Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Company Liquidations

Cormac Devlin

64. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will request the LRC to consider nominating a mediator to examine if a resolution can be reached between a company (details supplied) and the liquidator of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29437/20]

Work Permits

Denis Naughten

65. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits granted each month to date in 2020; the countries from which the workers who were granted permits came; the number of each; the sectors for which the permits were granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29461/20]

Departmental Funding

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

66. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown of funding provided to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland in 2020; the core Exchequer allocation, additional capital allocation, other current funding and funding specifically to assist in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis restrictions and recovery; if he has discussed the disproportionately low increase in funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta vis-à-vis IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland since the financial crisis with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and his views on the widening funding gap between IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland on the one hand and Údarás na Gaeltacht on the other. [29485/20]

Trade Agreements

Richard Boyd Barrett

67. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a recent report from a university (details supplied) with regard to the Mercosur deal and the way in which it contradicts the EU Green Deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24048/20]

Trade Agreements

Richard Boyd Barrett

68. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions his Department has had with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the impact of the Mercosur trade deal on climate. [25178/20]

Trade Agreements

Richard Boyd Barrett

69. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions he has had with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the impact of the Mercosur trade deal on farming here. [27551/20]

Redundancy Payments

Richard Boyd Barrett

70. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has discussed the proposals of unions (details supplied) to establish a fund to safeguard redundancy entitlements workers in the event of a liquidation. [27552/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Rose Conway-Walsh

71. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether businesses which were denied funding as part of the restart grant due to the fact it was oversubscribed prior to the deadline date should not be able to avail of the original €2,000 in view of the fact additional funding has been made available in the form of the restart plus grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25958/20]

Research and Development

Rose Conway-Walsh

72. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether Ireland is adequately investing in research and development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25959/20]

Third Level Institutions

Mairéad Farrell

18. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if universities and third level institutions are bound by SI 146 of 2000 Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29187/20]

Third Level Institutions

Mairéad Farrell

19. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if third level education employers who willingly fail to provide for SI 146 of 2000 in their grievance and disciplinary procedures are failing to ensure that their employees’ rights to natural justice and fair procedures are upheld. [29188/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Emer Higgins

20. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being taken to help businesses that have no income to alleviate the pressures of commercial rents that have remained the same. [28966/20]

Microfinance Loan Fund Scheme

Louise O'Reilly

21. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 30 September 2020, the number of Microfinance Ireland rescheduled 616 performing loans which were restructured in March and April 2020 had their payment break restructured or further extended beyond 15 October 2020. [28984/20]

Social Partnership Meetings

Cormac Devlin

22. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of all meetings with social partners with regard to proposals for statutory sick pay since taking office; the details of all social dialogue forums in which he has participated, in which statutory sick pay proposals were discussed; the details of all Government members and social partner representatives present for each such meeting; the schedule for remaining meetings in 2020 regarding the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29030/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Eoghan Murphy

23. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if research has been conducted by his Department on the potential excess office space under development in Dublin city; his views on whether such developments could be repurposed; and the plans in place to support businesses in the city centre in which footfall may never return to pre-Covid-19 levels due to a more permanent switch to remote working for some. [29083/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Richard Bruton

24. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports which an enterprise can receive for reopening; and the way in which it varies for enterprises in areas in which level 3 restrictions have been applied. [29161/20]

Regional Development

Michael Healy-Rae

25. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated timeframe for the delivery of a development task force for north Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29224/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Richard Boyd Barrett

151. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors in the employ of the HSA; the estimated full-year cost of their employment; and the percentage of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28186/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

Richard Boyd Barrett

152. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors in the employ of the Workplace Relations Commission; the estimated full-year cost of their employment; and the percentage of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28188/20]

Trade Agreements

Eoin Ó Broin

153. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the publication of a report commissioned on the economic and sustainability impact assessment for Ireland of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement. [28112/20]

Work Permits

Niall Collins

154. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person working in Ireland under the work permit programme can transfer to another employer in the same specific sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28143/20]

Health and Safety Authority

Bríd Smith

155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors in the employ of the HSA; the estimated full year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28192/20]

Workplace Relations Commission

Bríd Smith

156. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspectors employed by the Workplace Relations Commission; the estimated full-year cost of their employment; and the number of businesses inspected by them in 2019 and to date in 2020. [28195/20]

Sick Pay Scheme

Holly Cairns

157. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to reports that an organisation (details supplied) is refusing to engage unions on issues relating to sick pay for workers in meat plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28252/20]

Job Losses

Holly Cairns

158. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will intervene in situations in which employees of meat processing plants are laid off due to the fact they live in direct provision. [28253/20]

Enterprise Ireland

Éamon Ó Cuív

159. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will authorise Enterprise Ireland to release some funds granted under the disruptive technologies programme to companies such as a company (details supplied) without the venture private capital being in place first in view of the impact of Covid-19 on the venture capital markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28572/20]

