Written Answers Nos. 312-333
312. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the consequences or sanctions in place for public sector bodies that fail to submit prompt payment reports as required by Government Decision S29296. [13511/25]
View answerGovernment departments, the HSE, Local Authorities, State Agencies and all other public authorities (excluding commercial Semi-State bodies) are required to report quarterly on their compliance with the Government’s 15 Day Prompt Payment Commitment. There are no sanctions in place where such bodies do not meet this requirement.
However, sanctions in the form of late payment interest and compensation for recovery of costs are in place for those payments that breach the 30-day legal time-frame for payment of invoices under Directive 2011/7/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Earlier this month Government agreed new measures to support effective delivery of the Public Sector’s obligation to pay its bills within 15 days. This programme of work will also include reviewing with parent departments where public sector bodies are not meeting the requirement to report quarterly on their compliance with the Government’s 15 Day Prompt Payment Commitment with a view to ensuring that this reporting requirement is met going forward.
313. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the total expenditure on public procurement by his Department and its agencies, including spending on goods, services and works acquired through public procurement processes, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [13548/25]
View answerMy department operates a devolved procurement function whereby each Business Unit is responsible for the procurement of their own individual contracts.
However, in order to provide the Deputy with list of the total expenditure on public procurement by the Department of Enterprise; Trade and Employment and its agencies, including spending on goods, services and works acquired through public procurement processes, in each of the past five years it will not be possible to provide the details requested within the time frame specified.
Details regarding this element of the question will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible over the coming days.
314. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a list of regulatory, appeal or other bodies, either funded by or under the remit of his Department, which are quasi-judicial in nature. [13572/25]
View answerThe following quasi-judicial bodies are either funded by or under the remit of my Department:
• Labour Court
• Workplace Relations Commission
• Employment Appeals Tribunal
• Intellectual Property Office of Ireland.
In addition, both the Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission have some quasi-judicial functions.
315. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans in place for the implementation of the Shannon Foynes Task Force Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13643/25]
View answerThe independent Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce published its report in July 2023, recommending that my Department, who acted as Secretariat for the Taskforce during its operation, coordinate Government’s response to the report. The report contains 89 recommendations covering energy and associated industrial policy, in addition to a series of regionally targeted initiatives. My officials have liaised with action owners on a number of occasions since the publication of the report, with good progress being reported on the implementation of many of the Taskforce’s national policy recommendations, in particular.
Of the 89 recommended actions in the Taskforce’s report, 22 are completed, 39 are in progress, either as recommended by the Taskforce, or through alternative means which will achieve a similar outcome, 13 are under consideration, and 15 will not be progressed as recommended by the Taskforce.
Included in those completed recommendations is a suite of policies and other key developments relating to renewable energy which have been advanced by Government since the Taskforce published its report. These include the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), the publication of the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy, the National Hydrogen Strategy, and Powering Prosperity – Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy, published by my own Department, among others. Together, these policy developments will be key enablers for the offshore wind opportunity identified by the Taskforce for the Shannon Estuary region.
My Department continues to engage across Government on progressing those recommendations which have been accepted by Government but are yet to be delivered.
316. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the issues surrounding the liquidation of a company (details supplied); if he will consider a review to legislation to better protect smaller and non-professional creditors is such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13806/25]
View answerI understand the frustration and upset of those consumers impacted by the manner in which the company concerned ceased operations.
The State’s liquidation process is a well-established mechanism for the winding up of companies on both a voluntary and compulsory basis and can take the form of either a court-ordered insolvent liquidation or a voluntary solvent or insolvent liquidation.
Under the Irish framework, the general order of priority means that consumers are generally ranked as unsecured creditors, thereby ranking behind secured creditors, such as Revenue (on behalf of the exchequer), employees owed wages, and banks owed money on a secured loan.
The stark reality of an insolvent liquidation, where the value of the company’s assets is less that its liabilities, is that invariably there will not be enough funds to satisfy all creditors’ demands leaving the consumer unable to recover their monies.
