Niamh Smyth
Cavan-Monaghan · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I thank Senator Higgins for speaking to this amendment and Senator Stephenson for putting it forward. I fully agree on the importance of co-operation and co-ordination between competent authorities in the implementation and enforcement of the AI Act.”
“63 would reduce the current period of 14 working days to a period of no more than seven days. The purpose of section 49 is to balance regulatory intervention with fair procedures.”
“I am going to take time after this debate to look at the Instagram account the Deputy raised today to see for myself. I do not disbelieve the Deputy. It upsets me so much to see that is allowed. Where is the monitoring of it?”
“These are: prohibited practices under Article 5; serious incidents reported under Article 73; high-risk AI systems referred to in annexe III in accordance with Article 49(5); and any other AI-related incidents or notifications required to be reported under the regulation.”
“The Government will continue to benefit from the expertise of the office in the deployment and implementation of AI-related policy and regulation.”
“I know that when you go to public meetings like those in question, there are tough stories from parents and you may feel a little inadequate sometimes in being able to deal with these things as quickly as possible. I am glad the Deputies used their time here today to make the presentation and to campaign for the parents.”
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“I concur with the Deputy’s sentiments. His parting thoughts leaving at the weekend were of the young people and the mentality of the young people having suffered what they had suffered. Yesterday, during Leaders’ Questions, we discussed the occupied territories Bill. The Taoiseach talked how if it were not for media and social media, we would be blind to much of what was happening. However, we are not blind. We do know, we are aware and we cannot ignore. On a Europe-wide level, Ireland has been head and shoulders above the rest. That is not to say it has been all satisfactory by any manner or means. The Deputy’s sentiment today is not just about the Bill, but the future, the rebuilding of Palestine and the two-state solution, which is what we think the answer is.”
“During yesterday's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, Ireland echoed these concerns, as well as our deep concerns regarding the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for humanitarian access at scale and a ceasefire and a hostage release deal. Ireland was clear in reiterating the need for the EU to respond in an effective manner. Against this backdrop, it remains deeply unsatisfactory that no appropriate action has been taken by the European Commission as regards trade with illegal settlements in the face of such clear policy and legal imperatives. I again thank Deputy Brennan for his work and his contribution. He clearly knows where the Government stands on this issue, which is to progress this legislation as quickly as possible.”
“We regret that it has been necessary to move ahead of EU partners on a matter of such importance. The importance and relevance of addressing the illegal settlements was outlined in stark terms by several Israeli human rights organisations this week in a letter addressed to the EU High Representative in advance of the Foreign Affairs Council, which took place yesterday. Among several deeply concerning issues raised in the letter was the fact that the process for establishing and expanding settlements has been streamlined by the Israeli Government, leading to a record-breaking approval of 22 new settlements in May alone. They also noted the policy of granting near impunity.”
“I commend the Chair and members of the committee for ensuring that a broad range of views and perspectives are being heard. The Government is committed to progressing the legislation. The views of the House on this legislation are well known and have been broadly discussed. At the same time, there are other voices and perspectives that are not as frequently aired in the political and public discourse here in Ireland. It is important that we are aware of these as we move forward. As the Tánaiste said very clearly last week, we in the Oireachtas want to pass the legislation in a fully informed manner, with our eyes wide open. It cannot be emphasised enough that the optimal policy scenario would be appropriate action at EU level. This has been, and continues to be, the focus of the Government's engagement.”
“The general scheme delivers on the commitment in the programme for Government to progress legislation prohibiting the import of goods from the settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory following the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024. The general scheme was referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for pre-legislative scrutiny. These proceedings are currently ongoing. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engaged with the committee on Tuesday, 1 July. I am conscious that the committee has heard from several legal and academic experts and representatives of the Jewish community in Ireland, as well as Israeli and Palestinian interest groups, and that further hearings may be scheduled.”
“I thank Deputy Brennan very much for his very eloquent, heartfelt and almost emotional contribution. He is speaking from experience in the aftermath of his visit out there. I know he has been very active and vocal on the occupied territories Bill at the committee, which is what he is seeking a response on today. I concur with the Deputy's comments about Senator Frances Black. She has done enormous work. She has worked in a very collegiate fashion with the Government and the leaders of the Government parties to bring this to fruition. On 24 June last, the Government approved the general scheme of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of importation of goods) Bill.”
