Written Answers Nos. 1-22
10. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the current review of the Memorandum of Understanding between the IDA and Enterprise Ireland which is currently being undertaken by the agencies; and how this review might influence how these two agencies collaborate going forward. [66802/26]
View answerMy Department works closely with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, to promote foreign direct investment and to grow Ireland’s Irish owned exporting sector. Strengthening linkages between foreign and Irish-owned firms and helping Irish firms to access the supply chains of Ireland’s FDI base is central to optimising synergies and spillover benefits in Ireland’s enterprise base.
At the end of August, I instructed the Chief Executives of both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to review, over a six-week period, the Memorandum of Understanding between the agencies, and to identify opportunities to strengthen and enhance the MoU to support greater collaboration and cooperation and information sharing across a number of areas.
These include enhanced cooperation on trade and investment missions, including shared market intelligence, coordinated scheduling, and shared use of overseas office networks.
I have also instructed that thought be given to formal structures and mechanisms for collaboration and information sharing from a project level up to joint Board and Executive meetings as well as a single point of contact or liaison function within each agency.
I would also like to see Enterprise Ireland involvement in inward investment opportunities from the earliest practicable stage to ensure that opportunities for Irish enterprises are identified as early as possible.
Finally, in light of the forthcoming launch of the Government's Startup Ireland initiative and Startup Hub, I would like to ensure that Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland promote collaboration between Irish start-ups, scaling companies and the FDI base and leverage the Startup Hub as a focal point for engagement to support the retention and growth of high-value activity in Ireland.
I am also interested in agency involvement with my Department on areas such as horizon scanning and foresight, and further collaboration between EI and IDA in the context of industrial and commercial property development particularly in the context of strengthened shared ecosystems.
I am keen that the MoU should specify how progress against its commitments will be monitored and reported and that regular joint progress reports are submitted to my office.
This initiative builds on the existing cooperation framework between the agencies and is intended to further deepen collaboration in areas where Ireland's FDI pipeline and the indigenous enterprise base intersect, to the mutual benefit of both.
Both agencies have a strong track record of delivering individually and collaboratively, and I am confident that a further strengthened framework of cooperation will serve to improve outcomes for Irish based enterprise, and for Ireland's overall competitiveness as an investment location.
I am advised that IDA and EI colleagues are currently working together on the Memorandum of Understanding and have met a number of times to progress these matters. I look forward to engaging with the agencies further when this exercise has been completed.
12. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to confirm the progress that has been made toward introducing statutory paid leave for early pregnancy loss/miscarriage; and when it is envisioned such a scheme would become operational. [66725/26]
View answerPregnancy loss can be an extremely personal and difficult experience. Despite pregnancy loss occurring in one in four pregnancies, it has for too long been under-recognised within the workplace. Behind the statistic are individuals navigating the difficult experience of pregnancy loss while balancing the demands of work and everyday life.
On 14 July this year I brought the general scheme of the Pregnancy Loss Leave Bill to Cabinet for approval. The Bill will introduce a new statutory entitlement to pregnancy loss leave for employees who experience a pregnancy loss prior to 23 weeks’ gestation. Under existing legislation, maternity leave is available for those who experience a loss from 23 weeks gestation and onwards.
The Bill will provide 5 days of paid leave per year for employees who experience a pregnancy loss prior to 23 weeks gestation. The leave will require medical certification. The Bill will amend the Maternity Protection Act 1994 to provide for the entitlement to leave. The Bill will separately provide for an entitlement to pay while on leave. The payment will be employer paid and will be contingent on a service requirement.
The development of the general scheme was informed by a Government commissioned report, known as the ‘PLACES’ report, which examined pre-viability pregnancy loss in the workplace. The report recommended that a statutory right to paid leave should be introduced for pre-viability pregnancy loss, regardless of the gestational stage or the reason for the loss.
Following Government approval of the general scheme, officials in my Department have commenced engagement with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to progress drafting of the Bill as a priority.
This Bill will strengthen workers rights and support employees during what can be an extremely traumatic time. As we are at the start of the drafting process I cannot specify a date on which the Bill will enter into force at this point. However, I can assure the Deputy and this House that it is my intention to bring the Bill before the Oireachtas for consideration without delay.
15. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for a progress update on the Government's Market Diversification Strategy. [66862/26]
View answerOne year on from when I launched the Government Action Plan on Market Diversification, we are seeing strong progress across Government, State agencies and our international network. The Action Plan is helping to strengthen Ireland’s economic resilience, broaden international engagement and support businesses in a changing global economy.
Supporting Irish exporters to access new markets remains a key priority. In response to global economic uncertainty, Enterprise Ireland introduced a Market Research Grant of up to €35,000 and a New Markets Validation Grant of up to €150,000 to help companies explore and enter new markets.
