Parliamentary questions

362. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he intends to attend the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris on 10 and 11 February 2025; the level of Government representation planned; and the priorities for Ireland at that summit [2572/25]

363. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for details on his discussions with other EU Member States which oppose the Mercosur deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2918/25]

364. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will work with others here and at EU level to ensure that the Mercosur deal on imports is ratified by as few EU Member States as possible; if a commitment will be given that the Government will not ratify such a deal due to the potential impact on Ireland’s agriculture and food sector; and if he will make a sta…

365. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the actions being taken by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to support new businesses and jobs in County Meath. [2164/25]

366. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to urgently seek a meeting with the CEO and the board of management of a company (details supplied) and the I.D.A. to clarify the current situation regarding the closure of the company in County Wexford; to clarify what the future holds for the 300 staff who work there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. …

367. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider accepting late applications to the Power Up scheme for an eligible business that missed the last deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2417/25]

368. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the current and potential impact of artificial intelligence on the creative industries; the actions being taken by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2464/25]

369. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans, if any, to update the critical skills list with the inclusion of hairdressing as meeting the criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2468/25]

370. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits the IDA has carried out to Kildare towns and locations over the past five years; the locations and dates of these visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2490/25]

371. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs in Kilkenny and Carlow, at the end of 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2538/25]

372. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied), benefitting from State and semi-State contracts, has been operating in a manner which has been causing workers distress; and if he will commit to investigating the company’s conduct, ensuring that working and pay conditions are up to an acce…

373. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of a report (details supplied) highlighting the challenges faced by businesses in Tipperary due to severe storms, snow and ice disruption earlier this year; the progress made in addressing these challenges; his plans for any financial assistance, tax relief measures, and improved snow and ice managemen…

374. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will examine the eligibility criteria for the Power Up grant as it relates to small business owners who paid their rent and rates as a combined single payment to their landlord (details supplied); if consideration will be given to cases where the business owner did not receive the second increased cost of busines…

375. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider amending the legislation to extend the definition of ‘casual trading’ to include the provision of services, alongside the sale of goods, as the current legislation restricts regulation under casual trading bye-laws to goods only, noting the increasing prevalence of services such as pop-up saunas and…

376. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland’s ratification of the CETA trade agreement now falls to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2626/25]

377. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a detailed list of all the IDA grants given to a company (details supplied), from 2020 to date in 2025, including the sub heading that those grants fall under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2655/25]

378. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an economic and sustainability assessment of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement has been conducted to date to assess the potential impact on the agricultural sector; if not, the reason; when an assessment will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2701/25]

379. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an economic and sustainability assessment of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement has been conducted to date to assess the potential impact on the agricultural sector; if not, the reason; when an assessment will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2702/25]

380. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an analysis of the new EU/Mercosur free trade agreement has been conducted; when the Government will make a decision on whether or not it will support the new trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2703/25]

381. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland has had any discussions with EU Member States who are opposed to the EU/Mercosur free trade agreement for the purposes of forming an alliance of similar minded states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2704/25]

382. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government intends to submit its formal opposition to the EU/Mercosur trade agreement to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2705/25]

383. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will publish the ministerial brief he received following the recent formation of the Government. [2757/25]

384. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reasons for the reclassification of certain business in relation to the power up scheme where businesses successfully received one grant but were not awarded the second; if he will approve a reassessment of an application (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2801/25]

385. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reasons for the reclassification of certain business in relation to the power up scheme where businesses successfully received one grant but were not awarded the second; if he will approve a reassessment of an application (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2802/25]

386. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the transposition into Irish law of the Platform Work EU Directive; when this is likely to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2806/25]