Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together.

Since June 2020, my Department has been working to achieve the commitments and priorities set out in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future. We implemented our 2021-2023 Statement of Strategy and delivered on our remit to drive the productive capacity of the economy, create and maintain high-value jobs, promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers during a period when the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU and the impacts of the war in Ukraine were creating unprecedented challenges for the business community in Ireland.

The main policy achievements and actions taken by my Department to boost jobs and business between June 2020 and December 2022 are set out in our Statement of Strategy Report on Delivery, which is available on our website at www.enterprise.gov.ie. This report sets out details of the objectives realised under each of the department’s strategic goals.

Since January 2023, my Department has continued to deliver on its ambitious agenda to lead on sustainable economic development through the creation and maintenance of high-quality employment across all regions with key achievements listed below.

Enterprise Development and Innovation

• The Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme got underway with the first lender to the market announced in January. The scheme will provide loans at reduced rates and without the need for collateral on loans up to €250k, to SMEs including farmers and fishers, for purposes of working capital and medium-term investment.
• Extension and expansion of the €200 million Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme to assist viable but vulnerable firms of all sizes in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. The scheme assists firms suffering liquidity and supply chain issues as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine and helps those impacted by severe rises in energy costs.
• The pilot framework to extend the LEO mandate was launched in January 2023. The framework will allow for the provision of direct grant aid to companies with over 10 employees in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors with export ambition.
• In February, DETE hosted a construction industry outreach event, ‘Collaborate to Innovate,’ to examine how best to promote innovation in the sector and accelerate the adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) in the delivery of housing. DETE and EI also agreed a range of Housing for All related research projects for inclusion in the Construction Technology Centre ‘Construct Innovate’s’ work programme.
• The first of the ‘Building Better Business’ Conferences was held in Letterkenny in March, followed by Portlaoise in April, then Limerick and most recently Naas in June. There will be a further five Conferences this year, each of which will aim to highlight the Regional Enterprise Plans and the twin challenges of digitalisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
• New call under the Online Retail Scheme launched in March to help small business sell their products online.
• A dedicated webpage for retail specific information from across the Government system went live in March. “Retail sector in Ireland” is a resource for retail specific information that is available in one single online space in an accessible and user-friendly format.
• In March a sixth call of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) was launched. This call is encouraging projects that complement our policy objectives on digital transformation, integrating decarbonisation, and meeting our net zero commitments. In April Funding of €17.6m was announced for a further five projects under Calls 4 and 5.
• The new Energy Efficiency Grant for small businesses was launched in May. The objective of the scheme is to support capital investment by businesses to reduce carbon emissions and overall energy costs by accelerating the adoption of low carbon technologies or processes.
• Three new innovation programmes were developed and launched through the European Regional Development Fund. These will, in the main, enhance knowledge transfer between industry and higher education, and provide innovation training.
• On the 31st May Enterprise Ireland hosted the inaugural Food Innovation Summit in Cork.
• In June the first allocation of funding under Irish Innovation Seed Fund (IISF) was made.
• NSAI has restructured their construction team to support Agrément, a certification process for innovative building products and systems, and anticipated future demand for on-site inspections. Recruitment is underway for additional staff funded by the Housing for All Implementation Fund, while a new head of MMC has been identified and will commence with the NSAI on 29th May. In June a new collection of standard recommendations was launched to guide the efforts of professionals in the retrofitting sector to deliver high-quality, sustainable, and efficient building upgrades.

• On the first of January, the National Minimum Wage increased by 80 cents, from €10.50 to €11.30. This increase can be considered the first year of the proposed four-year path towards reaching the living wage of 60% of the median wage.
• European Commission workshops with the expert group on the transposition of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages commenced in March.
• In January, my Department completed the ratification process of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace. This is a legal instrument which recognises the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment.
• An Interdepartmental Working Group has concluded its high-level considerations of the changes required in order to fully transpose Article 2(1) of Directive 2008/94/EC which provides protections for employees in the event of their employers’ insolvency. A report of the group’s recommendations was finalised in March.
• Work commenced with contractors on the development of the new ICT processing system for employment permits with the aim of driving further efficiencies in processing and delivering increased productivity, while at the same time improving the overall user experience.