An appointed liquidator is independent in their role and the exercise of their duties. They have a statutory role to identify, take possession of and redistribute the assets to the creditors. To do so, the liquidator must realise the value of the assets for the benefit of the insolvency estate. Neither I as the Minister nor my Department can intervene in this process.
The current law is a result of careful balancing of the various rights of creditors, including employees. While the ranking of creditors attracts much debate, any changes would also have a knock-on effect on other creditors, such as SMEs and suppliers, who are themselves employers and who, due to liquidity issues, may find themselves making their own workers redundant.
As preferential debts include rates and taxation claims, the State is also a preferential creditor and such a proposal would adversely affect the Exchequer, depriving the taxpayer of moneys owed
Limited liability is designed to encourage and foster honest enterprise by permitting individuals to engage in entrepreneurial activity while limiting personal exposure to financial loss in the event of commercial failure. However, the law demands that, in return for the privilege of limited liability, those availing of it act in good faith and abide by minimum requirements of governance, transparency and commercial probity.
Company law provides for robust compliance and enforcement mechanisms and sets out the clear legal duties that directors’ have in respect insolvency, as well as specific provisions in relation to reckless and fraudulent trading.
The Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA), in particular, promotes high standards of corporate behaviour: It promotes compliance with company law; investigates instances of suspected breaches of company law; takes appropriate enforcement action in response to identified breaches of company law; supervises the activities of liquidators of insolvent companies; and operates a regime of restriction and disqualification in respect of directors of insolvent companies. Where a breach of company law has been established, the CEA will take action.
Finally, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body under the remit of my Department with responsibility for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition and consumer law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions.
Officials in the CCPC have advised that consumers affected should get the details of the liquidator and make a claim in writing setting out:
1. Details about the product they have paid for;
2. Exactly how much money they are owed; and
3. What they would like the liquidator to do, for example, arrange for delivery of the item or full refund.
In addition, if consumers affected paid the deposit by debit card or credit card, the CCPC has advised that they to contact their bank or card provider to see if it will reverse the transaction using the chargeback process.
However, there is no guarantee that claims will be successful.
317. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions he will take in collaboration with the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland to support new businesses and jobs in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13830/25]
View answerThe Mid-East Region, comprising counties Kildare, Louth, Meath, and Wicklow has a well-established ecosystem of companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services, Engineering & Industrial Technologies and Food & Film. There are 121 IDA client companies operating in the region, collectively employing 20,470 people and 810 EI Client companies employing 28,863 people. Moreover, at the end of 2024, there were 38 IDA client companies in County Louth employing 4,111 people, and 184 EI client companies employing 6,748 people.
Both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland have both recently published new strategies which will direct the focus of the agencies over the coming 5-year period with a focus on regional development.
IDA Ireland's strategy, Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation, includes an emphasis on partnering with the existing 1,800 clients, employing over 300,000 people across the country, to strengthen long-term investment in Ireland. In practical terms, this means the IDA is committed to supporting existing clients to increase the competitiveness of their Irish operations through investment in innovation, digitalisation, talent development and sustainability to position their operations here to capture new growth opportunities. This is both important in its own right but also for so many SMEs that are in the FDI community’s supply chains. The IDA will also broaden the impact of FDI working with Enterprise Ireland on enhancing supply and innovation links with Irish-based enterprises.
The IDA strategy also includes objectives to drive sustainable change; scale cutting-edge innovation and maximise regional opportunities with an ambition to win 1,000 investments, 550 in regional locations.
Central to IDA’s ambition to maximise regional opportunities is the continued delivery of the Agency’s Property Programme and the development of next generation strategic sites for companies locating significant operations here, including in County Louth. The availability of suitable property and strategic sites remains a critical component of the regional value proposition and to the winning of investments into the regions from both new name clients and from the existing client base. To this end, IDA’s property strategy aims to address regional market failure through investment in enterprise-focused property solutions that meet the needs of MNCs and indigenous clients in support of winning investments.
IDA Ireland also partners with Local Authorities for the delivery of advance planning permits in regional locations and invests in significant infrastructure projects across the portfolio of Business and Technology Parks responding to evolving company needs. IDA is maintaining a focus on the acquisition of new landbanks and strategic sites to future proof the ability of the property portfolio in regional locations to support the project pipeline. This targeted forward-planning is vital to provide certainty and ensure Ireland has a competitive offering that meets the evolving needs of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients.
