Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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30. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to detail the positions that Ireland is taking in the negotiations on the EU’s corporate sustainability due diligence directive; and the reasons why these positions are being taken. [33032/25]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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40. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will speak out against the watering down of the EU’s corporate sustainability due diligence directive so that important human rights and environmental clauses are not weakened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33031/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 40 together.

Ireland supports the simplification and burden reduction agenda at EU level. In the context of optimising the competitiveness of EU companies in the evolving global trading environment, I am supportive in principle of initiatives to simplify the reporting requirements and reduce costs on companies, most especially for SMEs.

In relation to the proposed changes to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive in the omnibus proposal, the proposed changes will significantly help enterprise in Ireland, and most of all our SMEs. I would welcome agreement of the proposed changes in the Omnibus on sustainability at the earliest opportunity in order to give business the legal certainty that it needs.

Consideration of the proposed changes including proposals in relation to human rights and environmental due diligence is ongoing at EU level. My Department will continue to assess the implications as discussions progress.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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31. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on encouraging diversification, research and development in the business sector. [33192/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely aware of the critical role that diversification and research and development play in ensuring the long-term resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of Ireland’s enterprise base.

In an increasingly unpredictable geo-political and geo-economic landscape, diversification – whether through new markets, research, products or sectors – serves as a key means of mitigating risks to the economy and also as a powerful tool for unlocking new employment opportunities and reducing regional inequalities.

Complementing diversification, robust investment in research and development is essential to driving innovation and the development of new products which in turn enhances productivity and ensures Irish enterprises can compete effectively on the global stage. It is also a critical component of key strategic sectors for Ireland, such as AI, space, semiconductors, offshore wind, construction, and life sciences.

The clear importance of research and development is reflected in the strategies of my Department, agencies and others across the system. Stepping up enterprise innovation is a policy objective of the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 and an important policy goal of the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation 2021-2027. Furthermore, research and development is an important goal in both the recently published Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland Corporate strategies.

My officials also work closely with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to promote and encourage enterprise innovation, including through Impact 2030: Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy. In 2023, the most recent year available, DFHERIS and its agencies budgeted more than €545 million for research and development.

The strategic importance placed in this area reflects the programmes and funding offered to enterprises by my Department. This year, Government has allocated €159 million in funding - including support from the European Regional Development Fund - to Enterprise Ireland’s Research, Development and Innovation programmes. IDA Ireland supported 46 R&I investments worth €78 million in 2023. These IDA investments were associated with client expenditure commitments of more than €1.4 billion.

Enterprise Ireland is strengthening collaborative innovation between industry and our third-level sector through programmes such as Innovation Vouchers, Innovation Partnerships, the Technology Gateways and Technology Centres. These programmes are designed to promote collaborative innovation from the first tentative steps to multi-partner, sector-based projects and every stage in-between – ensuring innovation is supported at every level.

Additionally, Enterprise Ireland’s Commercialisation Fund spins out research into new startups, generating the next wave of exciting innovative High Potential Start Ups. In tandem, KT Boost (Knowledge Transfer Boost) supports the transfer of research and innovation to enterprise by staffing our Technological Universities and Universities’ Tech Transfer Offices with specialist expertise.

This investment is helping Irish companies across all sectors to innovate, grow, and compete globally. It also connects FDI companies into our world class third level sector helping anchor their development in Ireland.