I thank the Deputy for her question. Although the technology sector has undergone a period of sustained growth for more than 20 years, modest contractions have occurred recently. Possible US trade actions on semiconductors and other challenges have also created a moment of international uncertainty in the sector. In response to these geopolitical and trade challenges, the Government has agreed to expedite its action plan for competitiveness and productivity. Furthermore, several short-term measures, such as enhancing international trade promotion, addressing business costs and improving energy infrastructure will bolster the resilience of technology firms and support their competitiveness. Where job losses are announced by any IDA Ireland client company based here, our first concern is for staff members and their families impacted by such decisions. My Department’s main aim, with the support of our enterprise development agencies, is to assist, where possible, in helping those impacted to find alternative employment through a number of measures, including: the provision of a detailed skills profile for the employees that can be shared with other potential employers; identification and connection with employers who may be hiring across the locality or a wider region; information sessions by the Department of Social Protection's Intreo office on social welfare services and employment support services; identification and provision of training and further opportunities for employees; and exploring opportunities for people to start their own business through local enterprises offices, LEOs, and Enterprise Ireland. Working with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, our objective is to sustain and create further employment in the technology sector. The programme for Government sets out a range of commitments, including sectoral strategies that will support the sector. To this end, I will launch the national semiconductor strategy this month, which will be a clear signal of Government support for this economically and strategically vital sector. As part of the development of the strategy, my Department undertook a comprehensive mapping exercise to identify Ireland’s key semiconductor market actors, both indigenous and multinational, which will further inform our engagements with the sector, both domestic and multinational.
Sentiment score: 0.39
In all the sectors the Deputy referenced, we are absolutely responding with significant policy interventions, particularly our action plan on competitiveness. While there was a huge increase in growth in the technological sector of approximately 15% or more during the pandemic period, we have seen a recalibration in some areas. While it is difficult for families to face news of uncertainty, the critical thing is there are huge opportunities. The sector is growing globally, which is incredible in an Irish context, with so many new companies, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and generative AI. There are huge opportunities in this regard for Ireland as a world leader, particularly in a European context. We have a strong basis for growth. The IDA strategy to 2029 specifically highlights the areas of digitalisation and semiconductor activity. Those areas will be key to sustaining our employment levels into the future. We are doing a number of measures, such as our action plan for competitiveness and our new semiconductor strategy. We updated our AI strategy last November, which is important, in partnership with industry. We have many significant research partners in tertiary education that are yielding significant results we can see on the landscape
Sentiment score: 0.29
In respect of Carelon Global Solutions, we are working closely with the company. There is an established protocol in the Department for any company that is encountering difficulty or making announcements. We are the first responders in there working with them, providing skills and ensuring they have the pathway to further training and redeployment. That is a big challenge in some of the at-risk sectors. IDA Ireland is very clear on doing a risk profile. We try to get investment into such companies early and foresee the pressures that are coming. Research and development grants we have provided to a number of companies really cement the next product line and embed the next level of patents and IPs. That will be critical for our future. We have done that on a number of occasions. In an economy at full employment, there are always pressure points. We look at the risk profiles, which are so important to us. This is one thing on which I challenge the IDA regularly. We need to foresee the problems in the next six, eight, ten months or two years and try to see what we can do now to embed that employment into our economy. We are very much to the forefront in doing that and the next strategy really sets that out. I particularly wish to mention the €7.5 billion in research and development investment by the IDA over the next five years, which will mean a 400% increase in research and development investment over the past decade.
Sentiment score: 0.04
I thank the Deputy for his question. Ireland is currently a strong competitive global economy. This performance is reflected in our exceptionally strong economic performance in recent years. However, the international context is rapidly changing and we recognise, as do many businesses, where our indigenous and foreign direct investment, FDI, sector are concerned, that they are facing increased challenges. In recognition of these challenges facing Ireland, the current programme for Government committed to the publication of a new whole-of-government action plan for competitiveness and productivity by January 2026. The Government has, however, accelerated this timeline, with a draft of the plan to be considered by Ministers at a competitiveness summit in July. This plan will cover industrial policy, reducing the cost and regulatory burden on business, investing in infrastructure, digital regulation and reform, energy reform, international trade and research and development and innovation. Over the coming weeks, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council will finalise and submit its Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2025 report to Government. This work will feed into the development of the action plan. Alongside this, my Department is undertaking consultation with stakeholders, including other Government Departments, to ensure that the action plan is evidence based and reflects the issues impacting Ireland’s competitiveness. Given the heightened level of international uncertainty, the overarching objective of the action plan will be to focus on matters within our control by way of policy changes that can make the domestic economy more competitive and resilient to shocks. That is one of the critical issues we were, as a Government, very much aware of. We are the most competitive economy in the eurozone and fourth under the Yearbook of International Organizations but our infrastructure offering is coming under pressure. We need significant investment in energy capacity in the future. We need to ensure our family businesses are operating at the lowest cost base possible and also bring the Draghi report to the heart of government in a European context where we see the new competitive compass which provides a huge amount of opportunity to cement industries here in our economy.