In this regard, IDA will progress 23 building projects across 21 locations in 8 regions over the next 5 years, including completion of a building in Drogheda that is at the planning stage and a new technology building in Dundalk. IDA also proposes to progress delivery of up to three next generation sites under the strategy.
Enterprise Ireland’s strategy Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally, 2025-2029, outlines the organisation’s aims and ambitions for the Irish enterprise base and its purpose to ‘Accelerate Sustainable Irish Business’. Enterprise Ireland works with over 4,000 Irish-owned businesses to support them to start, compete, innovate and scale, and create jobs in towns and communities across Ireland.
The Agency’s ambition over the next five years is to support Irish exporting companies to make an even greater contribution to the Irish economy through international growth and nationwide employment, with a long-term ambition that exporting Irish companies become the primary driver of the Irish economy. The new strategy sets out the four strategic objectives:
• Start - Enhance the pipeline of innovative and scalable start-ups with a target to support 1,000 new start-ups over the five-year period, from 2025 to 2029.
• Compete - Support productivity, founded on sustainability, innovation, digitalisation, operational efficiency, and strong leadership and capabilities.
• Scale - Increase the number of world-leading Irish companies.
• Connect - To support an enhanced, internationally competitive, and interconnected enterprise and innovation ecosystem that fosters start-ups, and drives enterprise growth and investment.
IN this regard, County Louth is integral to Enterprise Ireland's new strategy, focusing on regional development and innovation. Through the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Louth, Enterprise Ireland supports local businesses with funding, training, and advisory services. Initiatives like the Green for Business and Lean Digital for Business programmes help companies in Louth enhance sustainability and efficiency. Additionally, the county benefits from targeted supports for sectors such as food and manufacturing, fostering job creation and economic growth. This strategic alignment ensures that County Louth contributes significantly to Ireland's overall economic resilience and green transition.
318. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to confirm the foreign direct investment employment recorded in County Louth from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025. [13831/25]
View answer319. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a breakdown of the current IDA business and technology parks available lands in County Louth; and the specific plans for available lands in the Drogheda and Dundalk areas. [13832/25]
View answer320. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-backed industries and Enterprise Ireland-supported companies currently operating in County Louth. [13833/25]
View answer321. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons employed by IDA-backed industries in Drogheda and Dundalk from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025. [13834/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 318 to 321, inclusive, together.
At the end of 2024 there were 38 IDA supported companies in Co Louth employing 4,111 people.
As requested by the Deputy, the table below outlines the number of IDA client companies and associated employment figures in County Louth for the period 2020 to 2024. The figures for 2025 will be available upon the completion of the Annual Employment Survey at the end of the year.
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Number of IDA Client Companies in Co Louth |
35 |
36 |
35 |
39 |
38 |
|
Total Jobs in IDA Client companies in Co Louth |
4,525 |
4,822 |
4,669 |
4,013 |
4,111 |
The new IDA Strategy, "Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation", which I launched in February, is targeting 550 from a total of 1,000 investments over the lifetime of the strategy to the regions. This ambitious target will require continued investment in IDA’s Regional Property Programme for companies locating significant operations here. The availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and to the winning of investments into the regions from both new name clients and from the existing client base.
IDA’s property strategy aims to address regional market failure through investment in enterprise-focused property solutions that meet the needs of MNCs and indigenous clients in support of winning investments. IDA Ireland also partners with Local Authorities for the delivery of advance planning permits in regional locations and invests in significant infrastructure projects across the portfolio of Business and Technology Parks responding to evolving company needs. IDA maintains a focus on acquisition of new landbanks and strategic sites to future proof the ability of the property portfolio in regional locations to support the project pipeline. This targeted forward planning is vital to provide certainty and ensure Ireland has a competitive offering that meets the evolving needs of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients.
