Parliamentary questions

1140. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the targeted supports that are being developed to assist SMEs in adopting AI safely and effectively, including training, advisory services, or financial supports; the way these will be communicated to smaller firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24657/26]

1141. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which his Department intends to ensure that access to AI tools, training and supports is distributed across businesses of all sizes and not concentrated primarily within large enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24658/26]

1142. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if any assessment has been carried out on the current level of AI readiness among Irish businesses, and whether the findings will inform future policy or support programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24659/26]

1143. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current status and projected timeline for the development and infrastructure build-out of the new IDA Business Park, particularly in light of the fact that all available space in the existing park is now fully occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24661/26]

1144. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if a general employment permit renewal (details supplied) can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24683/26]

1145. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of civil and public servants in his Department and agencies under its remit who have received training in AI, data literacy or digital skills in the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25032/26]

1146. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if expenditure areas within his Department have been identified for cut backs or savings to contribute towards the overspend in the Department of Education and Youth; where the savings and reductions will apply in each vote sub-heading; the reason for each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

1147. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the Retirement (Contractual Retirement Age) Bill 2025, which was signed into law by President Catherine Connolly in December 2025 will be commenced or enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25151/26]

1148. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 108 of 4 March 2026, for an update on the extension of this scheme; the size of increase to the scheme’s capacity; when it can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25234/26]

1149. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is aware of concerns regarding the recall by a company (details supplied) on 24 March 2026 due to asbestos contamination in the sand contained within a toy; if he will provide details of the type and concentration of asbestos identified; the number of affected products sold in Ireland; the timeline of th…

1150. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total pay bill for the civil service in his Department for each year from 2016 to 2025 inclusive. [25442/26]

1151. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will support the progression of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25707/26]

1152. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of short term rental properties currently operating in County Mayo, based on the most recent data available to his Department or to Fáilte Ireland; and the proportion of those properties that are advertised as entire homes or apartments. [25722/26]

1153. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of short term rental units in County Mayo he expects will be required to register with Fáilte Ireland under the forthcoming short term letting and tourism legislation; and the preparations underway to support hosts in rural counties to comply with the new registration system. [25723/26]

1154. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which the national short term letting register will capture and publish data at county level, including for County Mayo; and whether such data will be made available to local authorities and public representatives. [25724/26]

1155. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the engagement that has taken place between his Department, Fáilte Ireland and tourism stakeholders in County Mayo regarding the impact of the new short term letting registration and platform obligations on local tourism capacity [25725/26]

1156. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the enforcement measures that will apply in cases where short term rental platforms advertise properties in County Mayo without a valid registration number once the new system comes into force. [25726/26]

1157. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is aware of issues relating to specific companies’ engagement with union representatives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25771/26]

1158. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide a list of AI pilot projects which have taken place in his Department within the past three months; the expenditure associated with those projects; and whether they are still ongoing, in tabular form. [25794/26]

1159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the timeframe for decision on an appeal (details supplied) in relation to an employment permit; and whether the decision can be expedited. [25890/26]

1160. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to legislate that any content moderation role that requires more than 10% of such content is harmful as being high risk in jobs specs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25894/26]

1161. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to legislate that any content moderation role which high risk environment provide clinical therapy, shift rotation and mental health tools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25895/26]

1162. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to consider codifying “joint employer” liability to ensure that both the client and the BPO are responsible for worker welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25896/26]

1163. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reason horticulture is not a qualifying sector for funding from Enterprise Ireland; if this can be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25923/26]

1164. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the bodies which operate under his aegis which have a regulatory or enforcement remit which include provision for a person convicted of an offence to receive a fine upon summary conviction, the associated maximum amount and duration of any related potential imprisonment term; provision for a person convicted on in…