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Niall Collins

134. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Covid-19 business aid scheme will be open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12563/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Louise O'Reilly

135. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has carried out research into the profiling of workers' electronic equipment by employers, given reports internationally of the increasing use of monitoring software and privacy-busting software to track workers throughout the working day. [12646/21]

Trade Missions

Catherine Murphy

136. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is considering a virtual trade mission to Singapore during the second quarter of 2021. [12694/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

137. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider removing the eligibility criteria for the Covid-19 business aid scheme that states a business must be in a rateable premises (details supplied). [12869/21]

Business Regulation

Carol Nolan

138. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if concerns will be addressed in relation to increased customer and business costs following the requirement that all wooden packaging materials (details supplied) must meet ISPM15 standards by undergoing heat treatment and marking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12911/21]

Departmental Internships

Louise O'Reilly

139. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of students who undertook work experience or internships with State and semi-State agencies under his aegis in 2019; the cost in terms of wages and allowances; and the estimated numerical capacity of State and semi-State agencies to provide work experience and internships on an annual basis. [12952/21]

Work Permits

Neale Richmond

140. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered allowing non-consultant hospital doctors to access the critical skills employment permit which they cannot access given that they relocate regularly due to the nature of their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13150/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Róisín Shortall

141. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address the issues raised in correspondence by a company (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13185/21]

National Broadband Plan

Mattie McGrath

142. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the outcome of his meeting with National Broadband Ireland to discuss the acceleration of the national broadband plan; and if the roll-out will be accelerated. [13341/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Emer Higgins

143. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the development of a remote working hub in Adamstown, County Dublin. [13374/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

John McGuinness

144. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered the submissions made by an organisation and a company (details supplied) relative to the negative impact that the ongoing lockdown is having on the construction industry and the completion of large scale office and accommodation projects; if his attention has been drawn to unease in the foreign investor community arising from lockdown and the uncertainty of the immediate future; his views on damage to the reputation of Ireland from the prolonged lockdown and the effects on foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13469/21]

Customs and Excise

Louise O'Reilly

145. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the developments that have been made in addressing the issues in relation to rules of origin for goods that pass through UK from the European Union that are unloaded and then reloaded and delivered to Ireland, resultantly losing their free trade and single market status. [13521/21]

Trade Data

Louise O'Reilly

146. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will be appraising quarter two trading data between Ireland and the EU and Ireland and UK given that it will shed more light on the new trading reality compared with quarter one; if a paper will be published outlining the data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13522/21]

Equality Issues

Louise O'Reilly

147. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has read the research paper by a union (details supplied) which explores inequality and deprivation in Ireland. [13524/21]

Departmental Advertising

Paul Kehoe

148. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent across his Department on advertising in relation to Covid-19, by month and by media outlet (details supplied), from 1 March 2020 to 1 March 2021. [13557/21]

Data Centres

Ged Nash

1. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of data centres that are currently operational and the number that are under consideration including pre-planning stage by county; the average number of long-term jobs a data centre creates; the job numbers in data centres by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12359/21]

Data Centres

Ged Nash

2. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether the development of data centres would be better served by State involvement to ensure they align with economic, social and environmental goals and provide a return to the Exchequer other than development levels and commercial rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12362/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

3. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has met with representatives of the wedding industry to discuss the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on weddings and the supports needed for businesses involved in the sector; and if not, when he plans to do so. [12247/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

4. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to provide specific supports for the wedding industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12249/21]

Work Permits

Cian O'Callaghan

5. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the process for non-EU nationals who urgently need a passport renewal to renew their employment permit but cannot do so due to embassy closures during level 5 restrictions; the person or body persons in this situation can contact; the steps being taken to address this; if he will ease rules surrounding renewal of employment permits during the current restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/21]

Credit Guarantee Scheme

Pádraig O'Sullivan

6. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications made to banks under the €2 billion Covid-19 credit guarantee scheme; the number refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12277/21]

Research and Development

Louise O'Reilly

7. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding and grants available for companies developing disruptive technologies. [12372/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Paul McAuliffe

10. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding provided to community co-working space in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10967/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Paul McAuliffe

11. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the groups that availed of community co-working space in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10968/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Paul McAuliffe

12. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding streams available for co-working space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10969/21]

Company Registration

Neale Richmond

13. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Company Registration Office has taken steps to streamline and speed up works to allow common tasks such as company incorporation, updating information and ordering documents to happen without delay and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11032/21]

Company Registration

Neale Richmond

14. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Companies Registration Office has plans to accept recognised platforms such as a platform (details supplied) for electronically submitted documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11035/21]

Enterprise Ireland

Ged Nash

15. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland is currently accepting new applications for the sustaining enterprise fund; the number of applications that are currently awaiting a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11041/21]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Murphy

16. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports his Department will arrange to be put in place to support those who will be made compulsorily redundant by a company (details supplied); the engagement his Department has had with the appropriate agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11055/21]

