Parliamentary questions

587. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his views on issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20267/26]

588. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being undertaken by his Department to promote the take up of fibre to the home fibre broadband amongst Irish SMEs, considering data which suggests adoption remains low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20270/26]

589. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount of carbon that will be emitted on all transport and related actions undertaken by him and all members of his staff during their St Patrick’s Day trips in 2026. [20606/26]

590. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount of carbon that will be emitted on all transport and related actions undertaken by all Junior Ministers in his Department and their members of staff during their St Patrick’s Day trips in 2026. [20624/26]

591. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he has paid to offset any of the carbon emitted due to St Patrick’s Day trips in 2026; and the amount paid. [20643/26]

592. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the amount of carbon that has been emitted by transport used by him, the Junior Ministers in his Department, and their staff for each of the past five years; if he has paid to offset any of the carbon emitted because of transport; and the amount paid in each year. [20661/26]

593. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he is satisfied with the adequacy of statutory sick pay in the context of the cost of living crisis; his views on the financial implications of requiring a medical certificate for same; his plans to allow for self-certification of the first two to three days of illness; the international comparators his Department…

594. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he expects to publish the outcome of the public consultation on the proposal to extend the late working hours exemption for young persons to unlicensed premises under the Protection of Young Persons Act 1996; whether he intends to introduce new regulations or revise the existing Code of Practice arising fr…

595. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports that are in place for businesses that engage in import to export trade that rely on passage of goods through regions of west Asia currently impacted by conflict. [20812/26]

596. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline the assessments that have been carried out by his Department on the impact of aging demographics on specific employment sectors in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20813/26]

597. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures his Department will bring forward to address the lack of access to the industrial relations system faced by people who have been retired for more than six months and have faced occupational pension cuts and zero increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20849/26]

331. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he plans to issue the commencement order for the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025, given that although the Act was signed into law on 16 December 2025, it has not yet come into operation pending such an order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17906/26]

332. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he expects the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 will come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17911/26]

333. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department plans to engage staff from the private sector who work in accountancy and corporate law firms to work in his Department during the course of the upcoming EU Presidency term; the terms under which such staff will be engaged; the number of staff his Department plans to hire; the measures planned to guard…

108. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the SBCI scheme will open for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17256/26]

109. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the Contractual Retirement Ages Act 2025 will become fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17320/26]

110. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures the Government intends to introduce in the coming year to strengthen or amend the statutory right to request remote working arrangements; whether consideration is being given to enhancing enforcement mechanisms or employer compliance requirements, in light of concerns that the current legislation lacks …

111. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when the review of the critical skills occupation list will be concluded; when the results of such a review will be disclosed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17835/26]

112. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the extent to which he and other Ministries discussed or planned to reform the area of work visas and employment permits in an effort to streamline and simplify what has become a cumbersome process for many employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17836/26]

113. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the average time to process work permits under the Employment Permits Online (EPO) system since its inception; if he could provide the average timelines for the processing of works permits for each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17837/26…

114. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has raised concerns that the new policy on family reunification will have a knock on impact on the recruitment of non-EEA workers in Ireland, particularly those on General Employment Permits; the steps his Department is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matt…

381. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Fiontar, Turasóireachta agus Fostaíochta an bhfuil sé ar an eolas faoin mbuairt atá léirithe ag eagrais cheoil, lena n-áirítear IMRO agus IRMA, faoi thionchar na hintleachta saorga ar cheoltóirí agus ar an earnáil cheoil in Éirinn; an bhfuil sé i gceist aige gníomh a dhéanamh dá réir; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [17093/26]

382. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether a property that has been operating as a short-term let for seven or more years will require change of use planning permission with regard to the new short-term letting regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16187/26]

383. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with regard to the new short-term letting regulations, whether granny flats or converted garages within the grounds of a principal private residence will be exempt from new regulations and will they be treated as part of the main home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16188/26]

384. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with regard to the new short-term letting regulations, whether an Irish principal private home is used by owners living abroad as a family base and as a short-term let will be exempt as a PPH under the new rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16189/26]