The challenges around rates are always contentious for small businesses and retailers in every town and city. It is not a function of the Department of enterprise to control that. Rates are a very important revenue stream for local authorities and central to delivering the required services. Deputy Dolan knows, as a former councillor, how important it is and how contentious it is for executive management to ensure it…
TDs / Alan Dillon
Alan Dillon
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
2
questions asked
Oral and written, to government departments
112,967
words spoken in the chamber
112,959 as a minister, 8 as a TD
392
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
2
topics asked about
Across 2 departments
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
What they ask about
The subject headings the Oireachtas filed their questions under.
Who they ask
The departments their questions were addressed to.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Questions asked 2 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Contributions to debates 415 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions | Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| February 2025 | 0 | 23 |
| March 2025 | 0 | 1 |
| April 2025 | 0 | 31 |
| May 2025 | 0 | 23 |
| June 2025 | 0 | 35 |
| July 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| August 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 0 | 35 |
| October 2025 | 0 | 4 |
| November 2025 | 0 | 46 |
| December 2025 | 0 | 18 |
| January 2026 | 0 | 21 |
| February 2026 | 0 | 33 |
| March 2026 | 0 | 25 |
| April 2026 | 0 | 31 |
| May 2026 | 0 | 12 |
| June 2026 | 0 | 39 |
| July 2026 | 0 | 6 |
| August 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 0 | 22 |
| October 2026 | 0 | 10 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 347 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Asked about similar topics
Not enough questions on record to compare.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Mayo 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications 29 January 2025 to 1 June 2025
- office Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment 2 June 2025 to now
The Government recognises that the adoption of AI and digital technologies presents a significant opportunity for Irish businesses to enhance productivity, competitiveness and innovation across all sectors of the economy. The recently published national digital and AI strategy, Digital Ireland - Connecting our People, Securing our Future, sets out a clear roadmap for Ireland’s digital and AI adoption and development …
I thank the Deputy very much for his questions. I feel that one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption is not the reluctance to adopt the technology but is around awareness and understanding. This is why it is important that we get businesses engaged early in respect of how it can enhance their effectiveness, efficiencies and productivity. That is why we have the Grow Digital voucher, ensuring that experts can create…
I would certainly like to see more investment and I support the call made by the Deputy for having more centres of excellence in the west of Ireland around AI adoption. It is part of the Government’s policy for balanced regional development. I know the project in Dexcom, in the Deputy's area, is significant and needs to be supported.
The new AI office will ensure that innovation is very much balanced and that safegu…
I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 149 together.
FDI is a key element of our economic strategy, with investments by IDA Ireland client companies consistently generating high-skilled jobs nationwide. The Department works closely with IDA Ireland and other stakeholders to ensure a strong pipeline of FDI into Ireland.
In light of the rapidly evolving global landscape and given the challenging international econo…
I thank the Deputies for their questions. I absolutely agree that competitiveness is not just for today; it is about preparing for the next decade. That is really important. That is why the Government is developing Enterprise 2035, which will be a long-term strategy focused on enterprise growth while also ensuring we have widespread job creation throughout the regions. It will be focused on skills, lifelong learning,…
I again thank the Deputies for their questions and their support for continued investment in the regions of Offaly and Galway. The Minister is continuing to progress the next generation sites. That is important. He is progressing the west, which is important, initially. I hope we will have an announcement shortly in that regard. It is important that what we announce is serviced. There is a plan to ensure the site can…
I thank the Deputy very much for the question. The SME test encourages policymakers across Government to apply the principle of thinking small first, to consider the impact any measures may have on SMEs and to mitigate any impacts where possible. This approach helps small businesses by ensuring new policies are designed in a way that supports SMEs and reduces unnecessary burdens on them.
In May 2024, the Government …
I again thank the Deputy. The Minister, Deputy Burke, and I are looking at how we streamline the application processes for a lot of businesses and SMEs that take the opportunity to apply for grants. We have undertaken a simplification process to do with the LEOs. We are also looking at more systemic reform within the LEOs to make them more accessible to small businesses across the 31 local authorities. We will ensure…
As I said in my earlier contribution we have seen real, practical outcomes in regard to its implementation, such as with the Agri-Food Regulator legislation. SMEs employing fewer than 50 staff were excluded from the initial analysis in the employment permit system. Processes were simplified and digitalised and fees were made more flexible. As for regulatory thresholds, we have looked at turnover limits, which were in…
Data centres represent critical digital infrastructure that is central to Ireland's modern economy. They strengthen Ireland's position as a strategic, knowledge-intensive regional hub for the ICT sector and also support broader retention and expansion of existing investment that supports billions of euro in economic value for Ireland via high-wage employment, tax receipts and the supplier ecosystem.
