Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide the list of existing strategies that fall under his Department; the status of implementation of each strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60482/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My department leads on advising and implementing the government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which enables employment creation and sustainability. Our current strategies, and a short status update on each, are set out below:

National strategies

The Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026 ‘Value for Ireland, Values for the World’was approved by Government in March.  A Trade and Investment Council has been convened to drive implementation of the seven priority actions of the strategy. Progress under specific actions incudes the completion of preparatory work on optimising Ireland’s position within Global Value Chains, completion of a survey of public attitudes to trade, and the preparation of a draft report on a review of Local Market Teams.

National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation 2022-2027 (S3): The national implementation group for S3 will have its first meeting on 15 December 2022.

The National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good,  was launched in July 2021. Significant progress is being made on implementation. Ireland joined the Global Partnership on AI in November 2021, an international initiative to promote responsible AI use. We have convened a Working Group on Trustworthy AI to agree principles for the deployment of ethical AI in the public sector. In May, Dr. Patricia Scanlon was appointed as Ireland’s first AI Ambassador. We have established the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum to drive the uptake of digital technologies, including AI, by enterprises across Ireland. Implementation of the strategy is also being informed by developments taking place internationally, for example, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act Regulation which is currently being negotiated at EU Level.

Making Remote Work, the National Remote Work Strategy, was launched in January 2021. There has been significant progress in implementing the Strategy. An interdepartmental group has been convened to coordinate remote working policy across Government. Significant actions delivered include the publication of draft legislation establishing the right to request remote working, the launch and expansion of the National Hub Network and ConnectedHubs.ie platform, significant investment in Ireland’s hub and broadband infrastructure and the provision of remote work guidance to facilitate the safe and effective uptake of remote and hybrid working arrangements.

Ireland's Industry 4.0 Strategy 2020-2025is focused on enhancing the adoption of digital technologies in the manufacturing sector. A range of implementing actions have been taken by the enterprise agencies, and by DFHERIS and its agencies. This includes providing companies with access to skills development, financial support mechanisms, digital assessment and technology road mapping services.

National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019-2025:Ireland’s first National Space Strategy for Enterprise was published in 2019. Good progress is being made under the five pillars of the strategy. Highlights include the holding of three All-Ireland Space Industry events; terms of the UN Outer Space Treaty and Liability Convention being approved by Dáil Éireann and an exchange of Letters with the European Space Agency to facilitate the launch of Ireland’s first satellite EIRSAT-1 in 2023. In addition, the number of Irish based companies engaged with ESA has increased by 39% since the publication of the Strategy and industry co-investment also increased in recent years from €3.3m in 2020 to €4.7m in 2021.

National Enterprise Strategy: Enterprise 2025was reviewed in 2017 leading to the publication of Enterprise 2025 Renewed (2018) with targets to 2020, many of which have now been met or surpassed.  Enterprise 2025 Renewed was subsequently superseded by Future Jobs Ireland 2019 and the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan, 2021, led by Dept. Taoiseach.  The forthcoming White Paper on Enterprise and subsequent implementation mechanisms will set out Ireland’s enterprise policy approach to 2030.

The Government launched the National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, in February. While this strategy falls under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, my Department is responsible for the Enterprise pillar of the Strategy. Ireland continues to perform strongly on the Digital Economy and Society Index, and has this year maintained its position at fifth in the rankings of 27 EU Member States. In particular, we perform well in the adoption of digital technologies by enterprise, and the Index lists 64% of Irish SMEs as having at least a basic level of digital intensity. The target under the National Digital Strategy is to bring that number to 90% by 2030. We are determined to continue to drive progress across this and our other targets.

Corporate strategies

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Statement of Strategy 2021-2023: The Statement of Strategy sets out my Department’s strategic plan to implement our Programme for Government commitments. The strategy has been the framework for initiatives delivered by my Department since 2021, including supporting businesses impacted by the COVID crisis and the Ukraine crisis through a range of advisory services, grants and loan schemes; delivering a number of important enhancements to workers’ rights; enhancements to the business regulatory environment; advancing the green transition in enterprise; and deepening and extending Ireland’s global business and trade.

