Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [16779/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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12. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [21096/25]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [22203/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [22205/25]

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [22480/25]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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16. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [15144/25]

Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [22996/25]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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18. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [22997/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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19. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [25526/25]

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [27214/25]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [27218/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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4 o’clock

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 21, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness last met yesterday and is scheduled to next meet on 14 July. Membership of the committee comprises: the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and for Defence; the Minister for Finance; the Minister for public expenditure and infrastructure; the Minister for climate, environment and energy, and for Transport; the Minister for agriculture, food, fisheries and the marine; the Minister for enterprise, tourism and employment; the Minister for arts, media, communications, culture and sport; and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Other Ministers or Ministers of State are invited to participate as required. The committee oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments related to sustainable economic and employment growth, trade, competitiveness and productivity, innovation, the national digital strategy and pensions.

Despite many external challenges, we continue to see strong economic performance, with record numbers of people in work, low levels of unemployment and a return to real wage growth. While the current international trade environment has brought uncertainty, our economy has weathered several challenges in recent years and continues to demonstrate its resilience and ability to adapt to changing global circumstances. We will continue to advance an economic model founded on a well-established and successful pro-enterprise policy framework, a stable and sustainable regulatory and tax environment, with sound management of the public finances, and significant investment in the infrastructure, energy and skills required to ensure our future competitiveness and productivity. For example, in the context of the development of the Government’s new competitiveness and productivity action plan, the committee considers the related challenges of energy costs and infrastructure, research and development, regulatory reform and trade diversification. As with all policy areas, issues relating to the economy are regularly discussed at full Cabinet meetings, where all formal decisions are made.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Taoiseach. Ireland's economic success should not be taken for granted. It is critical that we continue to prioritise trade and competitiveness. With this in mind, the Taoiseach might indicate to the House when we intend to fully ratify the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada. Trade and services between Ireland and Canada amount to €10 billion and it is a significant deal we need to ratify. The Taoiseach might also indicate for our inventors and creators in this country when Ireland will join the unified patent court system. Might the Taoiseach consider holding a referendum on it in conjunction with the presidential election this autumn?

The deployment of AI in the development of services to our citizens and by business has the potential to help our economy to grow. A recent Trinity College report on the AI economy in Ireland stated the potential of AI, properly deployed, could add at least €250 billion to Ireland's GDP by 2035. It is critical that we use AI in this regard and that it is adopted across the public service. The recent launch of the report by the Minister, Deputy Chambers, is welcome but we need to encourage SMEs to use AI and experiment with it a lot more. In this light, it is critical that in these Houses it might be considered that Members of the Oireachtas would be permitted to use large language models on Oireachtas devices to try to deliver services more efficiently to our constituents.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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The overriding need in our society and in our economy is for housing. The Central Bank's director of financial stability has said 50,000 homes have to be built every year for the next ten years in order to fulfil the need. The targets the Government itself has set go nowhere near this. They are in the 30s of the thousands. Will the Taoiseach accept that the market cannot deliver the scale of this? This has to be led by the State. In fact, Fianna Fáil Governments in power previously were capable of doing this. What has changed? I bought a house from Fingal County Council 23 years ago as a single teacher. A single teacher now has no means whatsoever of ever buying a house, which is why we have the crisis we have among professionals in health and education. All of the councils have land banks. In Fingal County Council, which is in Dublin where there is a large housing need, there is a land bank at Scribblestown in Dunsink, which it has identified could build 7,000 homes. Has the Taoiseach or the Minister for housing held meeting with Fingal County Council? It has asked for €200 million to be given to develop the infrastructure to open it up. It asked for this more than a month ago. Has there been a meeting about it, as an example?