These efforts are delivering results. Enterprise Ireland client companies achieved record exports of €38.86 billion in 2025, with growth recorded across all major sectors and markets.
Diversifying and deepening our indigenous enterprise base is one of the most important things we can do to build a more resilient, balanced and prosperous Irish economy, one less exposed to external shocks and better positioned to generate sustainable employment and growth in every region.
IDA Ireland continues to strengthen Ireland’s international investment footprint, expanding its presence in South Korea and with plans to increase resources in Canada and London to attract high-value investment in key growth sectors.
Tourism Ireland, through enhanced investment in key markets has expanded year-round promotional activity across mainland Europe, North America and Asia.
The second progress report will provide an update on the over 100 actions in the plan and is due to be published in Q3 2026.
16. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the measures, if any, he has taken or intends to take to implement the will of the Dáil as expressed in its resolution of 14 July 2026 on protecting the copyright of Irish artists in the era of Artificial Intelligence. [66672/26]
View answerDuring the discussion on the Dáil resolution of 14 July 2026 I spoke of how Ireland’s copyright, AI and digital policy legislation are closely aligned with developments at the European Union level.
On the day of the discussion in the Dáil, I had the great pleasure of meeting a delegation of creators and performers, and their representative organisations IMRO, the Ivors Academy and the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland. I have also engaged with Senator Frances Black and RAAP on this topic. I want to thank them for the time they have taken to set out their concerns on this matter.
I will address points that are within the remit of my Department.
Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1st July. There are some developments to report, however further measures in relation to copyright at EU level are expected in mid-2027.
The European Commission is reviewing the operation of the Copyright in the DSM Directive, and this is expected to conclude in mid-2027. In parallel, they are analysing evidence received from stakeholders on the possible need for targeted amendments to the EU’s copyright framework. This includes issues around licensing and enforcement in generative AI. They are also examining the issue of deepfakes, which particularly affects performers, but which extends beyond copyright. We understand that a public consultation will open soon, giving stakeholders a further opportunity to input on policy options. New measures are expected in mid-2027.
As part of our Presidency, Ireland is facilitating discussions on issues as they arise in the review of the Copyright in the DSM Directive, matters identified in the European Commission’s call for evidence and recent technical studies at European Union level.
Minister Peter Burke and I will be speaking at the Presidency associated conference on “Copyright and Human Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, organised by rightsholder organisations and endorsed by my Department, which will be held in Dublin on 14 October. European Commission Executive Vice President Henna Virkkunen will be a guest speaker.
The AI Advisory Council has now wound up, as Ireland establishes a regulatory structure to implement and enforce the EU AI Act. On 31st July Minister Burke appointed members of the Board of Oifig IS na hÉireann (the AI Office of Ireland). The Board members bring extensive expertise across public administration, regulation, technology, governance, law, academia, consumer protection and ethics. This includes a representative with expertise in standards organisations developing a unified response to deepfake technology and shared rights metadata at international level.
The EU AI Act contains provisions applying to providers of general-purpose AI that entered into force on 2 August 2025. Article 53 requires models made available in the EU to be compliant with EU copyright law, in particular Article 4(3) of the Copyright in the DSM Directive (the Text and Data Mining (TDM) exception). The General-Purpose AI Code of Practice developed under the AI Act?helps industry comply with the legal obligations on copyright. Providers are also required to complete a ‘Transparency Template’ providing a high-level overview of data used to train models. Since the Dáil debate, the EU AI Office has assumed its powers to enforce these provisions of the AI Act, beginning on 2 August.
From the 2 August also, Article 50 of the AI Act imposed mandatory transparency obligations on providers and deployers of AI systems, although AI systems already on the market before then will have until 2 December 2026 to comply. These rules have a number of applications, including copyright. Compliance will be enforced by both the national competent market surveillance authorities and the EU AI Office.
18. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to outline the supports available to communities included in the Wild Atlantic Way initiative. [66482/26]
View answerCommunities along the Wild Atlantic Way are central to the success of one of Ireland’s leading tourism experiences. Support for these communities is provided primarily through Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority under the remit of my Department, which works closely with local authorities, community groups and tourism stakeholders.
Fáilte Ireland's Regional Tourism Development Strategy for the Wild Atlantic Way provides the long-term framework for sustainable tourism development in the region. The strategy seeks to unlock the commercial potential of the Wild Atlantic Way while protecting the environment, enhancing local communities and meeting visitor expectations.
Support has included capital investment through schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and other grant programmes that help develop visitor infrastructure, public amenities, trails and access points that benefit both visitors and residents.
A key element of delivery is the network of Destination Experience Development Plans (DEDPs), which bring public and private sector stakeholders together to prioritise and advance tourism development projects. Since February 2026, Fáilte Ireland has continued to progress the rollout of DEDPs across the Wild Atlantic Way, with 16 plans now launched or in development. Local Implementation Groups provide an important mechanism for stakeholder engagement and help ensure communities play an active role in shaping tourism initiatives in their destinations.