DETE People Strategy 2021-2024: Progress is being made under each of three goals of the strategy. Highlights include launching our Blended Working Policy, refreshing our approach to Strategic Workforce Planning and appointing a dedicated Innovation Officer to put new ideas from staff into practice

Department’s internal ICT Strategy 2020 – 2025: Good progress is being made against the actions in the strategy.  While much work is still to be done, of 59 actions in the strategy, 9 are completed, 5 partially complete, 19 commenced, 21 ongoing, 3 not started and 1 currently stalled (but options to address this are being explored).  The strategy is a dynamic document, and a mid-point review is currently in progress.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of Ireland’s Industry 4.0 Strategy 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60483/22]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the National AI Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60486/22]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good, was launched in July 2021 and sets out how Ireland can be an international leader in the use of artificial intelligence to benefit our economy and society, through a people-centred, ethical approach to its development, adoption and use. Significant progress is being made on the implementation of the Strategy.

In line with the Strategy, Ireland joined the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) in November 2021. The GPAI is an international initiative to promote responsible AI use that respects human rights and democratic values, and membership is a specific goal of Strand Two of the Strategy (A Governance Ecosystem that Promotes Trustworthy AI).

The Strategy also calls for a robust governance framework to safeguard against risk and to underpin public trust in AI. To that end, my Department has convened a Working Group on Trustworthy AI Principles and Guidelines. This group brings together experts in the area of artificial intelligence and representatives of Government Departments, with a view to agreeing an accessible set of principles and parameters for the deployment of trustworthy and ethical AI in the public sector.

In May of this year, Dr. Patricia Scanlon was appointed Ireland’s first AI Ambassador. The role of the AI Ambassador includes promoting awareness among the public and businesses of the potential offered by AI, serving as a champion of AI as a positive force for the economy and society, and emphasising an ethical approach.

In the same month, the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum (EDAF) was established to support Government in driving the uptake of digital technologies, including AI, by enterprises across Ireland. This forum brings together representatives of indigenous enterprises, multi-national enterprises, and experts in digital technologies and their adoption by business. Meetings of the forum so far have focused on the topics of the Skills needs for the tech sector and digitalisation of enterprise generally, and on AI in Ireland.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published its report on "AI Skills: A Preliminary Assessment of the Skills Needed for the Deployment, Management and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence" in June of this year. The report sets out the skills needs not only for tech workers, but for citizens more broadly in response to the changes that AI will bring.

In October, my Department convened a National Youth Assembly on AI, in co-operation with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, to gather the views of young people in relation to AI and its implementation in Ireland. Work is under way on the development of a report on the issues and opportunities identified by youth delegates at the assembly and it is expected that this report will be presented to both Departments and published in the coming months. Recommendations from the assembly will be considered in light of the evolving policy direction of AI and its impact across a number of areas of Government.

The Strategy also highlights the role to be played by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) in the publication of a Standards and Assurance Roadmap for AI. The NSAI is working to finalise this roadmap in the near future.

Another action identified in the Strategy is the launch of a National AI Hub as part of Ireland’s planned programme of European Digital Innovation Hubs. CeADAR, the EI/IDA Technology Centre for Applied Data Analytics and Machine Intelligence will perform this role following an open designation process. The National AI Innovation Hub will provide expertise and guidance to enterprises on their AI adoption journey. Work on the EDIH programme is under way and it is expected that they will launch in the coming months.

The implementation of the National AI Strategy is also being informed and guided by developments taking place on the international stage. For example, the EU Artificial Intelligence Act Regulation (AIA) is being negotiated at European Level. Ireland is fully engaged in the negotiations on the AIA, which sets out harmonised rules for the development, placement on the market and use of AI systems in the Union. The AIA follows a proportionate, risk-based approach, where certain particularly harmful AI practices are prohibited, while specific restrictions and safeguards are proposed in relation to high-risk AI systems in areas such as employment, the use of biometrics, law enforcement, etc.

I am also aware that work on the implementation of the National AI Strategy is ongoing beyond my Department, both in other Government Departments and their agencies. A full report on progress across Government is under preparation.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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87. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the National Digital Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60487/22]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Government launched the National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, in February of this year. Much progress has been made on implementation, and a full progress report, covering achievements across all four dimensions of the strategy, will be published this month.

