Parliamentary questions

421. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way the Department ensures that Ireland's construction-product approval and recommendation processes align with accepted international and European best practice, in particular when products certified under UK BBA, European ETA or EN standards may be approved elsewhere; and if European technical approvals are acc…

422. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment given the Government's stated objectives of promoting safe, sustainable and innovative building materials, the specific measures his Department plans to introduce to support Irish-developed and Irish-tested products that demonstrably enhance fire safety, energy efficiency and carbon reduction, such as (details suppli…

1. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the protections his Department will install for workers to prevent the situation that occurred at a company (details supplied) being replicated at other companies, whereby workers are left without any form of income for prolonged periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62594/25]

2. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he plans to review the employment permits process, with a view to making the process faster; whether his Department has considered streamlining the process with the visa process, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62597/25]

3. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment how he is taking account of the views expressed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in its scrutiny of the proposed omnibus directive, in particular the committee's concerns that the proposals extend far beyond the simplification of burdensome regulations for small and medium e…

4. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the progress being made by his Department on creating an operational AI regulatory sandbox by 2 August 2026, in line with the EU AI Act 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62583/25]

5. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports his Department is providing to companies impacted by the receivership announcement of a company (details supplied) to prevent further closures and job losses; the steps his Department is taking to ensure the packages held by the company are delivered to their owners; and if he will make a statement o…

6. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the means by which the transition of the new AI office to a fully independent statutory body will be managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62287/25]

7. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department and Enterprise Ireland plan to introduce a growth equity fund to help scale and co-invest in large privately owned Irish companies with a view to expansion in other jurisdictions; if his Department has researched similar programmes which are operational in other European countries, such as Denmark, Fin…

8. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans to review the work visa arrangements for individuals in high demand roles, such as in the STEM area, in particular, the rule that an employer must employ at least 50 percent of non-national workers from the EEA.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62148/25]

9. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on his proposals to cultivate cross-Border tourism. [62277/25]

10. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the position regarding supports for any SME that will not benefit from the planned VAT reduction in July 2026; if targeted supports for small businesses that are facing increasing costs will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59971/25]

11. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department and Enterprise Ireland are reviewing current policies with a view to expanding opportunities in areas outside of the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62265/25]

12. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the measures being taken by his Department to support the retail sector; the initiatives in place to assist small and independent retailers facing cost pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61547/25]

13. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his Department’s timeline for identification and servicing of the large-scale regional next generation sites for future FDI and enterprise; in which counties these will be located; the means by which local enterprise offices and regional agencies will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6220…

14. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the supports in place for small companies and businesses to enhance their understanding of profit and loss and cash flow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62194/25]

15. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will amend the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to include apprentices in its remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55506/25]

16. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on the work of Microfinance Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62046/25]

17. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he will publish a new national tourism policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62076/25]

18. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the actions he has taken to support the employees, couriers and route owners of a company (details supplied). [62050/25]

19. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has collaborated with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to align childcare policy with labour market needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62169/25]

20. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the additional new actions his Department are taking to stop the decline in overall visitor numbers and tourism spending in Ireland in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62268/25]

21. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on the work of the new small business unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62079/25]

22. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment when he will publish legislation on short term letting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62045/25]

23. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will report on the specific engagement his Department has had in County Louth with local SMEs, the Local Enterprise Office Louth, and other regional stakeholders, to identify gaps in enterprise supports; if he will set out any planned additional targeted supports for SMEs in County Louth; and if he will make …