Sentiment score: 0.20
I thank the Deputy for his question. He has been to the forefront in engaging with me in connection with Intel and it being significant in his locality. While I note comments by its chief executive, Intel’s Fab 24 is the most advanced manufacturing facility in Europe. We in Ireland are proud to have Intel here. As a Government, we will do everything we can to support it into the future. The new 7 nanometer, nm, chip it manufactures there is the lowest chip in Europe. In the wider context, at this point, we have only 8% of the market share in semiconductors. If we look at our economy advancing across products like fridges, phones and electric vehicles silicon chips are everywhere. I see a very bright future for Intel and we will work very closely with it. As the Deputy quite rightly pointed out, it is so important we get our competitive action plan right to the heart of Government by July. We have now established a small-business unit in the Department to make sure we are protecting family businesses, with which I know the Deputy has worked closely in his profession as an accountant. We are very focused on reducing costs, sustaining businesses to keep them viable and keeping good conditions for workers.
Sentiment score: 0.39
I thank Deputy Neville. He is quite right to point out those key areas. As a Government, we are very committed to unblocking so many of the challenges to infrastructure delivery. The Deputy will see the decisions made by Cabinet in that regard. Commencing the planning Act will be key and central to delivering that pipeline. There are huge opportunities here, as I mentioned, through the Draghi report and the European Commission's competitive compass. For many companies, regulation is a problem. We are bringing through the response to the Omnibus Proposal and the corporate sustainability reporting directive, CSRD, which will take about 80% of smaller companies outside of the scope. It is important in terms of a regulatory response that we have proportionate regulation for many of our SMEs. The small business unit will yield significant results as well. The Deputy is quite right about energy. We have to face up to the fact that in the next decade we will need more investment in our grid than we have since its creation. This will be very significant in the context of the review of the national development plan. AI and generative AI requires about 2% of worldwide energy production. It is a huge energy user. As an economy, Ireland has to ensure that it has the infrastructure to support and underwrite the level of employment and the high-quality jobs in the economy that the Deputy is quite rightly fighting for.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I thank the Deputy for his question. The IDA has a landholding of 20 ha at Ballingarrane science and technology park in Clonmel, County Tipperary, and, in partnership with Tipperary County Council, has lodged a planning application for a 10,000 sq. m advanced building solution on a site area of approximately 3.4 ha. This application is currently proceeding through the planning process. IDA Ireland continues to work to market the site and proposed planning permission at Ballingarrane to potential new and existing investors through the agency’s network of overseas and regional offices. In this regard, the IDA, together with Tipperary County Council, has prepared and shared marketing materials, including a brochure and a promotional video, via the IDA Ireland website. On site visits, data is only available on a county basis. I am advised that there were eight visits to County Tipperary in 2023, two in 2024 and one, to date, this year. I should indicate, however, that site visits are only one measure of a company’s interest in a particular location and may not necessarily be a true measure of the overall level of FDI activity in a region or county. For example, 70% of FDI won for Ireland by the IDA in 2024 came from its existing client base rather than new companies. Potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. Also, the figures that represent individual visits are not necessarily indicative of the number of companies that have been visited. I also remind the Deputy that the final decision on where to locate an investment is always made by the client company and not by the IDA. It can take many years to convert an initial site visit into a project approval.
Sentiment score: 0.23
I will point out that we have seen a significant increase in IDA activity and employment in the mid-west region - approximately 16% over the past five years. The Deputy will know of very important client companies in his region, including Boston Scientific and Waystone, where there has been a new investment of 100 jobs. Working very closely with my colleague, Michael Murphy, we are doing a huge amount of work on delivering infrastructure to the region that will support the growth of employment. That is why we see 5,589 people, which means 5,589 families, who go to work every single day in IDA client companies in County Tipperary. There are approximately 27,968 such jobs in the mid-west region. That is why the IDA strategy out to 2029 focuses on delivering on the investment that is currently there. As I said in my contribution, the amount that comes from existing clients, notwithstanding new clients coming into the economy is very significant. We will be working very hard on that. As Minister for enterprise, I will ensure that high-quality jobs are coming right across our region. Specifically, the new strategy calls for 55% of all new jobs to go to regional Ireland.