My Department is responsible for the Enterprise pillar of the Strategy, which deals specifically with the digitalisation of business in Ireland and I am pleased to acknowledge the significant achievements made to date in the implementation of this dimension of the Strategy.

In May of this year, I appointed a new Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum, to support and advise Government in driving the uptake of digital technologies by businesses across Ireland. The forum, which meets quarterly, brings together representatives of indigenous enterprises, multi-national enterprises, and experts in digital technologies and their adoption by business.

I also appointed Dr. Patricia Scanlon as Ireland’s first AI Ambassador. As AI Ambassador, Dr. Scanlon’s role includes promoting awareness among the public and businesses of the potential offered by AI, serving as a champion of AI as a positive force for the economy and society, and emphasising an ethical approach. The AI Ambassador also sits on the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum.

In June of this year, the €85m Digital Transition Fund (DTF) was launched. The fund is in place to help businesses at all stages of their digital journey, from going online to facilitating exporting and using digital technologies to reach new markets and to improve their productivity and competitiveness. Under Budget 2023, €16m will be made available under the DTF.

In July, Government published a revised Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy, noting the need for complementarity in the digitalisation and decarbonisation of our economy and society. The Statement sets out the role of data centres as core infrastructure for digitalisation, and notes the need for the National Digital Strategy and the Climate Action Plan to operate in tandem, underpinned by a wider sustainable energy ecosystem.

In November, my Department organised the Digital Ireland Conference, an event that demonstrated Ireland’s ambition to continue to be a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments. It also demonstrated the Government’s commitment to enhance the coherence of digital and regulatory structures, and to drive greater clarity, coherence and cooperation in digital in Ireland.

There has been strong progress across our digital regulatory workstream includes the Government’s decision to designate our new Media Commission, Coimisiún na Meán, as Ireland’s Digital Services Coordinator, under the Digital Services Act, and work is ongoing to give operational and legislative effect to that decision.

Ireland continues to perform strongly on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), and has this year maintained its position at fifth in the rankings of 27 EU Member States. In particular, we perform well in the adoption of digital technologies by enterprise, and the Index lists 64% of Irish SMEs as having at least a basic level of digital intensity. The target under the National Digital Strategy is to bring that number to 90% by 2030. We are determined to continue to drive progress across this and our other targets. 

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation 2022-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60489/22]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the National Space Strategy for Enterprise 2019-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60490/22]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60491/22]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The goals of the Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values for the World, are to see Ireland grow sustainably, diversify export markets and provide for Ireland’s continued economic wellbeing.  The strategy addresses not only trade and investment issues but also related issues such as climate action, sustainable development, equality and human rights, through setting out a principled and holistic approach to trade policy.  

Implementation of the strategy is coordinated by my Department and overseen by a Senior Officials Group and the Trade & Investment Council which I co-chair with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.     

Progress is well underway on implementing each of the priorities identified in the strategy. 

A review aimed at refreshing the Local Market Teams, comprised of embassy and agency teams around the world, is nearing completion.  This will form the basis for our continuing trade promotion activities internationally. 

Preparatory economic analysis is now being completed for the establishment of an Expert Group on Global Value Chains and Supply Chains to identify global supply chain opportunities and threats. This important workstream is of direct relevance to the new White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030. In similar vein, Ireland's broader economic 'ecosystem' is being kept under review by the Trade & Investment Council with a view to maintaining and enhancing our competitiveness on this front. 

At the end of October my Department collaborated with the Department of Foreign Affairs in organising a conference on Ireland and the Single Market, as part of a wider series of events and initiatives to mark and celebrate 50 years of Ireland's membership of the European Union.  In 2023 my Department and agencies will be organising further events to highlight, to both domestic and international audiences, Ireland's role as a globally-trading nation including the benefits of EU free trade agreements. 

Planning is now underway for an inaugural Trade Mission Week in 2023, which will build on our annual programme of trade missions by focussing the expertise of the trade promotion agencies and Government Departments on a single strategic geographic area. There are logistical and strategic factors to be taken into account, and Trade & Investment Council will provide guidance and direction on how best to make a success of this initiative in the year ahead.  

