1. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will put financial support in place for businesses affected by Storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6593/25]

Sentiment score: 0.10

It is almost four weeks since Storm Éowyn battered the country. I wrote to the Minister early in February to ask that a scheme be put in place urgently to assist businesses affected by the storm. Last week Sinn Féin used its Private Members' business time to call for Government support to businesses. Why has no scheme been put in place to date? Businesses need to know today what help they can expect from the Government in the aftermath of the worst storm in history.

Sentiment score: -0.08

The Minister might clarify if he got agreement from the insurance companies that the amount they pay will not be impacted. Businesses have two concerns about insurance. The first relates to the excess. If the excess is a couple of thousand euro and their loss is less than that, obviously they will not be able to claim. They are also afraid that their premiums will go up, meaning that over a three- or five-year period, they end up paying back more than they got in the first instance. The Minister said he has been in contact with the water, electricity and communications companies. There are still hundreds of businesses and homes in Mayo and other counties that do not have proper communications. There have been no proper responses from Eir, Vodafone and the other communications companies. Will the Minister clarify the extent of the conversations he has had with them and when those people will be reconnected because it is really impacting their businesses?

Sentiment score: -0.02

I want to get clarity on this. Will a scheme be put in place for businesses? I welcome what the Minister has said about horticulture. As he knows, the land in Mayo and the west in general does not lend itself to that. Will we have a scheme similar to the one we had for Storm Babet? It is important that is done sooner rather than later because people and businesses want certainty. There are many people who are self-employed, including farmers and fishermen. Last week, I spoke to either the Minister or the Taoiseach about an instance relating to oyster farming. About €160,000 has been lost and they do not have insurance. They will not be able to operate again unless they are compensated for that. We need clarity on it. I understand what is stated in the programme for Government but the vagueness around it is causing concern for businesses. Businesses cannot sustain the losses they have incurred following this storm.

Sentiment score: 0.14

3. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has been made aware of potential job losses in the software sector; if he has asked the IDA to intervene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6594/25]

Sentiment score: -0.13

We now know that 142 staff are to be laid off by the Irish branch of the global HR and payroll processing company, Workday. When was the Department notified of these job losses? What contact has the Department had with the company and the workers? What is being done for those workers? Has IDA Ireland been involved and how can these workers be helped to find alternative employment and supported? This morning I want to send solidarity from this House to those workers and their families.

Sentiment score: 0.05

Last month we learned that Meta is to cut 5% of its staff globally and last year Intel and TikTok notified staff of impending job losses. As the Minister rightly said, there is a significant contraction and it is very important we have a plan in place as this is likely to happen again in the future. Last night we talked with the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, about AI and the implications for the Irish economy. While there are many positive applications of AI and it will continue to be a growth area, significant layoffs can also result from AI. I want to see an action plan in that context. I also want to see, as we discussed last night, the building up of expertise within Government. We need to be looking at the existing skill sets and what is necessary for Government to be able to tap into these. I would also like to see, after such job losses, a measuring of how long it takes individual workers to find alternative work so that we can stay ahead of the game.

Sentiment score: 0.09

I thank the Minister and I agree with a lot of what he said. Within these strategies, it is always in the implementation and how quickly the implementation can be done. There are opportunities there for self-employment as well. When people find themselves in a situation where they lose their jobs, we should be coming in there to support them. What I am finding in some areas is that when the brightest and best young people are coming up with ideas, whether it be the development of apps or whatever, and I spoke to a person last Saturday in Mayo about this, they are falling between the agencies, for example, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the LEOs and Enterprise Ireland. Perhaps the Minister would look at that area in order that none of these projects are falling between the stools because the people they are presenting to may not fully realise the potential of the things they are coming forward with. We need to nurture this talent, but we also need the start-ups and to ensure these businesses can scale up and stay in this country.

Sentiment score: 0.37

5. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the programme for Government commitment to develop strategic development zones; and how this will relate to additional supports for the strategic development zone at Knock Airport. [6595/25]

Sentiment score: 0.21

I welcome the commitment in the programme for Government to develop strategic development zones, SDZs. What will this look like for Ireland West Airport Knock? What timescales will be on that? There is huge untapped potential in our region, which has 95,000 sq. m of commercial enterprise space that can be used for economic development. I welcome the appointment of a manager specifically for this, but we need to know what it will look like. Will the Minister drive it and make it a priority?

Sentiment score: 0.29

Comhghairdeas to the Minister of State on his new role. We share an interest in Knock Airport and its development. We have talked about it for decades since Monsignor Horan was brave enough, against all the odds, to build the airport. It is obvious that it has not fulfilled its potential. In 2022, the EU downgraded the north and west as a lagging region with a GDP of only 71% of the EU average. Last year, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly published research showing that since 2016, the north and west region has received just 5.7% of investment in infrastructure projects worth more than €20 million. The facts speak for themselves. We have a unique opportunity but it is not going to happen unless we all work together. That is why I want to see this roadmap. I want to see that it will be measured along the way to ascertain exactly who is responsible for moving it along and how and when that will be done.

Sentiment score: 0.15

It is important that people's expectations are not raised. Before elections, there are nonsensical announcements and all that. It is a ten-year period before this will be done with utilities and all of that which needs to be done to develop this zone. Things can be done in the meantime but people's expectations need to be managed. There is a critical opportunity here. In 2021, Sinn Féin wrote to the European Commission seeking a total exemption from state aid rules for regional airports such as Ireland West Airport Knock due to the challenges of Brexit and Covid-19. Will the Minister of State consider pursuing this objective to enable Ireland West Airport SDZ to reach its full potential? There is no western rail corridor and the all-island strategic rail review was grim reading for the north west. These issues are interconnected but they present a unique opportunity that we cannot wait to have implemented.

Sentiment score: 0.03