Questions

414. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount of funding that has been approved for Galway County Council under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme since 2020; the number of projects this has supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22283/26]

415. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the reversal of the burden of proof provided for under the protected disclosures legislation applies only during formal adjudicative proceedings before bodies such as the Workplace Relations Commission and the courts, or whether it also applies during the administrative handling and inve…

416. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether any guidance has been issued to public bodies advising that the evidential presumption relating to retaliation under the protected disclosures legislation should be applied when assessing disclosures internally; and if no such guidance has issued, whether the Government has considered wh…

417. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Government has assessed whether administrative decisions taken without applying the evidential presumption provided for in the protected disclosures legislation may expose the State to avoidable litigation risk where those decisions are later challenged in proceedings before the Work…

418. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the Government has considered the interaction between the evidential presumption in whistleblower legislation and the Government’s State Litigation Principles, particularly the requirement that State bodies seek to avoid unnecessary litigation and protect public funds. [22390/26]

419. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether the Government has reviewed whether the current interpretation of the burden-of-proof provisions in Irish whistleblower legislation fully reflects the objectives of Directive (EU) 2019/1937, particularly in ensuring effective protection against retaliation. [22391/26]

420. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether any written guidance, circulars, or instructions have been issued to Departments, agencies, or prescribed persons regarding the application of the evidential presumption provided for under the protected disclosures legislation when assessing alleged retaliation during the administrative …

421. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the current statutory and administrative procedures governing the dismissal of a civil servant at assistant secretary general level, including any requirements under legislation and civil service circulars for the notification of the civil servant with respect to a show cause letter; and to deta…

422. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans for a trade mission to Egypt during the first half of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21622/26]

423. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps his Department is taking to support Irish exporters in diversifying into new international markets in light of recent global economic volatility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22456/26]

424. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the schedule of planned trade missions for 2026; the sectors being prioritised; the way in which these missions will contribute to attracting foreign direct investment and supporting Irish businesses abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22457/26]

425. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps his Department is taking to aid IDA Ireland in securing new foreign direct investment for Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22465/26]

426. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the proportion of State supported enterprise funding allocated to companies led or majority owned by women in each of the past five years; the measures in place to improve women’s access to capital and scale up supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21464/26]

427. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the status of a work permit renewal application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21608/26]

428. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the extent to which a new company being established in Ireland can register entirely online; to outline any moves to achieve that goal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21612/26]

429. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the development of artificial intelligence sandboxes. [21613/26]

430. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he plans to introduce a right to repair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21646/26]

431. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if measures are introduced to assist persons due to increased energy charges; if he will ensure that such measures are inclusive and do not exclude persons in employment and often times incurring substantial expenditure attending work and who may be over the income limit for some social welfare payments; and if he will make a statemen…

432. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding the work permit renewal application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21770/26]

433. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the full breakdown of expenditure by his Department on St. Patrick’s Day related activities; the details of any travel abroad; the number of officials that travelled; the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21821/26]

434. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding an application for a work permit for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21842/26]

435. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether a specific regulator or supervisory body has responsibility for the oversight of app based food delivery services; their delivery drivers; if so, the office or agency responsible; the legislative basis for that oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21871/26]

436. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of heads of government, heads of state, ministers, governors, mayors or other senior elected officials he and Ministers of State in his Department met for the St. Patrick's Day engagements overseas this year. [21900/26]

437. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of Irish diaspora groups, including but not limited to sporting and cultural organisations, as well as emigrant organisations he and Ministers of State in his Department met for the St. Patrick's Day engagements overseas this year. [21918/26]

438. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of businesses and business representative organisations he and State Ministers of State in his Department met for the St. Patrick's Day engagements overseas this year. [21936/26]