Redundancy Payments

Catherine Murphy

17. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussion he has had regarding enhanced redundancy payment for the staff who are to be made redundant given that a company (details supplied) is a very viable and successful enterprise and the jobs are being outsourced to Malaysia rather than being dispensed with; the engagement he has had with the company on this aspect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11056/21]

Company Law

Catherine Murphy

18. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the impact that the outsourcing of the functions of a company (details supplied) to Malaysia will have in terms of reporting to the Company Registration Office; if issues of oversight or compliance will transfer to Malaysia; the discussions there has been with the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11057/21]

Work Permits

Michael McNamara

19. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the monthly figures for employment permits provided in respect of persons from Brazil in the agri-food sector and overall for the period of March 2020 to January 2021; if he will provide monthly figures for the same period from March 2019 to January 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11072/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ruairí Ó Murchú

20. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for businesses with mobile premises, premises which are not permanently fixed in place and premises on which no commercial rates are payable which are ineligible for the Covid-19 business aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11153/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Marc MacSharry

21. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the €160 million boost to firms under the Covid-19 fund as announced on 9 February 2021 extends to sports clubs; if not, the reason sports clubs that pay local authority commercial rates and that were covered by his Department's business scheme up to November 2020 when the Covid restrictions support scheme was created now find themselves without support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11198/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jennifer Whitmore

22. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider extending company grants for businesses not considered as a rated premises but which meet all other criteria and are losing out on much needed business supports as a result; the actions which can be taken in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11282/21]

Enterprise Ireland

Jackie Cahill

23. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if funding will be made available through Enterprise Ireland for the development of a golf training facility and golf pro academy for a golf club (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11316/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Mairéad Farrell

24. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of contracts of €25,000 or more that have been awarded by his Department or bodies under his aegis that were found to be non-compliant with procurement guidelines in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the value and nature of the contract work carried out in each case; the year of each contract in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11374/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Carol Nolan

25. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the meetings, correspondence and engagements he and his officials have had with a group (details supplied); if he will specifically address the concerns outlined by the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11406/21]

Customs and Excise

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

26. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the post-Brexit reality of the application of a 10% customs duty on a used vehicle not of UK origin imported into Ireland; if he plans to assist car dealerships that specialise in used vehicles to combat this new tariff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11428/21]

Statutory Retirement Age

Michael Healy-Rae

27. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding retirement age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11473/21]

Workplace Relations Commission

Paul Donnelly

28. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of court prosecutions initiated by the Workplace Relations Commission in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [11565/21]

Social Media Regulation

Imelda Munster

29. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to allow for social media and other online platforms that link or allow for sharing of content created by news websites to be charged by those news sites that create the shared content; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11652/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pádraig O'Sullivan

30. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if travel agents are eligible for the new COVID-19 business aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11653/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pádraig O'Sullivan

31. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the period of time an employee has been on the temporary wage subsidy scheme or the pandemic unemployment payment will be taken into consideration as part of their tenure for redundancy packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11654/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pádraig O'Sullivan

32. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications that have been received for the restart fund by Cork City Council from businesses; the funding that has been allocated to the authority; the number of businesses that have received funding under the fund from Cork City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11655/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pádraig O'Sullivan

33. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications that have been received for the restart fund by Cork County Council from businesses; the funding that has been allocated to the authority; the number of businesses that have received funding under the fund from Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11656/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Seán Sherlock

34. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies that will enter the food works programme in 2021. [11695/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Seán Sherlock

35. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies that have participated in the food works programme since inception; and the number of the companies and alumni still trading and are solvent. [11696/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Seán Sherlock

36. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies and-or persons that have participated in business innovation centre, BIC, programmes across all regional centres for each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the cost of the BIC programme to the Exchequer. [11697/21]

Grant Payments

Seán Sherlock

37. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount provided in grants to a company (details supplied) in each of the years 2011 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [11698/21]

Health and Safety Inspections

Bríd Smith

38. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Health and Safety Authority inspections in each month since September 2020 nationally and specifically in construction sites including the total number of these that were unannounced. [11702/21]

Work Permits

Michael McNamara

39. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the monthly figures for employment permits provided for persons to work in various sectors by sector including the agri-food sector and by country of nationality of the permit holder for the period March 2020 to January 2021 and from March 2019 to January 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11712/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Peadar Tóibín

40. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when eligible businesses can apply for the Covid-19 business aid scheme. [11718/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Róisín Shortall

41. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the European Union’s blockage of the Waiver from Certain Provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the Prevention, Containment and Treatment of Covid-19; if he will address the concerns of non-Governmental organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

David Cullinane

42. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); if supports are available or will be provided for businesses in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11933/21]

Enterprise Support Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

43. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available to small start-up businesses that have not begun trading yet but have been attempting to start up in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis; if directors of such start-up companies can avail of any income supports; if a company (details supplied) that is attempting to trade since the crisis can avail of funding supports under current Covid specific supports for businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11951/21]

