Parliamentary questions

177. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage have considered the introduction of a visitor accommodation levy/hotel bed tax or similar levies for the Dublin area for the generation of additional revenue to support our growing tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2648…

178. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on whether small and medium-sized businesses are being hit hardest by rising fuel costs, particularly those in energy-intensive sectors such as retail and hospitality; the assistance he is providing in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30409/26]

179. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment following his announcement of a €100 million allocation to a new scaling fund for Irish SMEs, the way his Department believes this funding will enable Irish SMEs to grow domestically and also reach international markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30513/26]

180. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific targets that have been set for the new direct flight routes, such as the Dublin-Shanghai route announced in April 2026, to assist with diversifying tourism markets and increasing high-value visitors from Asia and the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30507/26]

181. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the status of the review of the critical skills occupations list and ineligible occupations list; whether the review will take into consideration the availability of housing in addition to the needs of the labour market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30068/26]

182. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his assessment of deficiencies in regional infrastructure that are constraining enterprise growth and regional economic development; the specific measures being taken to correct these deficiencies and accelerate infrastructure delivery to ensure balanced regional development and to boost regional competitivenes…

183. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on his proposals to cultivate cross-Border tourism. [30509/26]

184. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department’s efforts to promote tourism in east County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29993/26]

185. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will outline the importance of developing next generation sites, in line with the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30439/26]

186. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on his engagements with stakeholders in relation to a site (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29992/26]

187. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will consider establishing a small business ombudsman to provide a dedicated avenue for engagement between Government and small businesses (details supplied). [26724/26]

188. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding any initiatives being considered to promote hybrid work practices in private businesses in the context of worsening traffic congestion and increased fuel costs for commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29989/26]

189. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the plans he has in place to help businesses cope with the cost impact of the US-Iran war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30058/26]

190. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department is giving consideration to a change to the tax code to allow local authorities to levy a hotel bedroom tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28777/26]

191. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the assessments his Department has carried out of the net employment impact of generative AI across key Irish sectors over the next five years; the way in which enterprise and skills supports are to be aligned to manage job displacement alongside job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [304…

192. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps he has taken under the entrepreneurship growth plan to develop specified supports for those with disabilities. [30502/26]

193. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports being provided for tourism in Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30065/26]

194. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the targeted measures or supports being considered or implemented by his Department to support the retail sector in the context of increased operating costs, changing consumer behaviour and international economic pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30088/26]

195. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will detail any contact his Department has had with a company (detail supplied) in relation to the latest round of redundancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30411/26]

196. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department is considering changes that will allow for online platforms to be treated as publishers to increase their accountability for the content they allow on their websites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16796/26]

197. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans to broaden the attraction to tourists of Dublin 8 to include markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30425/26]

198. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if events in the Middle East and their impact on the global economy will result in any changes to the outlook for tourism in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30443/26]

199. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagement between his Department and large employers on the issue of the way in which AI will affect jobs in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30412/26]

200. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures he is taking to increase the number of people with disabilities in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29503/26]

201. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment given that tourism is made up of about 46,000 SMEs, and that they operate on very small margins, if he is taking any initiatives to help moderate cost increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30442/26]