The table below outlines the available marketable land on IDA’s Business & Technology Parks in Co. Louth:
|
IDA Drogheda B&T Park, Rathmullan |
Drogheda |
Business & Technology Park |
Marketable |
1.58 hectares |
|
IDA Drogheda North Business Park, Mell |
Drogheda |
Business & Technology Park |
Marketable |
34.14hectares |
|
IDA Dundalk B&T Park, Finnabair |
Dundalk |
Business & Technology Park |
Marketable |
2.88 hectares |
|
Mullagharlin Strategic Site |
Dundalk |
Strategic Site |
Marketable |
24.23hectares |
|
IDA Dundalk B&T Park, Fairhill |
Dundalk |
Business & Technology Park |
Marketable |
52.89hectares |
In relation to job numbers for specific companies and by town is not available, but IDA-supported companies located in Dundalk and Drogheda, along with their range of employment is shown below:
|
IDA supported Companies in Dundalk and Drogheda |
2024 Employment Range |
|
WUXI BIOLOGICS IRELAND |
600-700 |
|
ANORD MARDIX (IRELAND) LTD |
500-600 |
|
CARGOTEC |
200-300 |
|
ALMAC PHARMACEUTICALS GROUP (IRELAND) LIMITED |
200-250 |
|
WUXI VACCINES IRELAND |
250-300 |
|
PROMETRIC IRELAND LIMITED |
150-200 |
|
BECTON DICKINSON & CO LIMITED |
150-200 |
|
STATE STREET INTERNATIONAL IRELAND DROGHEDA |
150-200 |
|
KASEYA CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE DUNDALK |
150-200 |
|
NATIONAL PEN PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS LIMITED |
150-200 |
|
PCI SERVICES IRELAND (LOUTH) |
150-200 |
|
SERVISOURCE HEALTHCARE LTD |
150-200 |
|
STANDARD BRANDS (TRADING) IRELAND LTD |
100-150 |
|
XEROX (EUROPE) LIMITED |
100-150 |
|
SMT FUND SERVICES (IRELAND) LIMITED (DUNDALK) |
50-100 |
|
GRAEBEL |
50-100 |
|
RADIO SYSTEMS PETSAFE EUROPE LIMITED |
50-100 |
|
ABB LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
PANASONIC AVIONICS DUNDALK |
0-50 |
|
EXPERLOGIX INC IRELAND |
0-50 |
|
MTI MERCHANDISING TECHNOLOGIES IRELAND LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
OVERHAUL DRIVEN BY TRUST LTD |
0-50 |
|
VESTA PAYMENT SOLUTIONS LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
IRON MOUNTAIN (DROGHEDA) |
0-50 |
|
SMARMORE CASTLE PRIVATE CLINIC |
0-50 |
|
ALLARD SUPPORT UK LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
AMPHENOL TCS IRELAND LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
CATAPULT (KODAPLAY LIMITED) |
0-50 |
|
SIMPLY NUC IRELAND |
0-50 |
|
ALTERNATIVE HEAT |
0-50 |
|
SATIR EUROPE (IRELAND) COMPANY LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
KUKA ROBOTICS (IRELAND) LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
DIACEUTICS LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
INTEGRATED AVIATION SYSTEMS IRELAND |
0-50 |
|
TRUSTLABS COMPLIANCE SOLUTIONS (ARCHBLOCK) |
0-50 |
|
PENTAGON TECHNOLOGIES GROUP |
0-50 |
|
RAYNER SURGICAL IRELAND LIMITED |
0-50 |
|
NOESIS |
0-50 |
322. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in Drogheda and Dundalk from 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025. [13835/25]
View answerEnterprise Ireland conducts a survey annually to gather data on the level of employment that exists within client companies. The most recent survey was carried out at the end of 2024 and this data was released in January 2025. The next employment survey will be carried out at the end of 2025 with results published in January 2026.
The most up to date results for County Louth are provided in the table below, with 6,748 people employed by Enterprise Ireland supported firms in the county in 2024.