Trade Agreements

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

44. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if representations were made by his Department on behalf of the Irish cultural industry in negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the European Union and Canada; and if so, the details of same. [11984/21]

Redundancy Payments

Richard O'Donoghue

45. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts he has made in respect of the 150 job losses announced by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12026/21]

Flood Relief Schemes

Seán Sherlock

46. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will open the humanitarian flood support scheme for weather events in February 2021 (details supplied). [12032/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Sherlock

47. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce a support scheme for businesses that do not pay rates. [12111/21]

National Broadband Plan

Seán Sherlock

48. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has engaged with National Broadband Ireland on any aspect of broadband provision in the past six months; and the outcome of any engagement. [12117/21]

Redundancy Payments

Bernard Durkan

49. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he had discussions with a group (details supplied) in the context of the proposed layoff of 150 staff whose jobs it is alleged are being transferred to Malaysia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12145/21]

Foreign Direct Investment

Bernard Durkan

1. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he remains satisfied that Ireland can remain an attractive location for foreign direct investment, having particular regard to Ireland’s peripheral geographic location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10880/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Haughey

2. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the business supports available to assist hairdressing businesses currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10710/21]

Departmental Contracts

Róisín Shortall

3. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to his statement of 17 December 2020 in respect of political involvement in the purchase of ventilators from a company (details supplied), if in his role as Taoiseach he had signed off on the deal at the time; the due diligence carried out by him at the time on the company in question; and if a response to the question asked during the debate on 17 December 2020 will be provided to this Deputy. [10779/21]

European Council Meetings

Denis Naughten

4. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually. [10813/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Verona Murphy

5. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional supports being considered for the hospitality sector in view of the extended restrictions on the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10910/21]

National Public Health Emergency Team

Gary Gannon

6. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will update this Deputy on his finding further to his statement on 28 January 2021 (details supplied). [10943/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Mairéad Farrell

7. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and value of procurement contracts for Covid-19-related spending in 2020 and 2021 that took place via negotiated procedure without prior publication in his Department. [11177/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Mairéad Farrell

8. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown of procurement contracts for Covid-19-related spending in 2020 and 2021 that took place via negotiated procedure without prior publication by his Department, by goods and service type in tabular form. [11207/21]

Health and Safety Inspections

John Lahart

9. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections of business and commercial premises that have been undertaken by the Health and Safety Authority since September 2020; the outcome of same; if penalties were imposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9400/21]

Redundancy Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

10. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person cannot apply for redundancy after a year has passed since he or she lost his or her job; if so, the advice for a person whose company has not been operating since March 2020 and has been on a Covid-19 payment since then (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10551/21]

Departmental Offices

Jennifer Whitmore

11. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the facilities available in his Department to facilitate breastfeeding breaks in accordance with WHO guidelines of two years for women in the workplace and as part of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9369/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael Ring

12. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to introduce additional financial supports for the proprietors of wet pubs whose businesses have been closed for a protracted period of time in view of the extreme financial hardship that this is causing for these proprietors and their families. [9506/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Darren O'Rourke

13. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if travel agents are eligible for the new Covid-19 business aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9520/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ged Nash

14. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an economic sector (details supplied) is currently excluded from the benefits of the Covid-19 business supports scheme under the aegis of his Department including the new CBAS initiative; if he will amend the terms of the new scheme to include this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9536/21]

Ministerial Advisers

Seán Sherlock

15. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the names and contact details for each special adviser requested for appointment by him in tabular form. [9594/21]

EU Issues

Ged Nash

16. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 10 February 2021, if Ireland will support the PCBCR proposal if it is tabled and discussed at COMPET later in February 2021; his views on whether the current opposition to the proposal is consistent with Government policy to ensure developing countries benefit from greater transparency in the reporting of multinational corporations as detailed in the international tax strategy (details supplied) in the absence of the required majority at Council level to change the legal basis of the public country by country reporting file and given that the relevant tax officials can provide input at any council configuration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9650/21]

Departmental Staff

Mary Lou McDonald

17. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff employed in his Department by gender and by Civil Service salary scale in tabular form. [9659/21]

Departmental Reviews

Mary Lou McDonald

18. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed in tabular form. [9681/21]

Enterprise Ireland

Sorca Clarke

19. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the properties and land rented by Enterprise Ireland in 2020 including overseas properties in tabular form; and the yearly rent paid per property. [9766/21]

IDA Ireland

Sorca Clarke

20. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the properties and land rented by IDA Ireland in 2020, including overseas properties in tabular form; and the yearly rent paid per property. [9767/21]

Work Permits

Alan Dillon

21. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration is being given to extending the validity of documentation (details supplied); if automatic extensions will be granted as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9797/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Cathal Crowe

22. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports sought and received by a company (details supplied) during Covid-19. [9799/21]