Underpinning all of this is a strategy to communicate the benefits of international trade and investment for Ireland.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the progress or otherwise in the implementation of the National Remote Work Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60492/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department published the National Remote Work Strategy on January 15th, 2021. The Strategy identified 15 actions to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises its economic, social and environmental benefits.

My Department led the development and implementation of the Strategy’s actions through the Remote Work Interdepartmental Group (IDG) during 2021 and 2022. The IDG will continue to meet in 2023 to share information and coordinate remote working policy across Government.

There has been significant progress in implementing the actions outlined in the Strategy which will facilitate remote working for employers and employees both now and into the future. Key achievements include:

- Government agreement to integrate the right to request remote Work into the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill in November 2022 as the most efficient and practical way to introduce this right for all workers.

Integrating the Right to Request Remote Work with the Work Life Balance Bill means that employers and employees will be making and considering requests for flexible or remote working under one piece of legislation and one Code of Practice which will be developed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), streamlining the process. Publication of the amended Work-Life Balance Bill will take place in December 2022, and it is the intention that the Bill will then be progressed through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible.

- The publication of the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect in April 2021 by the Workplace Relations Commission.

- The announcement of an enhanced income tax deduction for people working from home in Budget 2022 amounting to 30 percent of the cost of vouched expenses for heat, electricity and broadband.

- The launch of the National Hub Network and the ConnectedHubs.ie platform by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) and Western Development Commission in May 2021. 295 hubs have been onboarded onto the platform to date, with this number increasing on an ongoing basis. The ConnectedHubs.ie platform will ultimately link over 400 hubs throughout the country.

- Significant Government investment to underpin the development of the National Hub Network. To date, a total of approximately €100m in funding has been provided through funding streams managed by the DRCD and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) to develop Ireland’s hub and remote working infrastructure to ensure that communities across the country are in a position to benefit from the opportunities presented by increased remote working.

- This investment includes €76 million in funding for projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), many of which involved the regeneration of historic town centre buildings as enterprise centres and co-working hubs. In June 2022, €5m was allocated to 81 hub projects across the country through the Connected Hubs Fund. This follows the awarding of almost €9m in funding to 117 projects via the 2021 Connected Hubs Call.

- The launch of the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme which gives remote workers free use of their local digital hub. At least 10,000 hot desk spaces will be provided in total through the Scheme. Phase One was launched in June 2022, with Phase Two taking place between September and December.

- My Department has, together with the DRCD, started drafting a National Hub Strategy 2023-2023 which will bring together various national policies and schemes into a single coherent whole. The Strategy will focus on identifying opportunities to leverage the National Hub Network as an enabler of enterprise, employment, sustainable and resilient communities and as a contributor to achieving to Ireland’s climate action goals. It is expected that this strategy will be launched in the latter part of 2023.

- The launch of Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 by my Department in spring 2022. The plans include a strong focus on promoting remote working opportunities and investing in infrastructures across the nine regions.

- While National Broadband Plan was impacted negatively by COVID-19, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is continuing to engage with National Broadband Ireland to address the delays that have arisen. As a result of actions taken by NBI, the project has been building momentum and month.

- The publication of the Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on March 31st, 2022. The framework is helping to deliver the Programme for Government commitment to move to 20% remote/home working across the sector.

- Ongoing remote work promotion and guidance including advice for employers and employees on best practice, health and safety, equality and skills by a range of agencies including the Health and Safety Authority, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Western Development Commission, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Skillnet Ireland and local Education and Training Boards.

- My Department is continuing to develop and promote its Guidance for Working Remotely webpage. This webpage acts as a central access point for employers and employees and brings together the existing State guidance, legislation and advice on remote work into one place. The webpage is a live resource and is updated regularly. The webpage includes an Employer Checklist to provide employers with a quick way to successfully navigate the adoption of remote working arrangements.

- The publication of an Irish Government Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGGES) paper in May 2022 which found that remote working is likely to have a positive impact on Ireland’s economy and society. The paper, “An Evaluation of the Impacts of Remote Working”, examined the impact of remote working on several key policy areas, finding positive effects on productivity, the environment, regional development, private finances, and labour market participation.