Data is not gathered at the level of the town; county level data is the most granular level of data available from Enterprise Ireland.
|
- |
Annual Employment Survey (AES) Total Employment by county per given year |
|||||
|
By County |
Data |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Louth |
Total Jobs |
6,748 |
6,739 |
6,369 |
6,521 |
6,372 |
Although net employment growth in County Louth was flat in 2024, there were in fact 422 jobs created by Enterprise Ireland supported companies in the county over 2024, this was offset by the loss of 413 jobs in other Enterprise Ireland client companies.
In an overall sense there has been a positive growth trajectory in the county over the last five years; this is in line with the economic growth observed across the wider Irish economy during this time. The county has benefitted from Ireland’s record export performance in recent years; this growth in export business has seen demand for additional employees and subsequent employment growth in the county over the last five years.
323. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering establishing a dedicated jobs task force for Drogheda to provide fundamental opportunities for job growth in Drogheda, as part of the programme for Government commitment to delivering continued growth and success; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13836/25]
View answer324. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of WTE staff, by job title, based in IDA offices located in northern California and in New York as of 18 March 2025, and as of 31 March 2022, in tabular form. [13837/25]
View answerThe below table outlines the number of WTE staff, by job title, based in IDA offices located in northern California and in New York as of 18 March 2025, and as of 31 March 2022.
Irvine and Palo Alto – California
|
- |
18 March 2022 |
18 March 2025 |
|
Territory Director |
1 |
1 |
|
Sales & Marketing Executive |
10 |
7* |
|
Market Analyst |
1 |
1 |
|
Office Admin |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
13 |
10 |
*Excluding 3 Sales and Marketing Executive Vacancies
New York
|
- |
18 March 2022 |
18 March 2025 |
|
Director, North America |
1 |
1 |
|
Sales & Marketing Executive |
7 |
7 |
|
Market Analyst |
2 |
2 |
|
Office Admin |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
11 |
11 |
325. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or his officials can make contact with a company (details supplied) that has written to him seeking his assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13896/25]
View answer326. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacant WTE posts, by job title currently at the Workplace Relations Commission; and the estimated timeframe in which each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [13929/25]
View answerThe table below shows the current number of WTE vacant posts, by job title at the Workplace Relations Commission and the estimated timeframe in which each of these vacancies will be filled.
|
Number of vacant WTE posts |
Job Title |
Estimated timeframe to be filled |
|
1 |
Director of Conciliation, Facilitation and Mediation Services |
By end of Q2 2025 |
|
1 |
Director of Knowledge, Information and Advisory Services |
By end of Q2 2025 |
|
1 |
Assistant Principal Officer |
By end of Q2 2025 |
|
1 |
Assistant Principal Adjudication Officer |
By end of 2025 |
|
1 |
Higher Executive Officer |
By end of Q2 2025 |
|
2 |
Industrial Relations Officer |
By end of Q3 2025 |
|
1 |
Legal Researcher |
By end of Q3 2025 |
|
2 |
Executive Officer |
By end of Q2 2025 |
|
25 |
Executive Officer Inspector |
Some assignments currently being filled with all vacancies expected to be filled by end 2025 |
|
1 |
Clerical Officer |
By end of Q2 2025 |
327. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider reopening the trading online voucher grant scheme to assist SMEs with the creation of an online presence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14006/25]
View answerThe Grow Digital Voucher was launched on the 4th of September 2024. This new digital support has improved eligibility criteria including a wider range of digital supports available to a larger cohort of businesses, in comparison to the Trading Online Voucher (TOV). Additionally, the funding available was increased to up to €5,000 and the Government contribution remains at 50%. Grow Digital is available to small businesses in all sectors with up to 50 employees - compared to the TOV which was only available to businesses with up to 10 employees.
The objective of the Grow Digital Voucher is to help small businesses to implement the recommendations of a Digital for Business consultancy. Based on the consultancy, the Grow Digital Voucher can be used to boost efficiency, by streamlining operations and enhancing productivity using digital tools.
Eligible expenditure under this scheme supports a broader range of digital transformation projects compared to the TOV, including e-commerce software, e-invoicing software, cyber security software, as well as analytics software including Artificial Intelligence systems. The improvements in eligible expenditure for Grow Digital also means that website development subscriptions are supported and can be included as eligible expenditure.