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of energy prices in Ireland. We now have the most expensive non-residential electricity in Europe and we are third in terms of household prices. This is not sustainable from the point of view of competitiveness. I have raised here previously that Irish energy policy is deeply unsustainable. I have seen a growth in solar. with hundreds and hundreds of acres, in excess of thousands of acres now, unfortunately, taking up some of the best agricultural land in our country. I would like the Cabinet committee to look at this issue because it is not sustainable to have an 80% target for renewable energy by 2030 while also expecting a 40% increase in energy generation. Ultimately, because of the cost increases in wind, this will be pushed onto solar, which will destroy rural Ireland as far as I am concerned. It is not being built on poor agricultural land, as it is already regulated to do so in France, the United Kingdom, Italy and other EU member states. We have one of the most pro-developer-led strategies in the area of solar anywhere in Europe and I want to raise this matter. I have brought nuclear into the debate and I know not everybody is in agreement. Deputy Paul Murphy is in the House and he does not agree with me on this but I want to raise it as a matter of discussion. The way we are going about it will increase costs for consumers and businesses in a way that is completely and utterly unsustainable.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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My thoughts are with the taxi driver and the passenger with a disability who were carjacked yesterday in what was an absolutely disgusting attack in Dundalk at approximately 10.40 p.m. My thoughts are also with the lady who lost her life in a road traffic collision in Dunleer. The Garda has requested all the information people have on these events, and any footage, particularly dashcam footage, as being necessary and welcome. Our thoughts are with these people and their families.

The Taoiseach has already spoken about the situation with regard to tariffs and he stated the EU has only really begun, at some level, its engagement with the US. We are all very glad D-day has moved from 1 June to 9 July but we are still dealing with a threat that is absolutely ridiculous and could be absolutely disastrous from a global trade point of view. What engagement has there been by the Government and its agencies with companies, particularly those in the med-tech sector and those in pharma, from the point of view of the difficulties they may already be facing on this? Beyond this, we have to get our house in order with regard to our homespun development. I also agree that AI has a big part to play in innovation.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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When I asked a question two weeks ago about the Dublin city task force, the Taoiseach said progress is being made and that he hoped to be in a position to bring it to the House before the recess. In the intervening two weeks, has there been any further progress? Has the Taoiseach been briefed on any progress? Will he give an outline of what that progress looks like? With regard to the implementation of the Dublin city task force recommendations, is it the Taoiseach's expectation that they would be funded through the national development plan? Will there be specific lines in the national development plan that make clear some of the recommendations that flow from the task force will be funded?

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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In the context of trade and the proposed CETA agreement, I understand the Cabinet was to approve an arbitration amendment Bill today due to serious concerns about the investment court system proposed in CETA. Will the Taoiseach confirm whether the legislation was approved today? If so, when will the draft heads of Bill be published?

I also want to ask about concerns that the Government is rowing back on workers' rights commitments and commitments to recognise collective bargaining and on sick pay. The Government has delayed the introduction of two additional days of paid sick leave that were promised. Will the Taoiseach confirm for workers when the additional entitlement to sick pay will be introduced? The original intention was to introduce two extra days in 2025, taking the number to seven, and a further three days were to be introduced in 2026, taking it to ten days. Is this now indefinitely delayed?

Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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As the European Union continues its negotiations with the US on trade matters, there are ongoing discussions on the development of a retaliatory tariffs list.

The final version of this list could potentially include measures affecting the aviation sector. Ireland is uniquely exposed in this regard as we have the largest aircraft leasing industry in the world, supporting almost 9,000 high quality skilled jobs and contributing almost €900 million annually to the economy. Given the scale and strategic importance of this sector, not just to Ireland but to the wider European aviation ecosystem, will the Taoiseach outline the specific steps the Government is taking, directly and through our representation at EU level, to ensure the interests of Ireland's aircraft leasing industry are fully protected in these negotiations?

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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In the first three months of the year, venture capital investment in Irish firms has surged to €587 million. This is a huge sign of confidence and hope for indigenous businesses. However, as the Taoiseach knows, we are going through global upheaval and massive global uncertainty, which require that the Government ensure these businesses have stability and a pathway forward. Does the committee have any plans to support Irish indigenous SMEs and ensure they are successful into the future?

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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The Taoiseach and the Government are using Trump's tariff threats as an excuse to exhume the full ratification of CETA and bring it back from the dead. There are good reasons that the Supreme Court buried it back in 2022 when it ruled that the ratification of CETA would be unconstitutional because it gives extreme powers to shadowy private investor courts that have no democratic oversight and cannot be overruled by Irish judges.

