I thank the Deputy for the question. The Government’s position and, indeed, that of the EU is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of a two-state solution. While decisions regarding the operations of individual companies rest with those companies, a corporate decision to engage in economic and financial activities in settlements poses potentially significant reputational, legal and financial risk. The Government does not maintain a list of companies operating in Ireland that may be trading with or linked to companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland does not encourage or support in any way economic and financial activities in such settlements. Ireland has not issued any export licences for dual use or other goods in such settlements. Ireland does, however, strongly support the promotion of legitimate trade relations with the Palestinian Authority. At EU level, the Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation sets out the legal basis for relations between the EU and the Palestinian Authority. Ireland strongly supports the deepening of the EU-Palestine bilateral relationship, including in the area of trade, and it is welcome that the first ever meeting of the EU-Palestine high-level political dialogue took place in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 April 2025. At this meeting, the European Commission announced a multi-annual comprehensive support programme worth up to €1.6 billion to foster Palestinian recovery and resilience, including a pillar to provide support for the private sector there.

Sentiment score: 0.27

I am sure the Deputy is aware that in the case she referenced at the International Court of Justice, Ireland was one of the countries that intervened in that determination to ensure Israeli settlements were deemed to be illegal from the point of view of international law. Our Attorney General went to the Hague to take part in that case. That was one of a number of actions taken by Ireland to hold Israel accountable for its current actions and to support the Palestinian people in the face of the genocide that is happening. As part of that, we have supported UNRWA to the highest level because it is they key mechanism to get aid into the country. We have, along with the international community, supported UN resolution after UN resolution in an effort to change the dial. When I served as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Ireland was one of the very first countries, along with Spain, to put pressure on the EU to try to turn the dial and move on article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to ensure that Israel is held to account for its human rights violations.

Sentiment score: 0.32

Ireland has been a lighthouse internationally in supporting the Palestinian people. We have, as I pointed out, intervened in the case to ensure that Israeli occupation has been deemed illegal through a resolution of the court. We intervened in the South Africa case and supported that very firmly, as requested by the Dáil and my own parliamentary party. We have supported UNRWA and are bringing forward the occupied territories Bill, which is another significant step in terms of Government support. We have moved the dial by first recognising the State of Palestine, a key ask of the Palestinian Authority, and by pushing EU member states to hold Israel to account under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. In every single area, Ireland has been at the forefront in supporting the people of Gaza and we will continue to do so as a Government because it something that is very close to our hearts. I am the father of two young children and am acutely aware of what is happening in Gaza. We will do everything possible, every single day, to help and support the victims of Israeli perpetration.

Sentiment score: 0.37

I thank the Deputy for this very important question in an area that we are really moving the dial on. Ireland currently holds a strong competitive position globally, ranked seventh overall, and first in the eurozone, in the annual IMD world competitiveness rankings for 2025. However, we cannot be complacent and work remains to be done in many areas. We are aware that there are significant challenges and it is important that we do not take our strengths for granted. In a rapidly changing and uncertain international environment, it is fundamental that we take action to address long-standing legacy issues as well as emerging threats to our competitive performance. Persistent high costs in areas such as energy continue to challenge the competitiveness of businesses, particularly SMEs. Moreover, external shocks like Brexit and geopolitical uncertainties have embedded themselves into the cost structure, making it harder for businesses to remain competitive, whether indigenous or FDI. In response to international economic developments, and in line with a commitment in the programme for Government, work is under way on the development of an action plan on competitiveness and productivity. The Government agreed to accelerate the timeframe for this work and the action plan will be presented for consideration at a competitiveness summit to be held in July. The action plan will reflect a whole-of-government approach to domestic drivers of, or barriers to, competitiveness, focusing on areas firmly within our own control. Its development has been informed by extensive consultation across Government Departments and with external stakeholders. My Department has already undertaken a series of bilateral engagements with key Government partners, including in the areas of infrastructure, housing, research and innovation. This discussion will continue over the weeks ahead. My Department has also launched a public consultation which is currently open. The action plan will also be guided by the forthcoming Ireland's Competitiveness Challenge 2025 report from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, NCPC. That evidenced-based input will be vital to ensuring that our policy responses are targeted, proportionate and future-facing.

Sentiment score: 0.21

No Government has done as much for workers' rights as the previous Government, of which I was a member, did in terms of banning zero-hour contracts, bringing in tips legislation, introducing more agile practices in the workplace, the fruits of which we have seen and bringing in a statutory sick pay scheme. We turned the dial on a number of areas that had been neglected for years. It is my job and responsibility to ensure businesses remain viable. I have met with union leaders over the past number of weeks in connection with the work that is ongoing in my Department. They expressed concern in some areas but they also acknowledged the huge number of reforms that have been carried out. We have the biggest reform of employment law ongoing through the employment law review group, which is examining laws that affect so many citizens right across the country. I am keen to ensure businesses remain viable. The cost of business advisory forum had its inaugural meeting last week. We have established a small business unit in the Department. We are changing the dial by doing things in a more simple, light and fast way. That will be my approach in the Department to ensure we really incentivise our indigenous economy.