The Grow Digital Voucher integrates and significantly improves on the parameters of the TOV in terms of expenditure and eligible businesses.
328. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the percentage of social media video accessible, such as providing the information or activities posted on each of his Department’s social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under its remit, including closed captioning and subtitling and Irish Sign Language translations, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [14049/25]
View answerI can confirm that 100% of my Department’s (and offices’) social media video content included subtitles during 2024. No video content included Irish Sign Language translations in 2024.
The social media activity of the agencies and public bodies under my Department’s remit is an operational matter for those agencies, and I do not have any direct function in these matters.
329. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which he intends to support the MedTech sector, given that the Programme for Government highlights it as a sector where Ireland has a competitive advantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14119/25]
View answerIreland has a thriving Medtech sector supported by Government policy, funding, and industry collaboration. Ireland is home to an internationally important Medtech cluster, with an estimated 450 companies employing circa 40,000 people. This includes major multinationals along with a strong base of indigenous firms who are competing successfully internationally and improving the lives of people around the world by developing innovative medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health solutions that enhance healthcare outcomes, patient safety, and quality of life.
The Government, through agencies like IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, provides financial incentives, R&D grants, and export assistance to support both foreign and domestic Medtech companies. The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) and programmes supported by Horizon Europe funding further drive innovation in the sector.
Ireland’s regulatory and academic ecosystem is another key enabler. The Health Products Regulatory Authority ensures compliance with EU medical device regulations, while universities and research institutions foster collaboration through dedicated Medtech research centres, such as Research Ireland’s CÚRAM Research Centre for Medical Devices hosted by the University of Galway.
The sector also benefits from a skilled workforce and specialised training programmes through IDA Ireland’s support of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) and other initiatives.
The Lifesciences sector, which Medtech is a part of, is recognised across Europe as strategically important and the European Commission’s Work Programme envisages a focus on the sector through the development of an EU Lifesciences strategy and supporting initiatives. Government also recognises its importance as evidence by our commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national lifesciences strategy. My Department is currently allocating resources to a new team to develop the strategy and influence EU developments. The process ahead in developing a strategy will include initiation and scoping, evidence gathering and analysis, stakeholder engagement and consultation, drafting, and will have to take into account EU developments.
I believe that the proposed EU Lifesciences Strategy and a new National Lifesciences Strategy will strengthen Ireland’s Medtech sector. While I cannot pre-empt the development of a national strategy, it would not be unreasonable to surmise that it will consider a number of strategic themes such as Investment & Funding; R&D and Innovation; Talent Development; Infrastructure & Digital Transformation; Regulatory & Policy Alignment; and International Trade & Market Access. Taking into account EU timelines and the level of engagement required in developing a national strategy, I would not expect it to be finalised until next year. Notwithstanding this, I can assure the Deputy that we will continue to support the sector and act on any opportunities as they arise over the course of the strategy’s development.
330. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his contribution to the decisions by the EU to retaliate to the threatened US tariffs; his contribution to the selection of targets for this retaliation with the selection of US bourbon manufacturers putting the Irish whiskey sector in danger of further retaliatory tariffs from the US; and the manner in which he has fed into, contributed or influenced these decisions. [14190/25]
View answerAs the operational aspects of the transfer of particular files and functions regarding trade policy have been managed between my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the recent period, this matter is one that I am updated regularly on.
The Government regrets the US Administration’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium from the EU and other trade partners. It leaves the EU with no choice but to take the necessary and proportionate action to defend the interests of Irish and European businesses, workers and citizens.
The EU has announced its response to these tariffs, and work is ongoing regarding their implementation. It is now planned that these will come into effect in mid-April. I welcome that the Commission has extended its implementation by this extra period to create additional negotiation space with the US.
I also welcome that the EU has made clear that it is open to fine-tuning its rebalancing measures so that they strike the right balance of products, taking into account the interests of EU producers, exporters, and consumers. The EU stands ready to find a negotiated solution with the US. Its countermeasures can be reversed at any time if such a solution is found.