“As I outlined, eligibility for the medical card is primarily based on means and a financial assessment conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970. The HSE has put in place a range of measures to assist people in applying for the medical card, which includes the availability of medical cards online. All of this the Deputy knows. I concur with the sentiment of her proposition that for cancer patients and those who are facing that journey, a much quicker, faster and easier process should be in place for them.”
“This can delay the processing of the application. I will refer again to the Deputy's comments on cancer patients. I agree that those facing that very difficult journey do not need the burden of financial constraints. To answer that, and I am sure the Deputy is aware of this, an emergency medical card can be issued within 24 hours.”
“Furthermore, the HSE medical card and GP visit card national assessment guidelines are available on the HSE website to provide information and assistance to applicants in making their application. In doing so, the HSE strives to have an application process for medical cards that is as streamlined and straightforward as possible for all applicants. According to the HSE, 189,391 medical card and GP visit card applications were processed between January and May of this year. Out of these, 175,151, or 92%, were approved at the first time of processing. Furthermore, 99% of all completed applications within the above timeframe are processed within 15 working days. However, if the HSE does not have all the information it needs, it will then contact the applicant to let him or her know what is missing.”
“These cards are not subject to a means assessment. Applications for a medical card and a GP card can be made online. This is the quickest method of getting the card. All of the required documentation that will assist in an application can be uploaded online with the application. Alternatively, an application form can be downloaded from the HSE's website or applicants can contact the HSE to request a paper form because we appreciate not everybody can avail of digitalisation. We often see that, especially with older clients who come to our offices. The completed forms can then be returned to the HSE by email or post. HSE staff are also available by telephone to answer questions from people who want to chat to them about their personal applications.”
“Certain expenses are also taken into account. In line with the legislation, the HSE is obliged to obtain relevant financial information and documents from applicants to facilitate due consideration of the assessable income and allowable expenses of individuals and families, and to assess these in order to determine their eligibility for a medical card. Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card. For example, emergency medical cards are issued to patients who are terminally ill, which the Deputy referred to, or are seriously ill and in urgent need of medical care they cannot afford. In these cases, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and completed medical form by a healthcare professional.”
“I thank the Deputy for her heartfelt request and for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this matter on behalf of the Department of Health. Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange medical services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds, which are based on gross income. Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means-tested medical card thresholds, which are based on the applicant's household income after tax and the reduction of PRSI and the universal social charge.”
“In conclusion, the Government shares the concerns and motivation of the Private Members’ motion and we believe the most effective way to address these concerns is through targeted, proportionate and evidence-based interventions. We are already taking significant steps to strengthen consumer protection, enhance regulatory oversight and ensure that the grocery sector operates in a fair and competitive manner. We remain open to constructive dialogue with all Members of the House on how best to support consumers and promote transparency in the retail sector. However, we do not believe that the measures proposed in this motion, as currently drafted, represent the most effective or proportionate way forward. For these reasons, we will be opposing the motion and instead committing to a more balanced and strategic approach to reform.”
“This will ensure that anti-consumer or exploitative practices can be tackled more effectively and with greater deterrent effect. The CCPC’s ongoing work on the state of competition in Ireland provides a robust evidence base to assess market dynamics across all sectors of the economy. We will continue to engage with the CCPC on the potential for further analysis of pricing and margin trends where appropriate. We will continue to support public awareness campaigns and the development of digital tools to ensure consumers can compare prices, understand their rights and make informed purchasing decisions. Empowering consumers with information is one of the most effective ways to promote competition and drive down prices.”
“In light of the existing regulatory framework, the active enforcement of consumer protection law and the significant reforms already under way, the Government does not believe that the additional power proposed in the Private Members’ motion are necessary or proportionate. We therefore oppose the motion in its current form and recommend a more targeted, evidence-based approach to strengthening transparency and competition in the grocery sector. To that end, I propose the following targeted actions to further support consumers and enhance oversight. In line with the programme for Government, we are progressing legislative reforms to enhance the CCPC’s enforcement powers, including the ability to impose stronger sanctions for breaches of consumer protection law.”
“As part of the Government’s broader action plan on competitiveness and productivity, we have committed to strengthening competition and consumer protection enforcement. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is currently developing legislative provisions that will enhance the CCPC’s capacity to respond to evolving market challenges. It is intended to introduce turnover-based fines for serious breaches of consumer law, ensuring that penalties are proportionate to the scale of the offending business. These reforms are designed to ensure that the CCPC is equipped with the tools it needs to protect consumers without imposing unnecessary burdens on compliant businesses.”