If CETA is passed and fully ratified as the Government wants, big multinational companies will be able to sue the Irish State for loss of future earnings if it does anything that impinges on their profits - it is known as indirect expropriation - regardless of the social or environmental costs. All they would have to do is incorporate a subsidiary in Canada to be able to use CETA's investor court system, ICS. If restrictions on data centres are brought in, which with the Taoiseach would not agree, for environmental reasons or to safeguard our water and energy, Amazon or Google could sue us for billions of euro. There is no way for Ireland to withdraw once it has been fully implemented, only the EU as a whole can do so. Why tie the hands of future Governments and subordinate us to foreign multinational companies?

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach and I have discussed in the past the importance of recognising the efforts that go into sustaining and growing a business. As an important thing, it should be a feature of our political discourse. Core to our growth as a country in the future, as Deputy Dolan said, is the growth of indigenous enterprises, those that move from start-ups to scale-ups, and thinking about how we in government can support and assist the environment in which those businesses operate. Therefore, will the Taoiseach consider a number of discrete policy proposals that would incentivise and help that particular environment and encourage innovation? For example, small and medium enterprises are not represented in their own right on the Labour Economic and Employer Forum. Is this something the Government could look at addressing to augment the representation of SMEs, which are vital to growth in the future? Second, will the Taoiseach look at increasing the probability of innovation in our economy and the process around the research and development tax credit? A lot of feedback from businesses in my constituency states that at times it can be onerous to account for the use of that tax credit. If anything, we should be making it easy for companies to access it in order to encourage innovation and the demand-led growth that will sustain the economy and especially our indigenous businesses.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Last Wednesday, we had statements on the situation in Gaza and Palestine and since then there has been a continuation of indiscriminate bombing and targeting of civilians. Consideration is being given by the EU to the EU-Israel trade agreement and last week, the Taoiseach mentioned in the House that a memo would be brought to the Cabinet on the occupied territories Bill. Is the Taoiseach in a position to update the House on that?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank all the Deputies for raising a range of issues. I think it began with Deputy Ó Murchú. Am I correct? Was it Deputy Bacik? I apologise.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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It was Deputy Byrne.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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It started with Deputy Malcolm Byrne and then Deputy Coppinger.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The CETA trade deal was raised by a number of Deputies. I support what Deputy Malcolm Byrne articulated and am opposed to what Deputy Paul Murphy articulated. CETA is in provisional operation as we speak. The figures are interesting for the growth in trade between Ireland and Canada and particularly for Irish exports to Canada, which have gone up something like 460% - I can check it - which is phenomenal. There is also a significant multinational presence of Canadian companies in Ireland and Irish companies are based in Canada. Trade is the bread and butter of the Irish economy. We only put bread and butter on people's tables if we have sufficient trade. We export almost 90% of what we produce so I do not know how Deputy Paul Murphy thinks we can protect the working class and workers if we turn our backs on trade deals. People would lose jobs if we turn our backs-----

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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We do not have to sign up to the ICS.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Murphy.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----on trade deals of this kind when the European Union negotiates on behalf of European member states. They have a significant impact on a small open economy such as Ireland, which needs access to markets all over the world. It is that simple.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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You just said we had signed up already.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Supreme Court did not bury it. It actually indicated the remedy, the avenue to facilitating the legislation for the CETA trade deal, which Deputy Bacik referenced - the Arbitration Act. It was approved today by the Cabinet and will go forward for legislation. The occupied territories Bill was also approved today. The Minister brought it to the Cabinet and it will go to the Dáil and the Oireachtas select committee.

On the other issues that were raised and housing in particular, the market is broken at the moment. The State and the Government are leading on housing. The bulk of investment is coming from the Department of housing. All the estimates show that we need without question to build more houses and to build them faster. We are at record levels of Government expenditure through a variety of schemes, including social housing, affordable housing, Croí Cónaithe and the Land Development Agency. It is all State-led and all the capital is acting as a catalyst for financing private sector development but we definitely need more private sector investment to support and supplement the State-led investment if we are to get to the critical mass of 50,000 units per annum. I am focusing on the how of getting to 50,000, not on the ideology of how to get to 50,000, whereas a lot of people on the other side of the House are focusing on the ideology-----

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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What about the councils?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and putting us into straightjackets that would reduce supply. On the councils,-----

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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There are not enough private companies to build those houses.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Coppinger, please.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----we will engage with the county councils. The Minister engages with all county councils in this respect. We will engage with Fingal County Council, which the Deputy mentioned, and have done so. The previous Minister did as well, with a lot of good developments.

