Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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150. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department continue to examine the fullest possible extent to which all measures can offset the impact of meeting such targets on industry, sector by sector, with particular reference to the need to avoid permanent damage to the economy, while at the same time meeting the targets, in the context of meeting carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27808/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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My Department is pro-actively integrating climate action into all aspects of the Department and its agencies’ activities, and engaging with all businesses in Ireland, from microbusinesses to large corporates, about the many opportunities for decarbonisation.

The White Paper on Enterprise highlighted the need for an integrated approach to enterprise policy that aligns our growth with decarbonising our businesses. This is key to Ireland’s future competitiveness and the long-term health of our economy; doing the work now can successfully position Ireland seize the opportunities ahead, and underpin a prosperous transition to a low-carbon economy.

My Department has just published a Roadmap for the Decarbonisation of Industrial Heat. It outlines the necessary trajectory to meet our binding industry decarbonisation targets. The Roadmap sets out the key policy interventions to decarbonise heat use by industry, including the supports available to companies, the regulations to promote decarbonisation, and the enabling measure that will facilitate the transition.

A similar roadmap for decarbonising commercial buildings will be published this summer.

Reaching our decarbonisation targets will require businesses to make investments in new processes, shifting away from those that rely on fossil fuels and other unsustainable practices. These investments are necessary and unavoidable, so it is better to move early and decisively.

The state will support these investments through our enterprise development agencies. We are working with them more closely than ever to ensure decarbonisation happens in a way that improves the competitiveness and resilience of our economy, rather than harms it. The incentives that we provide for businesses to ‘go green’ will be a combination of grant aid, policy support, taxation measures, linking efficiency, productivity and profitability with the sustainable business models that deliver on our shared ambition to decarbonise.

Thousands of businesses are already being supported through the Green Transition Fund, SEAI energy programmes, SkillNet Ireland training, the LEO Green for Business programme, and a range of other advisory, training and grant aid offerings.

My Department, and key state agencies, will continue working to ensure that all businesses in Ireland are activated and engaged in the green transition and the broader sustainability agenda. This will be a crucial component of ensuring Ireland’s economy remains competitive, resilience and sustainable as we progress towards our target to be net zero by 2050.