The Government's…
Again, we have done extensive evidence-based analysis. If the Deputy examines the Department's KPMG report, he will note it reflects the reality of Ireland being recognised as a global digital hub. I accept that the future pathway needs to be different, and that is exactly what we are implementing. We will no longer be in a position where the sector will be unmanaged. We will introduce a plan-led framework based on t…
I take the points the Deputy has raised. As I said, that is precisely why we have moved to a more plan-led approach under the large energy user action plan. That is in place. We predict that by the end of the decade, 30% of our energy will be focused towards digital hubs and data centres. What does that mean in practice? It means new connections will be subject to strict conditions. It will also mean that on-site or …
First, I congratulate Deputy Seán Kyne on his re-election to Dáil Éireann.
He is very welcome.
Addressing energy affordability is a key priority for this Government. That is why, in June of last year, the Department established the national energy affordability task force, NEAT, to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewables commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. …
I thank the Deputy for his question. When we saw the huge volatility and the energy crisis that resulted from events in the Middle East, we introduced unprecedented supports. We expanded the fuel allowance for an additional four weeks, which provided some comfort for those who use home heating oil. Notwithstanding the pressures that energy costs are putting on many families and recognising the scale of the interventi…
I take the points the Deputy has raised. We will feed in the challenges that many households that rely on kerosene face. The task force will engage with other Departments such as the Department of Social Protection on how the fuel allowance can better support those who require it. That is exactly how this should be structured. There should not be just one published document, but a phased approach in which we see imme…
I thank the Deputy for the question. The framework for governance and oversight of the deposit return scheme, DRS, is set out in the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2024, the ministerial approval issued under those regulations and the code of corporate governance for compliance schemes. While Re-turn is responsible for all operational and funding matters relating to the DRS, officials from my …
On accessibility, support and engagement are ongoing for those who require more adaptable Re-turn machines. The matter has certainly been brought to the attention of Re-turn and we have raised it. It is an operational issue for it. As the scheme continues to mature, more new initiatives will be included, not just through retailers but as part of the current review process.
In terms of the unredeemed deposits, the hu…
Through the ongoing governance and reviews, we get monthly operational and monitoring data. That is reviewed by our Department. We also get quarterly governance and strategic reviews. This is part of the statutory approval process, notwithstanding the strict corporate code of practice around this scheme.
In response to the Deputy's point, we will continue to bring forward new initiatives if they are raised within th…
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 38 together.
I thank the Deputy for his question. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, is currently undertaking a multi-annual review of electricity network tariffs. Electricity network tariffs recover the costs of developing, operating, and maintaining the networks from the users connected to the electricity networks. The review will seek to put in place a framewo…
I again thank the Deputy for the points he raises. I fully understand the concerns. Householders need confidence when switching to electricity that it will save them money. We have seen with the number of applications for SEAI grants but also for solar PV grants that those investments are reaping rewards. Electrification, when combined with efficiency and renewables, will lower energy costs over time for households. …
I understand the points the Deputy raised. The challenge of high electricity prices is well-understood. That is actively shaping Government policy in terms of regulatory discussions and decisions, but also how we continue to prioritise investment through price review, PR, 6, through ESB Networks and also EirGrid. That is precisely also why we have commissioned the regulator of utilities to undertake an in-depth, fund…
I thank the Deputy for his question. The warmer homes scheme aims to improve home energy efficiency and warmth for people at risk of energy poverty. It is a nationwide scheme delivering 100% funded energy efficiency improvements to the homes of people in receipt of certain welfare payments, thereby making their homes more comfortable and energy efficient and reducing their energy costs.
The scheme is operated by the…
I thank the Deputy for raising those important points. He has been consistent in his advocacy for improvements in waiting times for the scheme. The Minister will meet again with SEAI representatives to try to progress and build more efficiencies into the programme. We are not where we want to be. We want to make the scheme more agile. Demand for it has increased significantly, as I said, because it is fully funded. W…