“It is essential that the new regulatory measures strike the right balance between effective oversight and the need to maintain a competitive and effective retail sector. Finally, the CCPC has advised my officials that its existing powers under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 are sufficient to analyse markets, request information for undertakings and take enforcement action where necessary. These powers have been actively used in recent years, including in high-profile investigations and prosecutions. In 2024 and 2025, for example, the CCPC successfully prosecuted several retailers for breaches of price indication and sale pricing regulations. In these cases, the courts ordered the offending retailers to pay legal costs and make charitable donations as part of the settlement.”
“The lack of proportionality risks diverting resources away from core business activities and increasing compliance costs across the board. The Department of enterprise, and in particular the Minister, Deputy Burke, have carried out significant reforms with regard to reducing bureaucracy and red tape. The proposals in the motion would add an additional layer to independent businesses that already have significant concerns about the time and resources needed to run a small business in this country. These increased costs may ultimately be passed onto the consumer in the form of higher prices, therefore undermining the main objective of the motion, which is to reduce financial pressures on households.”
“Many of the grocery retailers operating in Ireland are subsidiaries or branches of companies based in other EU member states. These companies are subject to the same harmonised thresholds and reporting obligations under their respective national laws. Attempting to impose additional or divergent requirements on them would create conflict within the EU internal market rules and expose the State to legal challenges. Third, the enforcement mechanisms proposed in the motion, such as compulsory information requests and expanded investigative powers, could place a significant administrative burden on retailers, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises. As currently drafted, the motion does not differentiate between large multinational chains and smaller independent retailers.”
“While we understand the intention behind the proposal to increase transparency and accountability, it is important to note the proposed threshold does not align with the EU-mandated company size classifications. Under EU law, company size categories are harmonised to ensure consistency across member states. The €10 million turnover threshold proposed in the motion would capture a significant number of companies that are currently classified as small enterprises under EU definitions. Imposing full audit and disclosure requirements on these businesses would represent a disproportionate regulatory burden, particularly for family-owned and regionally based retailers that operate on relatively narrow margins. The motion’s reference to foreign operators raises additional legal and enforcement challenges.”
“It is active in this space, including through recent enforcement actions and market studies. The Agri-Food Regulator, established under the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023, has been granted significant statutory powers to collect, analyse and publish data on prices and market conditions across the agrifood supply chain. These include the ability to identify and address unfair trading practices and imbalances in bargaining power, particularly in business-to-business relationships between producers, processors and retailers. The Government is fully committed to supporting the regulator to exercise its mandate. Second, the motion proposes mandatory publication of full audited financial accounts for grocery retailers with annual turnover exceeding €10 million.”
“However, while we acknowledge the underlying objectives of the motion, we are unable to support it in its current form. We are opposing the motion for several substantive reasons which I will outline in detail. First, a number of the proposals contained in the motion duplicate or overlap with initiatives that are already in place or are currently being developed across Government. These include actions being undertaken by the CCPC, the Agri-Food Regulator and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Each of these bodies plays a distinct and complementary role in monitoring price practices, promoting transparency and enforcing consumer protection legislation. The CCPC, for example, has a statutory mandate to investigate anti-competitive behaviour, assess market dynamics and ensure that consumers are not misled or exploited.”
“We recognise that food inflation, while moderating in recent months, has had a tangible impact on the cost of living for many families, particularly those on fixed and lower incomes. Ensuring that consumers are treated fairly, pricing is transparent and competition in the retail sector remains robust are all priorities that we share with the proposers of this motion. We are committed to taking meaningful action to support consumers and to ensure the regulatory framework governing the grocery sector is fit for purpose. To that end, the Government is actively progressing a range of targeted measures designed to enhance transparency, strengthen enforcement and promote fair competition. These measures are being developed in close consultation with regulatory bodies and stakeholders and are grounded in evidence-based policy analysis.”
