Parliamentary questions

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

167. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses, broken down by each local authority area in the State, that registered for the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, in tabular form. [22232/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

168. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of funding issued to businesses under the increased cost-of-business grant by close of scheme, by local authority area, in tabular form. [22233/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will reopen the increased cost-of-business grant. [22234/24]

Business Supports

Brendan Griffin

27. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a late increased cost-of-living business grant application will be accepted from a business (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21958/24]

Departmental Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

28. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of publicly funded contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) by his Department in each of the past ten years; the cost of each contract; and the purpose for which each contract was awarded. [18662/24]

Information and Communications Technology

Louise O'Reilly

29. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the capital investment in computer and data infrastructure, by investment, in each of the years since 2011, in tabular form. [21990/24]

Work Permits

Verona Murphy

30. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeline for the new employment scheme for non-EEA fishermen; the estimated start date for the employment scheme, which was to replace the atypical working scheme for non-EEA fishers; when stakeholders will be notified and informed of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22062/24]

Business Supports

Paul Kehoe

258. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration can be given to allow late applications for the increased cost of business grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21181/24]

Vacant Sites

Niamh Smyth

259. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures his Department is taking to address vacant or derelict retail units in small towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21186/24]

Departmental Data

Darren O'Rourke

260. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current list of designated services of economic interest nationally as reported to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21199/24]

Employment Support Services

Louise O'Reilly

261. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what supports are in place under his Department to assist a person with a disability to get back to work, including supports for entrepreneurs; and the organisations that might assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21351/24]

State Bodies

Sorca Clarke

262. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if IDA Ireland put out a tender for a full-time United Arab Emirates based business development consultant in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [21417/24]

State Bodies

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

263. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the Enterprise Ireland office in Vietnam since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21428/24]

State Bodies

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

264. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the work of the IDA office in Japan since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21429/24]

Middle East

Matt Carthy

265. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will immediately suspend the granting of export licences for dual-use items to Israel in light of the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution demanding an arms embargo on Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21468/24]

Trade Agreements

Matt Carthy

266. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on his engagements regarding the Mercosur Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21469/24]

Legislative Process

Matt Carthy

267. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the engagements he has had with Cabinet colleagues in relation to the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023; the work completed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21470/24]

Business Supports

Jim O'Callaghan

268. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many businesses registered for the ICOB grant as of the deadline of 1 May 2024, by each local authority, in tabular form; if late applications are being accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21488/24]

Export Controls

Catherine Connolly

269. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the Annual Report on activity under the Control of Exports Act 2008, covering the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21500/24]

Work Permits

Michael Healy-Rae

270. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21531/24]

Business Supports

Matt Shanahan

271. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that need to be taken to complete a ICOB scheme application given that the MyCoCo programme timed them out and shut down (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21555/24]

Industrial Relations

Paul Murphy

272. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the development of an action plan for increasing the collective bargaining coverage rate. [21629/24]

Trade Unions

Paul Murphy

273. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he agrees with the asks of a campaign (details supplied). [21630/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

274. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of his Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if he will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if he will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21689/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

275. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21862/24]

Business Supports

Robert Troy

165. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications received for the cost of business support grant on a county-by-county basis and the corresponding amount of grant awarded. [21101/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

170. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if local enterprise offices do not offer grants to financial advisors working in the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20193/24]

Departmental Data

Louise O'Reilly

171. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 6 March 2024, the expected default rate on State-backed loans of 80%; how such a rate is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20289/24]

Departmental Staff

Carol Nolan

172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employees within his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department who are currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations; to outline, in tabular form, the length of time these employees have been under suspension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20312/24]

EU Programmes

Matt Carthy

173. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the EU programmes or funds outside of the multiannual financial framework that Ireland has paid into from the year 2014 to date; any receipts from same, by programme or fund, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20353/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Louise O'Reilly

174. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current rate of basic level digital intensity of Irish SMEs. [20428/24]

Business Supports

Claire Kerrane

175. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide, in tabular form, all grants available to new businesses setting up in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20440/24]

Ports Policy

Neasa Hourigan

176. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a ship, the Sarah M, certified by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and seeking to head towards Greenore, County Louth; whether he is assured this vessel will not port and engage in export, which would be in contravention of sanctions placed upon Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20454/24]

Work Permits

Fergus O'Dowd

177. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide their views on a report in relation to work permits (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20598/24]

Workplace Relations Commission

Paul Donnelly

178. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant WTE positions currently in the Workplace Relations Commission; the estimated full-year cost of filling each of those vacancies; and when each of the vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [20635/24]

Departmental Data

Louise O'Reilly

179. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of Irish businesses using Cloud, Big Data and AI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20706/24]

Departmental Policies

Fergus O'Dowd

180. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond and address serious concerns raised by local business owner in respect of the current pressures facing the food and hospitality sectors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20727/24]