Sentiment score: 0.07

Let me bust the myth to which the Deputy referred. Our indigenous economy is at record levels. Currently, Enterprise Ireland is supporting 234,000 jobs in our country. Our exports, at €36 billion, are at record levels. Enterprise Ireland companies spend €39 billion in our wider economy. The Deputy referred to the FDI sector. There are some very significant FDI companies in the country that interact with indigenous companies. For example, one company in the semiconductor space has interactions with and has built in 831 SMEs into its supply chain. The same is happening with companies from Banagher Precast Concrete to Kiernan Structural Steel in Longford. That is very important for our indigenous economy. I am trying to close that eco cycle to ensure our SMEs benefit from the presence of the FDI sector. That is happening in front of us. To be clear on the facts, Ireland is the most competitive economy in the eurozone. I want to make sure that does not change. The actions I take will ensure our businesses have the best environment in which to grow, that we support viability and that we continue to grow our economy, as we did with the 90,000 extra jobs that were created over the past year. That is 90,000 families with an extra income.

Sentiment score: 0.22

I convened the inaugural meeting of the cost of business advisory forum on 11 June 2025. In my opening remarks, I shared my vision and expectation that the forum would "create a space where businesses can speak directly to decision-makers about the real-world impact of rules and charges, and identify areas where practical changes can be made". The establishment of the forum delivers on a key commitment in the programme for Government. The forum is a subgroup of my Department's enterprise forum. I was pleased to appoint Mr. Kevin Foley as its chair and Mr. Ronan Byrne as vice chair. The forum presents a unique opportunity for tripartite engagement, with Departments and regulators hearing directly from business owners and representatives. I was very encouraged to see a strong turnout at the first meeting and diverse representation from enterprise bodies across retail, tourism, agriculture, small businesses and the multinational sector. At the meeting, the chair outlined the forum's operational approach and its terms of reference were formally adopted. To set the scene, presentations were delivered by my officials on Ireland's economic landscape and by IBEC on the theme of regulatory ambition. The forum's purpose is to examine the factors contributing to the rising cost of doing business in Ireland, including regulatory and infrastructural challenges that may require a sharper focus and a revised approach. It will identify practical steps to help to reduce those costs. To assist with its review, the forum will hold a series of follow-up thematic meetings on topics such as regulatory cost and simplification, planning and infrastructure, technology and innovation, visas and work permits, and utility costs. This is not an exhaustive list. It will develop with input from stakeholders as the engagement process continues over the coming six months. A high level of engagement is not only welcomed but is strongly encouraged through the forum and also via the public consultation methodology, which is now live on my Department's webpage. Members of the public, as well as all participants in the enterprise forum and retail forum, are invited to contribute to the consultation. Submissions are open until 20 June.

Sentiment score: 0.31

The key area on which the forum will focus is the cost of regulation and trying to make things more efficient and easier for our small family businesses. I always point out that many of these businesses do not have a HR director or finance director; all their work is done around the kitchen table, trying to vindicate all the efforts they put towards employing two thirds of workers right across the country. That is why it is key that all the regulators, who make so many decisions, are involved. We need to look at the interoperability of those decisions with the decisions of other regulators and what costs that puts on businesses. Critically, we have to achieve outputs. We must see how we can make changes, with the forum being a key accelerator in that regard to ensure we are doing things in a simpler manner. The Government is very much focused on that. As I said, we are at record levels of employment but there are challenges. I am more aware than most of the challenges in terms of the costs facing our family businesses. I have demonstrated what we are doing about this. July will be a very important month for our competitive action plan. We will also establish our small business unit, and we have our cost of business advisory forum.

Sentiment score: 0.19

The CCPC is a very important independent agency. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, is working very closely with the organisation on inflation in grocery prices. With regard to vacancies, there has been a challenge with recruitment. The budget is there. There has been a significant increase in budgetary capabilities for the CCPC but it is a very competitive landscape and the recruitment process is very difficult. We are doing all we can to fill those vacancies. This is one of the areas that was raised with me by the head of the CCPC when I met him a number of weeks ago. We will ensure that it has the resources needed to grow. Over the past decade, the CCPC has grown exponentially. As a result of European laws and responsibilities, Ireland now has an outsized role in the regulatory environment. It is very important that the organisation is resourced. The cost of business advisory forum will bring all of those key agencies, from the Revenue Commissioners to the CCPC and An Bord Pleanála, into the same room. It is critical that we see how we, as a country, can make things simpler for our businesses.

Sentiment score: 0.06