Sentiment score: 0.20
To be absolutely clear, the figures I gave for the IDA's marketing in the mid-west region are for Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, which are categorised together. The Deputy will see the results I pointed out. There are 27,000 jobs in that sector. There is also a very significant investment in the capital fund, where we have our advanced factory units, and where the IDA part the Deputy referenced is seeing the opportunity of that investment as it goes through the planning process. We have to appreciate that bringing multinational investment into our country is very competitive. Those who so often criticise the IDA for not doing enough also go against the key policies that bring that foreign direct investment into our country and allow it to sustain and grow. In one respect, it is fine to say the IDA is not doing enough to market the site, but it is also important to acknowledge that the consistent policies of the current and previous Governments have made us a very agile country, where we have 300,000 jobs in our economy in the FDI sector. Critically, that eco-cycle is joined with our SMEs and family businesses, where we have seen exceptional growth over the past number of years, in a context where Enterprise Ireland has targeted €50 billion of exports to 2029.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I thank the Deputy for his very important question. I acknowledge and thank the 2.8 million workers going to work today on what is International Workers' Day. I look forward to addressing the House in that respect later. I am committed to improving the pay of low-paid workers and the Government’s track record on this is beyond question. Since 2020, the national minimum wage has increased by 33.7%, from €10.10 to today’s rate of €13.50 an hour. The Deputy will agree that this is a substantial increase, and I fully expect the national minimum wage to increase further over the coming years. Our current rate of €13.50 an hour means that Ireland now has the second highest minimum wage in the EU, second only to Luxembourg. When adjusted for purchasing power standards, we have the fifth highest minimum wage in the EU. In 2024, there was a significant uplift of 12%, or €1.40, in the minimum wage, and this year the minimum wage increased by 80 cent, an increase of over 6%. Both of these increases were well ahead of inflation and projected wage growth, and have brought about substantial and real wage growth for the lowest paid workers in our economy. The Low Pay Commission has estimated that the “bite” of the minimum wage, that is, the national minimum wage as a percentage of the median wage, has increased from 50% in 2022 to 55% in 2024, calculated using the CSO’s labour force survey data, or from 54% in 2022 to 59% in 2024, using the CSO’s structure of earnings statistics data. The Government wants to ensure that any further increases in the national minimum wage are managed in a sustainable way, and in a way that does not threaten employment or competitiveness. That is why Government has agreed to adjust the implementation timeline for the living wage to 2029. This was done as part of a suite of measures to bolster business resilience and support competitiveness during these uncertain times. This decision should be considered in the context of the recent significant increases in the minimum wage which show Government’s continuing commitment to fair wages across the economy.
Sentiment score: 0.39
The Government has committed to achieving the living wage in the current Administration. The increases of 12% and 10% we have had in recent number years are significantly above wage growth in economy which is 3.5%. They are also above the inflation rate relating to our economy, which has now tapered down to about 1.75%. My key issue is to make and ensure that any increases are sustainable. We are doing that, and we have the evidence. The first piece of evidence is the joint report from the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Social Protection which stated that there would be a 36% increase by 2026 on 2023 levels between the living wage, auto enrolment and sick pay for our smallest family businesses. Some 75% of minimum wage workers are in retail and hospitality, and evidence from the PwC barometer indicates a 50% increase in insolvencies in those sectors. This means that jobs are being lost in those sectors. I want to ensure that workers have real wage growth, which they will because the increases in the minimum wage will continue and are at levels significantly above the rate of inflation. I will take on board the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission when I receive its report in the third week in July.
Sentiment score: 0.11
I am not picking sides. I am ensuring that we have valuable employment and strong businesses. Anyone who says we have not improved workers' conditions is not backing that statement up with evidence. Auto-enrolment will be introduced on 1 January. There is a right to request remote working. Tips legislation to protect vulnerable workers has been introduced. Zero-hour contracts were banned. Parental leave has been introduced. A Fine Gael Government, with the Taoiseach at the time, took the lead on improving employment rights. We all know the work our former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, did in this area. We know the costs that businesses they face, and that is the evidence I am giving the Deputy. I am pointing him to the reports on the basis of which I am acting. I am also pointing him towards how we are improving workers' conditions consistently, right across the economy. I have commissioned a review of employment law by the employment law review group, which is needed for our economy because employment legislation affects so many areas. I want good, well-paid jobs in our economy. I also want businesses to be viable and to do well. My job is to balance those interests and ensure we protect employees on what is a significant day, namely International Workers' Day.
Sentiment score: 0.18