There is a memo coming to the Government, as I said to Deputy Geoghegan on the last occasion - I think he raised it last week - which has not arrived yet. However, as soon as it does, we will bring it to the Government and publish it. The NDP is being worked on by the Minister for public expenditure with all the various Departments.

Deputy Shane Brennan raised the retaliatory list. We are in constant engagement with the European Commission in respect of the trade tariffs. If there is a tariff war, there will not be any winners. Our focus is that we hope a negotiated resolution and pathway can be achieved between the European Union and the United States. Aircraft leasing is a significant sector in Ireland. The European Commission is well acquainted with it. Not just now but on previous occasions, such as during the initial outbreak of the war in Ukraine and so forth, Ireland has been supportive of the aircraft leasing sector and the EU has been facilitative and understanding of it.

I could not agree more with Deputy Dolan on venture capital. It is a good start to the year. It is perhaps something we have to engage on through various committees of the Dáil. The European Union is now looking at trying to accelerate a saving and investments union. Some member states that are strong in financial services, such as Ireland, have some concerns about centralised authority. I have indicated our commitment to progressing that within the EU because it would release more capital in the EU for venture capital, SMEs and high-potential start-up companies that Enterprise Ireland helps to nurture and develop.

Deputy Moynihan referred to indigenous enterprises and their representation on LEEF. IBEC is represented on LEEF. IBEC would claim that it represents small enterprises within IBEC's remit, but others would differ. No doubt those who differ are talking to the Deputy. Suffice to say, the voice of small businesses should be and has been heard.

Deputy Bacik raised the issue of sick pay and so on. The previous Government dramatically changed the dial in respect of sick days, giving a statutory protection and bringing it to three days. We have delayed going to five and seven days because of the cost involved for the retail and hospitality sectors. That was well documented during the election and all parties accepted that it was an issue. It is a matter trying to get the balance right when it comes to advancing rights. We have done a good deal in that regard, and there will be continued increases in the minimum wage. The convergence of the minimum wage towards a living wage has also been deferred, and the Minister announced that.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Has there been engagement with companies regarding the dangers that may be faced, particularly those in tech sector?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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My apologies. There has been extensive engagement with companies. I have been in touch with many of the CEOs of major pharmaceutical, technology and medtech companies. The Tánaiste has been involved and has convened a trade forum. We are involved with Irish companies and multinationals based in Ireland at all levels - diplomatically, politically and business to business - while also trying to ascertain how people at a corporate level in America see this in the context of their interactions with the US Administration.

Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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What about the unified patent court system?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not anticipate that we will hold the referendum in that regard on the same day as the presidential election. I am a great believer that we should have separate referendums on separate issues. The Deputy has been very consistent and persistent on this matter. He is correct that for an innovative economy, we should do it. However, we need to prepare properly for when we decide to have a referendum. We have to do the homework and be in a position to convince people of the merits of the case. We should not spring it upon them as a surprise and have everyone asking questions with a week to go as to what it is about. As we know, you end up losing some of those types of referendums.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Tá ceist amháin eile agam don Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am sorry, Deputy O'Connor. We need to push the caution button. Solar is at approximately 3%. It is growing. Fossil fuel is not sustainable either. We need a balance. We have done well in the context of onshore wind. We have a journey to go on offshore wind, and solar will play a part in that mix.

I was in Texas prior to going to Washington, which is the subject matter of all these questions. We think of Texas as a fossil fuel area. It is going to go big on solar, nuclear, wind and battery storage. There will be a mix for quite some time yet in the context of what energy we will use. I take Deputy O'Connor's point. What he is really referring to is a planning issue. He is saying we do not really want a developer-led approach to solar. Some of the proposals that are coming our way might reflect that. We have not had a developer-led approach in respect of wind and offshore wind; it has been a planned approach. This is something we need to discuss with the Deputy again. Perhaps, however, the Minister responsible for planning and housing needs to look at that. The Deputy is concerned about prime agricultural land being used for solar, but many farmers will say it is their entitlement to use the land for whatever purpose. There are real issues here, but I take on board what the Deputy is saying about trade-offs in the economy.