“I thank our colleagues in the Social Democrats for their motion. Before I go to my notes, I could not disagree with what Deputy Whitmore said in her opening remarks. You walk into a supermarket, come out with a handful of items and will have spent €50 or more. I appreciate that is a huge challenge for parents. In today’s world, to have parents going without feeding themselves to ensure their children are fed is very difficult. The Government acknowledges the concerns raised in the Private Members’ motion tabled by colleagues in the Social Democrats regarding the rising cost of groceries and the increasing financial pressure experienced by households across the country.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after " Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that the Government; — recognises concerns with regards to the rising cost of groceries and the financial pressure on households; — shares the commitment to ensuring fairness, transparency, and competition in the retail sector; and — are actively progressing a range of targeted measures to support consumers and strengthen regulatory oversight; in this context, notes that the Government proposes the following targeted actions, to strengthen transparency and protect consumers: — with regards to strengthening the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC's) powers, and in line with the Programme for Government, progress legislative reforms to enhance the CCPC's enforcement powers, including the ability to impose stronger sanctions for breaches of consumer protection law, and this will ensure that anti-consumer or exploitative practices can be tackled more effectively; — with regards to leveraging the CCPC's State of Competition Analysis, the CCPC's ongoing State of Competition work provides a robust evidence base to assess market dynamics in all sectors and identify where policy interventions may be required, and the Government will continue to engage with the CCPC on the potential for further analysis of pricing and margin trends, where appropriate; — with regards to the CCPC's 2023 High-Level Analysis of the Irish Grocery Retail Sector, has sought an update to the findings, which found no evidence of market failure or excessive pricing, and highlighted that food inflation in Ireland has been among the lowest in the European Union, and this is expected in the coming weeks; and — with regards to Consumer Empowerment Measures, will continue to support public awareness campaigns and digital tools to help consumers compare prices and make informed choices.".”
“The Minister, Deputy Burke, has been relentless on the message of simpler, faster and lighter on not just the burdens of regulation but also on the theme of providing supports to businesses to assist them to scale up and grow.”
“In my short few months in the Department, the Minister, Deputy Burke, has been relentless on the theme of lighter, faster and simpler with what the Deputy is talking about and providing opportunities for businesses to apply for those grants and make it easier and quicker and not as onerous or burdensome. As we all know and we hear it at meetings ourselves, business people ask is it worth the effort. There is a huge effort being made on the Minister's part to get all of the right people around the table and have the forums for those messages to come across, not just to us, the policy makers, but to the officials too who are helping us pull together these grant applications.”
“That is always the feedback we would all get. Having that one stop shop, which is the hope and intention of what the enterprise hub is, gives them that one place they can go. It is across 30 Government bodies. That kind of coherence and collective information is critically important.”
“I thank the Deputy. As I said at the outset, the National Enterprise Hub not only gives the information but it is collecting the data too which gives the Government a laser sharp focus on the type of policy, grant aid and supports we need to offer to get to the critical crux of what businesses need to support, grow and scale. The figures I gave out on the inquiries it has had so far are incredible. There have been 6,000 since it began and in May alone, there were over 700 inquiries. The hub brings together information and resources on more than 250 Government supports and 30 different Government bodies and State agencies. That is always the challenge for business people, especially the small and medium sector that may not have a HR section or does not have a section dedicated to going after where funds are or where they can be availed of.”
“The top individual supports were the local enterprise office, LEO, supports start your own business; the grow digital voucher; LEO and EI feasibility studies; Micro Finance Ireland loans; the LEO energy efficiency grant and the revenue start-up relief for entrepreneurs. SOLAS micro-qualifications, the SBCI growth and sustainability loan scheme, social protection job plus and Skillnet Ireland networking also featured as popular supports. I am learning every day of all the different schemes and supports that are there so something like this that pulls all of that together and gives it to the business community is essential.”
“The NEH continues to undergo developments to refine and improve its services and to enhance the manner in which data is captured and used to ensure it is providing useful insights that can be used to inform policy. In terms of the most popular supports, the top three most searched categories in May this year were, as the Deputy might expect, grants and funding; loans, training and programmes; and advice and mentoring. The top inquiries received by the NEH team in May were fund your start-up; become more digital; and get support to expand. They relate to scaling up, digitalisation and AI and seed funding for start-ups.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question on the National Enterprise Hub which was established on 10 July 2024 and since then, the NEH has handled more than 6,000 inquiries from businesses. Monthly numbers have increased consistently and 773 were received in May alone. The primary goal of the NEH is to improve access to Government supports for businesses. We also want to simplify access and reach businesses that have never availed of the many different supports on offer. While my Department leads on the NEH overall, it is run by Enterprise Ireland, EI, and it is very much a whole of Government approach. The NEH has expanded considerably in the last year and now offers information and support on more than 250 Government supports from 30 different Government bodies.”