The US has responded to the EU announcement of countermeasures, specifically with regard to beverages and spirits. To date, there have been no steps to give this legal effect, but it is of course a serious and concerning development. The Irish agrifood sector is one of our most important indigenous sectors and Irish Whiskey and other beverages are a key part of that sector.
My officials are engaging very actively with the Commission and other EU Member States on what is a very serious and evolving situation. The Government has made our concerns clearly known to the EU including in relation to the dairy and spirit drinks sectors. The Tánaiste spoke with Commissioner Šefcovic recently and is in close contact with EU Trade Ministers. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his officials have also been engaging with relevant stakeholders on this issue and has highlighted their specific concerns to the Government. There will be further engagement with the Commission at different levels in the period ahead.
Ultimately, the Irish position is clear: we want to avoid a series of escalating tit-for tat tariffs. They are economically counterproductive and would disrupt deeply integrated supply chains, which benefit businesses and employers on both sides of the Atlantic.
331. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether his Department has examined the issue of file padding in the workplace, where employers fabricate or exaggerate disciplinary records to justify dismissal, demotion, or other adverse actions; whether such practices will be recognised as a form of workplace harassment; whether legislative measures are being considered to prevent and penalise such conduct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14206/25]
View answer332. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of a dispute between workers and an employer (details supplied); if he will instruct his Department to investigate the matter and ensure workers know their rights and are receiving a fair wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14229/25]
View answerIt is not appropriate for me as Minister nor the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to comment on specific cases or cases that may be the subject of ongoing inspection.
The WRC is an independent statutory office under the aegis of my Department. The WRC’s primary functions include the inspection of employment law compliance, the provision of information on employment law, mediation, adjudication, conciliation, and advisory services.
Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation in place to protect and support workers, including the Payment of Wages Act 1991. That Act establishes a range of rights for all employees in relation to the payment of wages. The Act regulates modes of payment (e.g. by cheque or electronic fund transfer) as well as what deductions from wages can be made. Under this Act, employers must also provide a payslip showing gross pay and the relevant deductions. Employees who consider that their rights have been infringed under the Act, may refer a case to the WRC for adjudication.
It is open to either party to appeal a decision of the WRC to the Labour Court not later than 42 days from the date of the decision concerned.
The employer has 56 days to carry out the decision of the adjudication officer. If the employer fails to do so, then the employee, the WRC, the employee's trade union or excepted body can apply to the District Court for an order directing the employer to do so.
The WRC website is an important source of information on employee rights and employer obligations under employment law. While the entire website is available in full in Irish and English, the WRC website provides a Google Translate facility to enable users to view the content in any language that Google Translate supports.
The WRC's website can be accessed at www.workplacerelations.ie.
333. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that a business is facing the prospect of making over one thousand security officers redundant by going through the liquidation process (details supplied); if he will ensure that workers are protected in the case if redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14230/25]
View answerI am advised by Department of Social Protection officials who administer the Insolvency Payments Scheme on my behalf that they have had no correspondence from the company referred to by the Deputy. I am not aware of any media reports that the company the Deputy is referring to has entered liquidation. The Deputy may be referring to a separate Northern Irish company which traded under the same name, which is reported to have entered into liquidation. Employees based in Northern Ireland are generally governed by that jurisdiction's regulations governing redundancy and employer's insolvency. In general, where an Irish employer has become legally insolvent, the Redundancy Payments Scheme and Insolvency Payments Scheme protect the former employees. The Schemes are administered by the Department of Social Protection on my behalf. Payments are made from the Social Insurance Fund and are subject to certain limits. The Redundancy Payments Scheme ensures eligible employees receive their statutory redundancy payment in the event that their employer is unable to pay due to its insolvency. Under the Insolvency Payments Scheme, employees may also claim various outstanding debts, through an employer representative, such as the official liquidator or receiver. These debts include arrears of wages, holiday and sick pay, minimum notice, certain unpaid pension contributions and various statutory awards made by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). In addition, in July last year, I introduced a number of legislative changes to further enhance the protection of employees facing collective redundancies caused by their employer's insolvency, through the Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Act 2024.