Communities and tourism enterprises also receive experience and destination development supports that enable the delivery of high-quality outdoor, cultural, heritage and sustainable tourism experiences. Fáilte Ireland further supports tourism businesses through mentoring, training, digital capability development and targeted grant schemes to strengthen competitiveness and resilience, alongside extensive domestic and international marketing activity promoting the Wild Atlantic Way.
Under the Shared Island Fund, €7.6 million has been allocated to an all-island tourism collaboration initiative connecting the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route. The project aims to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more across the region, generating additional economic benefits for local communities. A €1.5 million small grants scheme forms part of this initiative, supporting the enhancement of visitor experiences along both routes. Most recently, substantial capital investment projects supported by Fáilte Ireland have been announced for Galway City Museum and Westport Estate.
Fáilte Ireland has also strengthened partnerships with Údarás na Gaeltachta, local authorities, the Office of Public Works and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to deliver projects on offshore islands, watersports facilities and visitor enhancements at key heritage and nature sites.
In addition, 287 tourism businesses across the Wild Atlantic Way have received support worth €15.36 million through the Digital that Delivers programme. Community participation is further supported through festivals and events which helps extend the tourism season and deliver economic benefits to local communities.
The Government remains committed to supporting communities along the Wild Atlantic Way through targeted tourism investment, sustainable development initiatives, and measures that protect the natural and cultural assets that are central to their long-term prosperity.
20. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if as part of the 2025 review of the employment permit occupation lists published in May 2026, the Department considered the availability of housing and accommodation when assessing changes to the critical skills occupations list and other employment permit categories and if so, the manner in which housing capacity was factored into the review process and decision-making. [66914/26]
View answerAccess to employment permits is facilitated through the occupations lists, identifying highly skilled occupations with enduring shortages on the Critical Skills Occupations List. Roles already well served by the labour market, to which an employment permit cannot be granted, are outlined on the Ineligible Occupations List.
Employment permit policy is kept under constant review to ensure it remains responsive to labour market needs. The review of the occupations lists process involves a public consultation inviting stakeholder submissions, consideration of research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit in SOLAS. The process is a delicate balancing act and is overseen by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy which includes representatives of key Government Departments including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
These reviews take account of wider public policy considerations, including national strategies on housing supply, infrastructure capacity, and public service provision. Adjustments made to widen eligibility or to restrict access to employment permits for certain occupations or sectors are based on evidence examined through this consultation process.
I announced the outcome of the most recent review in May 2026, giving approval for 32 changes to jobs now eligible for employment permits. The review report can be accessed on the Department's website and is titled “Employment Permits Occupations Lists: Report of the Review 2025”.
While housing availability is not a formal criterion in determining eligibility for employment permits, employment permit policy is developed within a wider Government framework that recognises the interdependencies between labour supply, housing delivery and infrastructure capacity. This alignment will continue to be kept under review as part of ongoing cross-Government collaboration on workforce planning and housing delivery.
Successive national strategies and economic action plans prepared in recent years clearly reference the need to attract and retain skilled workers from across the globe to deliver on our national industry, infrastructure, and broader socio-economic goals. My Department continues to review employment trends and refine the employment permits system to ensure that it supports our competitiveness within the global labour market, and in doing so continues to support enterprise and remains fair, responsive and aligned with Ireland’s wider economic and social needs.
21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he will respond to reports that a report commissioned by his department (details supplied) on the value of data centres "predetermined" the outcomes in favour of data centre expansion, despite evidence of adverse effects to Ireland's climate goals and strain on the energy grid associated with data centre electricity use, and consequently a negative impact on household energy bills. [66908/26]
View answerSuggestions that the report was designed to reach a predetermined conclusion are not supported by either the terms of reference or the contents of the report.
The study was undertaken independently and was subject to review and challenge throughout the research process. Its findings were based on an assessment of the available evidence.
Responsibility for the methodology, analysis and findings contained in the final report rested with KPMG as the independent authors. The final report should therefore be read as the authoritative version of the study.
Importantly, the report does not present an argument for unrestricted data centre expansion. Rather, it highlights both the economic opportunities associated with data centre development and the challenges arising from energy demand, grid capacity and climate objectives.
The report clearly states that any future development of the data centre sector must align with climate and energy objectives.
Ireland has had extensive public debate and policy analysis concerning the energy, environmental and infrastructure implications of data centres. The purpose of this study was not to provide an overarching assessment of every aspect of data centre policy. Rather, it was commissioned to address a specific evidence gap regarding the economic contribution of data centres.
The study therefore provides an additional source of evidence to inform policy discussions. Its findings should be considered alongside analysis and evidence from other Departments, agencies, regulators and policy processes relating to energy, climate, infrastructure and broader economic development.
