Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 23, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on the economy and investment was re-established in January 2023 and last met on 25 May. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 16 November. The committee has a function similar to that of the committee on economic recovery and investment, which met six times in the course of 2022 and is chaired by the Tánaiste. Membership of the committee comprises the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, who is also the Minister for Transport; the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Other Ministers or Ministers of State will be invited to participate as required, as is the case with officials and advisers.

The committee oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments aimed at a sustainable economic recovery, investment and job creation, including through the implementation of our national digital strategy, Harnessing Digital: the Digital Ireland Framework. As with all policy areas, economic issues are regularly discussed at full Government meetings, where all formal decisions are made.

We continue to see good economic performance. More people are at work than ever before. Youth unemployment is close to an all-time low and female participation is close to an all-time high. Our economic model is founded on well-established and successful pro-enterprise policies, providing a sustainable regulatory and tax environment, with sound management of the public finances and significant investment in the infrastructure and skills required to ensure our ongoing competitiveness. The recently announced budget 2024 firmly continues this approach, with additional measures for business including the €250 million increased cost of business scheme, ICOB; additional funding for the IDA and for the local enterprise offices, LEOs, to assist small businesses; improvements to the research and development tax credit; and a new angel investment scheme.

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