Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61647/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.

My Department’s Statement of Strategy sets out a vision of making Ireland the best place to succeed in business in all parts of our country, with vibrant enterprises, more high-quality employment, growing trade, fair workplaces and higher productivity.

The Strategy was developed at a time when the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union were creating unprecedented challenges for the business community in Ireland. These events and the subsequent impact of the war in Ukraine have necessitated a wide-ranging and comprehensive response from the Department.

In preparation for Brexit, the Department carried out extensive work to ensure a coordinated and coherent approach. There was intensive engagement with stakeholders in preparation for all Brexit outcomes, including the possibility of a no-deal scenario.

The Department introduced a range of funding initiatives for businesses impacted by the crises, including:

- €650 million was made available to companies through the Restart Grantand Restart Grant Plusto contribute towards the cost of reopening or keeping businesses operational during the crisis.

- Over 5,500 businesses were supported by the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19.

- The €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Schemefacilitated low-cost lending to almost 10,000 businesses.

- Over €185 million was made available to SMEs under the Sustaining Enterprise Fundand the Accelerated Recovery Fund.

- The €100 million Brexit Response Schemeand the Brexit Resilience Fundwere introduced to bolster the resilience of companies facing Brexit related challenges.

- The Brexit Impact Loan Schemewill provide up to €330 million to SMEs that have been impacted by Brexit and COVID-19.

- The €200 million Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Schemewas launched in October 2022 and is helping businesses to manage the economic impact of the current crisis in Ukraine.

- To assist the wider business sector with liquidity a €1.2 billion State-backed Ukraine Credit Guarantee Schemewill provide low-cost working capital to businesses.

The last two years have seen strong growth in employment, driven mainly by our exporting sectors. By the end of 2021 employment figures were well above pre-pandemic levels. The Department has continued to support job creation through its agencies. The target of 2.5 million people at work set out in the Economic Recovery Plan was achieved in Q2 of 2022 and now stands at 2.554 million.

The Department oversaw the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 with €180 million provided for implementation. We launched the national Remote Work Strategy in January 2021 to maximise the benefits that remote working can bring and to provide opportunities for balanced regional development.

My department was instrumental in developing Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework. The Digital Transition Fund was launched in June 2022. This €85 million fund is helping businesses at all stages of their digital transition.

DETE has delivered a number of important enhancements to workers’ rights. A new public holiday has been introduced and will fall on the 1^stMonday of February, St. Brigid’s Day/Imbolc. The Sick Leave Act 2022ensures that all qualifying employees will have an entitlement to employer-paid sick leave. This progressive Act will commence on 1^stJanuary 2023. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022, which came into effect on 1 December, has given employees legal rights on the protection of workplace tips. The Right to Request Remote Working Billhas been integrated into the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Billwhich is expected to be delivered by the end of the year. To protect low paid workers, the minimum wage will move to €11.30 on 1 January 2023.

During pandemic, DETE developed the Work Safely Protocol which set out the steps and processes that businesses needed to take to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and the Health and Safety Authority led in coordinating compliance with the measures in the Protocol. We adapted company law in response to the pandemic with a view to protecting viable businesses and preserving employment

We have taken a number of important steps to enhance consumer protection. The Sale of Tickets Act 2021commenced in July 2021. It regulates the secondary ticket market where tickets are resold after their original purchase from the primary ticket market and where prices are more likely to be sold above their original sale price. The Consumer Rights Bill 2022was passed by the Oireachtas in October 2022. It is the biggest reform of consumer law in 40 years. There was continued implementation of the Action Plan on Insurance Reform, which aims to deliver on commitments made in the Programme for Government to bring down the cost of insurance for consumers and business.

The Government’s new Trade and Investment Strategy Value for Ireland, Values for the Worldwas launched in April 2022. Its goal is to see Ireland grow sustainably, diversify export markets and provide for continued economic wellbeing. We have continued to work closely with the European Commission and Member States to advance negotiations for several trade agreements.

DETE contributed to the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021 and to Ireland’s 2050 carbon neutrality ambition. The enterprise sector is mandated to reduce manufacturing emissions by 35% to 2030 under the sectoral emissions ceilings announced in summer 2022.

A White Paper on Enterprise was published last week, ensuring Ireland is well positioned to leverage the opportunities that will arise in the period to 2030.