Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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412. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts his Department are making to support and focus on competitiveness for the Irish drinks sector, and ensuring a reduced regulatory burden at national and EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38980/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The general uncertainty in the global economic outlook over the past number of months has highlighted the importance of Ireland’s international competitiveness. Ireland is a highly competitive economy and has consistently scored very highly in the IMD global rankings. We cannot be complacent, however, as our ranking has fallen by five places (to 7th) over the past two years. Our performance is underpinned by several key factors, including a highly skilled workforce, strong economic growth, and success in attracting foreign direct investment in high-value sectors.

The Government is cognisant of issues relating to Ireland’s international competitiveness and is taking concrete action to improve our competitiveness position. In April of this year, I brought forward a series of measures intended to minimise cost pressures for Irish firms. These included an extension of the timeframe for the introduction of the Living Wage by three years (to 2029) and an end to any further increases under the Statutory Sick Leave scheme.

The Government recently held a Competitiveness Summit of Ministers (7th July) and is committed to publishing a new whole of Government Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity over the coming weeks. The plan is currently under development and will focus on matters within Ireland’s domestic sphere of control that can make our economy more competitive and ‘shock-resistant’ to future adverse economic events.

Ireland continues to actively engage with the European Commission’s on the competitiveness agenda, including through the flagship actions set out under its Competitiveness Compass. Ireland supports the simplification and burden reduction programme that is being led at EU-level. The Commission has put forward a number of proposals with the aim of reducing reporting requirements by at least 25% (and at least 35% for SMEs).

As it stands, from 2026 Ireland will be the first country in the EU to ensure that all alcohol products will have comprehensive labelling with regard to the health risks associated with alcohol consumption. Whilst I am supportive of measures to improve public health, I am also aware that this decision has been subject to criticism on a number of grounds, including the potential fragmentation of the Internal Market and the possibility of a negative impact on sales and costs. I have recently written to my colleague - the Minister for Health - to outline these concerns.

I will continue to monitor developments in this area and I will be engaging actively with the Commission and other EU member-states as the situation evolves.