Parliamentary questions

995. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if additional financial support will be made available to local authorities and community groups to develop enterprise centres or work spaces (details supplied); if his Department and the statutory agencies under the remit of his Department will give this request further urgent consideration in view of longstanding…

996. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the additional supports being considered for small and medium-sized enterprises in rural towns such as Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, Mountrath and Portarlington, particularly in light of rising operational costs and recruitment challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1867/26]

997. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of IDA and Enterprise Ireland client visits to County Laois in the past 12 months; the progress on securing new investment for the National Enterprise Park in Portlaoise; the strategy for increasing foreign direct investment in the Midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1868/26]

998. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports available to tourism-related enterprises in County Laois, including those connected to heritage, outdoor recreation and hospitality; if additional measures are planned to strengthen the county’s tourism economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1870/26]

999. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has assessed the potential of stronger remote working legislation to retain graduates and skilled workers in counties such as Laois; if this forms part of the Government’s regional enterprise strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1871/26]

1000. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being taken to address rising business costs in the midlands region, particularly labour, energy, and water costs; if specific supports will be introduced to safeguard competitiveness for local enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1872/26]

1001. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which his Department is supporting local authorities and tourism agencies in developing infrastructure to host major cultural and sporting events, including facilities upgrades, accommodation expansion and accessibility improvements; if he will outline the midlands' preparedness for upcoming internationa…

1002. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department will examine the financial burden on businesses and non-EEA employees associated with the €1,500 cost of renewing a general employment permit after the initial two-year period; if consideration will be given to reducing or restructuring these fees to ensure that the cost is not disproportionatel…

1003. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will abolish the exemption of apprentices from the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67678/25]

1004. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way in which his Department plans to target Irish tourism overseas in its capital investment strategy under the National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1888/26]

1005. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department plans to continue to support Irish SMEs with the introduction of improved AI and other cutting edge digital technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1889/26]

1006. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he could provide a breakdown of his Department’s €4.7 billion capital investment strategy, ‘Start Up Ireland’, for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1905/26]

1007. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current average waiting time for a WRC adjudication hearing to be heard from the time the complaints are submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1912/26]

1008. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the average waiting time for a WRC adjudication hearing to be heard from the time the complaints are submitted for each month in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1913/26]

1009. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports and measures available to small businesses impacted by retail crime and break-ins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1966/26]

1010. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department plans to increase the supports and measures available to small businesses impacted by retail crime and break-ins during the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1968/26]

1011. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding any product or service purchased from Israel or the Occupied Territories by his Department in 2025, broken down by description and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1979/26]

1012. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of the past f…

1013. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the basis on which his Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2037/26]

1014. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against his Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2055/26]

1015. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if he will…

1016. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether his Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2091/26]

1017. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2109/26]

1018. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2127/26…

1019. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment how enterprise supports are being aligned with tourism development to maximise economic spill-over for local suppliers, service providers and community-based businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2145/26]