Written Answers Nos. 1008-1021
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]
View answer1010. 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]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1009 and 1010 together.
The Government fully recognises the significant harm caused by retail crime, which not only impacts retailers but also has broader consequences for local communities and the national economy.
The Programme for Government contains a range of commitments in respect of retail crime. My department has engaged with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, on these and Retail Forum members have been invited by that Department to share their experiences of retail crime and its impact on their businesses, and staff and customers, to help inform the ongoing development of a new Retail Crime Strategy.
An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration have presented at the Retail Forum which I chair, on Retail Crime and Operation Táirge. Operation Táirge commenced in December 2023 to support the operational activity aimed at detecting and preventing Organised Retail Crime (ORC).
I would ask retailers to report any crime to their business and/or employees to An Garda Síochána.
The Programme for Government is also clear on the intention to support small businesses and as the Minister of State with responsibility for retail, I am aware of the issues facing retailers.
The broad range of supports for the retail sector, including training programmes and funding to help retailers adapt to new challenges and opportunities in retail, can be found on the National Enterprise Hub, NEH. The NEH is an all-of-government service staffed by expertly trained advisers and is focused on helping businesses to access a range of Government supports. The Hub brings together information and resources of over 250 Government supports from 32 different Departments and State agencies.
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]
View answerAccording to records held in my Department, no product or service was purchased from Israel or the Occupied Territories by my Department in 2025.
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 five years; if so, to provide details of the number of such cases, the bodies involved, and the total costs incurred in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2019/26]
View answer1013. 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]
View answer1014. 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]
View answer1015. 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 make a statement on the matter. [2073/26]
View answer1016. 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]
View answer1017. 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]
View answer1018. 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]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1012 to 1018, inclusive, together.
My Department generally seeks advice on employee related disputes internally from our Legal Unit in the first instance who provide legislative and internal legal advice. My Department also engages with the Attorney General’s Office and the Chief State Solicitors Office for strategic legal advice on constitutional and legislative matters, and they provide legal representation in litigation.
Where there is a minor issue related to areas such as individual HR advice or other specific advices, my Department may occasionally utilise external legal advice who can provide case specific advice for relatively low cost. My Department is always mindful of external legal costs and tracks them on the financial system, as with other expenditure.
Litigation is dealt with on behalf of the Department by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency who engage lawyers to act for my Department and its offices where necessary. The costs of any external solicitors or counsel in such litigation are not managed by my Department. Details of legal costs paid by the CSSO for cases where the CSSO is representing the Department are reported on in the appropriation account of the CSSO.
Where a unit of my Department does engage external legal services, contract management, including payment of invoices is the responsibility of the budget holder which is headed at Principal Officer level. My Department operates within the public procurement guidelines to ensure consistency throughout the public procurement process.
The Department maintains an environment of good corporate governance, ensuring an effective system of internal financial control as set out in its Corporate Governance Framework. Financial responsibilities are managed through a system of delegation and accountability. Reporting arrangements have been established at all levels where responsibility for financial management has been assigned. In addition, my Departments accounts, including expenditure, are audited on an annual basis by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and any significant changes to legal costs would be identified as part of internal monthly reporting and the annual Estimates process.
The Department does not fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the Department.
While legal costs may be awarded against the Department should an employee, or former employee be successful in a claim against the Department, legal costs in litigation are governed by the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, the Rules of the Superior Courts and case law. The Department also takes account of the State Litigation Principles and seeks to minimise costs where possible.
Where there is an anticipated cost associated with litigation being taken by an employee including the award of costs my Department would need to seek approval from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for such expenditure.
In respect of the agencies that come within my remit, they are statutorily independent in their functions and this is an operational matter for them. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply.
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]
View answerThe Government recognises the importance of the relationship between all sectors of the economy and how essential it is to have a strong indigenous enterprise ecosystem in place.
The recently published National Tourism Policy Statement – ‘A New Era for Irish Tourism’ sets out a clear framework to support a competitive, sustainable, and regionally balanced tourism sector for the next five years. This policy aligns closely with objectives outlined in the White Paper on Enterprise, the Regional Enterprise Development plans and the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity.
A key priority of the policy is supporting tourism SMEs, recognising their significant contribution to employment, balanced regional development and their role in the economic growth in our towns and community communities. These businesses play a vital role in local supply chains, engaging with local suppliers, service providers and community-based enterprises. The policy sets out actions to drive regional growth, digital innovation, skills development and sustainable infrastructure for the tourism sector.
By aligning enterprise supports with tourism development, we aim to maximise economic spill-over effects, ensuring that local suppliers and service providers benefit from increased tourism activity and that communities across Ireland share in the opportunities created.
My Department will also invest over €250 million in the Local Enterprise Office Programme over the next 5 years. The network of LEO offices around the country are key to driving the development of local enterprises and promoting local, micro and small business.
In addition, we have simplified access to grants and support programmes through the utilisation of the National Enterprise Hub (NEH). The NEH is hosted and operated by Enterprise Ireland and has over 250 different supports for businesses from 32 Departments and agencies. Since launching in July 2024, the NEH has handled over 10,000 enquiries. Monthly volumes have grown steadily, with over 5,600 people are now visiting each month.
The Government is committed to cross Departmental initiatives that will align our priorities and improve economic development in all sectors and regions of our country.
1020. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department is using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and, if so, to outline which projects or units of the Department are affected. [2245/26]
View answer1021. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether any agencies or other bodies under his remit are using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and, if so, to outline which projects or units of the organisation are affected. [2263/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1020 and 1021 together.
My Department and its offices do not directly use artificial intelligence tools for graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers, or videographers.
My Department has published guidance for staff in relation to the use of generative AI in the internal functions of the Department. Where AI tools are used by staff within my Department for any purpose in the course of their work, they must do so within the parameters of our AI Policy and have regard to any existing service arrangements.
My Department avails of external service providers in relation to graphic design and video work and any use of such technologies by these providers is an operational matter for those providers.
Similarly, the use of AI by the agencies under my Department’s remit is an operational matter for those bodies, and I do not have any direct function in these matters.