• The SME and Entrepreneurship Taskforce reconvened in January to continue progressing priorities under the SME and Entrepreneurship Growth Plan.
• The Department’s Enterprise Forum meets quarterly to discuss enterprise policy implications arising from emerging national and international challenges.
• Implementation of the Regional Enterprise Plans continues, with several Steering Committee meetings taking place during H1 2023.
• The Industrial Heat Roadmap Working Group was established and first meeting held. A key output of this Working Group will be the development of a roadmap for decarbonising industrial heat. This roadmap will be published in Q4 of this year and will clearly set out the pathway to decarbonisation of industry.
• Progress on the implementation of the actions in the 2022/23 Retail Forum Work Programme is continuing and is driven by the members of the three Retail Forum Working Groups - Town Centre First/Night-time Economy, Green Transition and Digitalisation and Skills. A special meeting of the Retail Forum and the wider grocery sector was held on 10 May to discuss the factors driving inflation for grocery goods which is higher than the general rate of inflation.
• A Working Group on the development of principles and guidelines on the ethical and trustworthy use of AI in the public service has met twice and developed a draft document, which they are continuing to progress. The recommendations of the Group will be brought to Government for consideration as soon as possible.
• In February 2023, I attended the OECD’s first ever Ministerial on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) highlighting the growing importance of the area. To ensure the Department responds coherently and consistently with messaging on the various Responsible Business initiatives across different Divisions, a Responsible Business contact group has been convened bringing officials together to clearly drive this agenda forward.
• The Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum met in February and agreed its 2023 work programme.
• In March the Commercial Built Environment Roadmap Working Group was established and first meeting held. This Working Group is tasked with supporting enterprises in ensuring that the commercial built environment achieves its climate change targets through the development and publication of a Commercial Built Environment Roadmap by Q3 this year.
• In June the Consumer and Competition Protection Commission (CCPC) published their report, ‘A High-level Analysis of the Irish Grocery Retail Sector’.
• Following publication of the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 in December of 2022, the first of a series of consecutive two-year Implementation Plans was developed by the Department and published on the 31st of May. The Implementation Plan captures progress made against commitments, through bi-annual update reports, the first of which is due in Q3 2023.
• Following the review of TBESS changes have been made to the scheme in order to ensure more businesses are eligible to apply, the Finance Act which gave effect to these changes was commenced in mid-May.
• A review of the occupations on the Critical Skills Occupation List and Ineligible Occupations List for employment permits was launched in June.

• The Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Bill 2023 was published in March. Final and Report stage took place in the Dáil on 21 June.
• The General Scheme of Plan of Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency Bill 2023 was approved by Government on 4 May. The General Scheme of the Bill underwent pre-legislative scrutiny at the JCETE on 31 May.
• The EU (Cross-Border Conversions, Mergers and Divisions) Regulations 2023 were signed on 24th May. The regulations make it easier for companies to restructure across jurisdictions within the EU.
• Control of Exports Bill 2023 was published on 4 May, with Committee Stage on 28th June.
• Phase one of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022, to reform and enhance the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) commenced with effect from 13 February. Phase one included legislative provisions regarding the retention of additional claims by the Board and the Court treatment of costs. Phase two will commence in September.
• Amendments to the Employment Permits Bill to provide for the Seasonal Employment Permit and a new option to transfer employer without needing a new permit have been approved by Cabinet on 23rd May.
• The Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill was considered by the Select Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 25th January. A number of amendments were agreed and the Bill will progress to report stage in Autumn.
• Government approved the priority drafting of the General Scheme of the Digital Services Bill 2023 in March and the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny report was received in June. Drafting is underway.
• On the 20th of June, Government approved the drafting of the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill in accordance with the General Scheme.
• A public consultation and webinar, with over 500 participants in attendance, was held on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. A further webinar will take place on 4 July 2023. Stakeholder engagement will inform the ongoing transposition project.
• In addition, my Department has published a new Statement of Strategy for 2023 to 2025 which reflects the medium-term priorities for this Department. It sets out our mission to lead on sustainable economic development through the creation and maintenance of high quality employment across all parts of our country by: championing enterprise; ensuring a competitive business base to incentivise work, sustainable enterprise, innovation and investment; strengthening global connections and trade; promoting fair and competitive markets and responsible business practices; as well as safe, flexible and decent workplaces through the regulatory and enforcement work of the Department, its Offices and its Agencies.