Business Supports

Darren O'Rourke

181. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the trading online voucher scheme can be used to help businesses migrate from a copper broadband connection to a fibre broadband connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20785/24]

Company Law

James Browne

150. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding a personal situation related to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19920/24]

EU Directives

Cormac Devlin

151. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the transposition of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19994/24]

Business Supports

Jim O'Callaghan

152. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will detail, in tabular form, on the basis of a local authority breakdown, the number of businesses that have registered for the Increased Cost of Business Scheme grant as of 29 April 2024, or the latest date available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20073/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

153. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 25 April 2024, the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to social enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20102/24]

Industrial Development

Brendan Howlin

154. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; the number of site visits organised by the IDA for companies in each of the past three years, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20103/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Howlin

155. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs for each of the past three years in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20104/24]

Departmental Staff

Cormac Devlin

132. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department, and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19572/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Neasa Hourigan

133. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to small and medium enterprises for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19619/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Jim O'Callaghan

134. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his response to the recommendations of the Report on Offshore Renewable Energy published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19905/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Niamh Smyth

135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports available for a sole trader (details supplied) to deal with rates; and what grants are available to them. [19906/24]

Work Permits

Michael Healy-Rae

267. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 23 April 2024, if he will provide further information in relation to production staff for fish processing in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19195/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

268. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18732/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

269. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond to concerns raised by a local business (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18805/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Denis Naughten

270. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of copper communication lines within his Department that are currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis, inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18834/24]

Brexit Supports

Catherine Murphy

271. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the €15 million allocated to his Department under the 2023 EU Brexit Adjustment Fund was spent; and if he will provide headings and sub-headings and amounts associated with same. [18898/24]

Visa Agreements

Matt Carthy

272. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of an issue impacting upon non-EU citizens working in Ireland whereby they are unable to secure appointments to apply for Schengen area visas; if he has engaged with relevant EU Member State embassies in Ireland or his EU counterparts in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/24]

European Union

John Paul Phelan

273. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to list all Acts and Statutory Instruments sponsored by his Department which became law from 20 February 2020 to date in 2024 and which were necessitated, either in whole or in part, to transpose or give effect to regulations, directives or other measures passed at European Union level. [19163/24]

Business Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

274. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in a situation where a business in the hospitality trade is paying above the €30 thousand rates criteria to access the ICOB grants, if he will provide details of all other supports that would be available to this business considering the pressures on the sector at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19318/24]

Local Authorities

Catherine Murphy

275. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide the amount of grant-aid returned and or surrendered to his Department, by local authority in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, to include the heading of which it was intended for. [19358/24]

Artificial Intelligence

David Stanton

276. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current composition of the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council; the number of times it has met since its establishment; the advice, if any, he has received to date from the Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19392/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Darren O'Rourke

277. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if digital innovation vouchers can be used to help businesses migrate from a copper broadband connection to a fibre broadband connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19405/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

278. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the nature of and the current situation with regard to the European Commission’s announcement of 20 September 2022 that it was sending Ireland a formal notice (INFR(2022)0369) in respect of Directive (EU) 2019/1152 on transparent and predictable working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19498/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

279. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the nature of and current situation with regard to the European Commission’s announcement of 26 January 2023 that it was sending Ireland a reasoned opinion (INFR(2018)2235) for the non-conformity of Irish legislation with Directive 2014/67/EU on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19499/24]

Research and Development

Neasa Hourigan

167. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure in the form of grants or relief given to multinational corporations for research and innovation in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18572/24]

Business Supports

David Stanton

168. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the supports, if any, available to refurbish vacant or derelict properties to use for retail or business purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18584/24]

Business Supports

Louise O'Reilly

169. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses, broken down by every local authority area in the State, that have registered for the increased cost of business grant to date. [18587/24]

Business Supports

Jennifer Whitmore

170. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide details of support offered by his Department for companies operating in the circular economy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/24]

Business Supports

Éamon Ó Cuív

171. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment why premises whose rates valuation was revised in the past year and increased as a result, as part of the national rates revision that this ongoing, are not eligible for a grant of 50% of the new rate this year subject to the other criteria appertaining to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18643/24]

Labour Market

Bernard Durkan

172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the options available for a first-time job applicant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18701/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

45. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to support the current scope of application of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which would exclude the vast majority of Irish companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18146/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

46. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the current lengthy approach to the transposition of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which would delay the administering of justice; if he will commit to ensuring that the Directive is transposed into Irish law as soon as is possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18147/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

47. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will support the ‘value chain’ definition based on internationally agreed standards from the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD guidelines and work to ensure that serious downstream human rights impacts are not excluded when it comes to transposing the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18148/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

48. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to ensure that the financial sector in Ireland is held to account for its impact on human rights and the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18149/24]

EU Directives

Louise O'Reilly

49. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he supports or opposes the changes to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive which reduces the number of companies covered under the Directive to companies with more than 1,000 employees and €450 million annual turnover. [18153/24]