EU Directives

Catherine Connolly

160. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost to his Department to date of all fines paid by Ireland for non-transposition of EU directives into Irish law; the breakdown, by directive of the lump sum cost and the daily cost of each fine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28609/20]

Industrial Development

Brendan Griffin

161. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28698/20]

Action Plan for Jobs

Louise O'Reilly

162. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will be producing an action plan for jobs in 2020 or 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28715/20]

Credit Guarantee Scheme

Francis Noel Duffy

163. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the basic eligibility criteria for businesses to avail of the credit guarantee scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28724/20]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Francis Noel Duffy

164. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being considered to support SMEs facing difficulties with commercial rents and arrears due to significantly reduced turnovers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28725/20]

Company Liquidations

Patricia Ryan

165. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will take in respect of the liquidation of a company (details supplied) to ensure there is a fair settlement for the workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28861/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

166. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a county-specific list is to be published of all establishments that will participate in the spend and save scheme; if this list is to be made available and easily accessible for persons who wish to support their local businesses while also benefitting from the scheme; if the information will be provided by the Government or Fáilte Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28870/20]

Departmental Contracts

Catherine Murphy

167. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has engaged a third-party company in each of the years 2017 to 2019, inclusive, and to date in 2020 to conduct online and or social media monitoring and-or provide reports on social media coverage of his Department; if so, the cost of same; and if the name of the social media platforms being monitored will be provided. [28914/20]

Departmental Staff

Catherine Murphy

168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff in his Department on sick leave between March and September by month in 2019 and to date 2020; the pay arrangements that exist for staff on sick leave for an extended period of time; the number of sick days accounted for by his Department over the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28932/20]

Enterprise Ireland

Brendan Griffin

70. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the case of a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27831/20]

Youth Unemployment

Louise O'Reilly

71. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has reviewed the detailed report written by a person (details supplied) regarding the threat to 114,000 jobs, many among younger workers in the 15-to-24-years age group, in the drinks and hospitality industry; the way in which he plans to provide meaningful support to the sector and protect these jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27942/20]

Trade Agreements

Matt Carthy

26. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a report by researchers from the University of Oxford pertaining to the EU-Mercosur trade deal that concluded that mechanisms within the trade agreement to include and protect local communities, track goods and enforce sustainability standards are lacking throughout the proposed terms of the deal; if this report will shape his position on the trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27538/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Louise O'Reilly

27. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the restart plus grant is not being made available to persons on the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27490/20]

Microfinance Loan Fund Scheme

Louise O'Reilly

28. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 17 September 2020, the number of Microfinance Ireland loans given repayment holidays until October 2020; and the number of these loans that are now falling due in each week in October 2020. [27491/20]

Microfinance Loan Fund Scheme

Louise O'Reilly

29. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 17 September 2020, the number of businesses with loans through Microfinance Ireland that sought a payment break or extension since the onset of Covid-19; and when the payment breaks and extensions are extended until in tabular form. [27492/20]

Microfinance Loan Fund Scheme

Louise O'Reilly

30. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 17 September 2020, the breakdown of Microfinance Ireland loans; the number taken out pre-Covid-19 or before March 2020; the value of loans issued pre-Covid-19 or before March 2020; the number on repayment holidays issued on these loans; and the date the repayment holiday extends until in tabular form. [27493/20]

Microfinance Loan Fund Scheme

Louise O'Reilly

31. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 17 September 2020, the breakdown of Microfinance Ireland loans; the number taken out post-Covid-19 or before March 2020; the value of loans issued post-Covid-19 or before March 2020; the number on repayment holidays issued on these loans; and the date the repayment holiday extends until in tabular form. [27494/20]

Departmental Meetings

Louise O'Reilly

32. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the meetings held by him and-or his officials from assistant principal level upwards with trade unions since his appointment as Minister; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27525/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Matt Carthy

33. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount spent on media monitoring services by his Department; if the role is provided by private contract operators or in-house services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27555/20]

Departmental Expenditure

Catherine Murphy

34. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount expended on access to online and hard-copy media publications since May 2020 to date; and the breakdown of online and hard-copy subscriptions, including the publications to which his Department subscribes. [27640/20]

Departmental Contracts

Catherine Murphy

35. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has engaged a third-party company in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020 to conduct media monitoring and-or provide reports on media coverage of his Department; if so, the costs of same; and the companies engaged. [27658/20]

IDA Ireland

Ged Nash

36. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the IDA is working to identify a client company to occupy a plant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27682/20]

Brexit Preparations

Neale Richmond

155. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that have been taken to ensure SMEs are prepared for Brexit no matter the form it may take at the end of the transition period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26406/20]

Foreign Direct Investment

Bernard Durkan

156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he remains satisfied that Ireland remains an attractive investment location for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27249/20]