EU Directives

Louise O'Reilly

50. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, if he supports the lengthy approach to transposition of the Directive which would delay the provision in the Directive; if not, if he will commit to ensuring that cross-departmental work is initiated as soon as possible to transpose the directive into Irish law as quickly as possible. [18154/24]

EU Directives

Louise O'Reilly

51. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will commit to supporting the value chain definition based on the internationally agreed standards (UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for MNCs) and work to ensure that serious downstream human rights impacts are not excluded when it comes to transposing the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive into Irish law. [18155/24]

EU Directives

Louise O'Reilly

52. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he supports the agreed compromise in relation to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive which excludes the financial sector from carrying out due diligence on its clients; and if not, the steps is he willing to take to rectify this domestically. [18156/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

53. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18389/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

54. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18441/24]

Work Permits

Michael Healy-Rae

247. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to consider adding fishermen to the critical skills list (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17320/24]

Corporate Governance

Patrick Costello

248. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions being taken by the Companies Registration Office and the Corporate Enforcement Authority in relation to the owners’ management companies and ensuring that they are adhering to the necessary rules and regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17321/24]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board

James Lawless

249. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17326/24]

National Minimum Wage

Marc MacSharry

250. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is proposed to transpose the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive into Irish law; when he proposes to publish the required relevant action plan for the promotion of collective bargaining; when legislation is likely to be before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17449/24]

Enterprise Support Services

David Stanton

251. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures put in place by his Department to support innovators and entrepreneurs, in particular where start-up businesses are concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17541/24]

Business Supports

Jim O'Callaghan

252. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address an issue regarding the increased cost of business grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18051/24]

Industrial Relations

Louise O'Reilly

57. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times the Labour Employer Economic Forum sub-group on collective bargaining has met in 2024; and if he can provisionally indicate when the action plan on collective bargaining coverage to be presented to the European Commission as part of its transposition of the EU directive on adequate minimum wages will be published. [16747/24]

Living Wage

Ged Nash

58. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he remains committed to the agreed pathway for the implementation of a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17196/24]

Departmental Consultations

Louise O'Reilly

59. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will engage with stakeholders regarding the employment (restriction of certain mandatory retirement ages) Bill 2024. [16748/24]

Departmental Priorities

Catherine Connolly

60. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 8 February 2024, for an update on his Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs with a view to developing a new business and human rights action plan and implementation body; the number of meetings held to date by the stakeholder forum; the dates of same; the terms of reference of the stakeholder forum; the expected timeline for the new national plan on business and human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16851/24]

Employment Rights

Paul Murphy

61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning to pause the planned increase in statutory sick pay days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17044/24]

Regional Development

Cathal Crowe

62. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on his Department’s efforts, in conjunction with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, to attract new commerce and industry to County Clare. [16695/24]

Tourist Accommodation

Brendan Griffin

63. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how he plans to support and compensate business owners in towns such as Killarney, County Kerry, where the displacement of tourism accommodation for use as emergency accommodation has resulted in significant reductions in footfall and consumer spending; the supports he is planning for the broader SME sector and businesses exposed to vastly increased overheads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17023/24]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Ruairí Ó Murchú

64. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the work that is being carried out by his Department to provide supports for micro, small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16985/24]

EU Directives

Ged Nash

65. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on his plans to transpose the EU directive on adequate minimum wages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17054/24]

Export Controls

Ruairí Ó Murchú

66. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the process his Department uses to assess the granting of export licences for dual-use goods to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16986/24]

Enterprise Support Services

Aindrias Moynihan

67. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what action is being taken to strengthen the resilience, productivity and innovation of SMEs to ensure that they remain key drivers of employment nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17027/24]

Business Supports

Robert Troy

68. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to support those SMEs that are currently struggling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16996/24]

Regional Development

Catherine Connolly

69. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 8 February 2024, the status of the implementation of the West regional enterprise plan, REP, to 2024; the date of all meetings to date of the steering group; for an update on the most recent meeting of the steering group; if the West REP progress report, which was expected in quarter 1 of 2024, has been published to date; how many of the nine REP progress reports expected in quarter 1 of 2024 have been published to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16850/24]

Employment Rights

Thomas Gould

70. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date of the last four meetings of the Labour Employer Economic Forum subgroup on collective bargaining; the methods he is using to ensure workers' right to organise is developed in this State; and whether he intends to wait until the deadline of Article 4 of the EU directive before taking any action. [16994/24]

Employment Rights

Paul Murphy

71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning any changes to the current statutory sick pay scheme; if paid sick leave days and the maximum sick leave pay will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17045/24]

Business Supports

Joe Flaherty

72. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in counties Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois, respectively, that have registered for the increased cost of business Grant to date; when payments under the grant will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16881/24]

Business Supports

Niamh Smyth

73. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the supports available to businesses with the rising cost of energy in running a business, particularly those in the hospitality sector, which has seen a number of closures recently. [16698/24]