“Point taken. It is a very reasonable observation to make. Procurement is a language of its own. We all know that from filling in procurement applications for grants for communities, for example. There is a language and that can sometimes be off-putting, make it difficult and create further challenges for business. However, we are in the business of creating business. We are in the business, as a Government, of supporting business and the Deputy is right, in that we want the world to know this is a good country to do business in and that the Government and the local authorities are ready and open to assist in any way we can. I take on board the Deputy's point about procurement and will speak to the Minister to see what we can do to address that.”
“In the previous Government and this Government, we are certainly trying to address it, and we have addressed it in an action-based way through the Planning and Development Act. As to how we support the businesses that want to scale up, the Deputy will agree that all of our State agencies, be it the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, CeADAR - which is focused on AI development - or a LEO, are doing everything possible to support those businesses in doing that.”
“I thank the Deputy for the very legitimate concerns he has raised. On the first piece around planning, he will agree that the Planning and Development Act passed by the previous Government has gone a huge way towards trying to address that. Whether we are in opposition or government, we all know this country has been choked and almost had its development stifled due to planning. We are doing everything possible to address those challenges and make it more attractive for businesses to go through that process. The spurious and vexatious objections that have stifled the ability of companies not just to start up but also to possibly scale up have been detrimental to the growth of our economy.”
“In 2024, it assisted 258 local businesses, supporting 1,356 jobs and creating 218 new jobs through the provision of over €600,000 in direct grant assistance.”
“These companies collectively employ 9,687 people, which is a nearly 7% increase in employment compared with 2023. This growth reflects the strength of local entrepreneurship and the effectiveness of targeted supports for indigenous enterprise, which continue to empower businesses to innovate, expand and compete on a global stage. There were a number of Enterprise Ireland jobs announcements in Galway in 2025. In January 2025, Aerogen announced an expansion that will create 725 jobs over ten years. In May, M&M Qualtech announced 18 new positions at its Galway facility while in June, ICS Medical Devices announced 72 jobs by 2028. In addition, the Galway local enterprise office has been instrumental in supporting small businesses.”
“I thank the Deputy for his very important question. I am happy to tell him that the Government and I, as Minister of State with responsibility for trade promotion, digitalisation and AI, are committed to developing Ireland's enterprise base across all regions over the next five years. This ranges from backing small businesses and start-ups to scaling up indigenous firms and enhancing our attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment. Our vision is to foster a dynamic, resilient and inclusive economy that supports sustainable growth and job creation in every corner of the country. The Deputy's interest, of course, is County Galway and according to the Department's annual employment survey of Enterprise Ireland clients for 2024, there are 329 Enterprise Ireland-supported companies operating in that county.”
“On those collaborations we can create, I am more than happy to work with Senators. I thank them all for their patience, suggestions and ideas. They are much appreciated.”
“Like me, he is from a rural constituency, and I have no doubt he deals with those small and medium businesses that are developing from homes and in small spaces and want the opportunity to scale up to have the services and facilities put in place where they can bring prospective buyers and customers. That is our role as a Department, which feeds down into our local enterprise offices, LEOs, and into our local authorities. I will do everything possible and am happy to meet Senators at any time they want further information around some of State agencies, in particular CeADAR. It is a fascinating organisation and State body. It is the European digital hub and it is there to assist businesses. I spoke earlier about what Kerry County Council is doing with Fáilte Ireland.”
“I wonder how far I will get. I thank everybody for their patience because this is a most important debate. I thank everyone for their forbearance and for waiting to hear my concluding remarks. I have lots of say but I cannot say it all in a minute and a half, so I will conclude on a more human level in reassuring the House about any of the ideas that have been suggested. My officials are here and are cognisant of them. They have taken note of them. I assure the Senators that with the amendments we are addressing the issue of funding enterprise spaces and sites for our local authorities. I will be consistent in that message and in trying to support the business around the digital piece, AI and the servicing of our enterprise spaces, which we need so badly in rural counties. Senator Scahill spoke about County Roscommon.”
“The availability of property and infrastructure solutions can be a key factor in investment decisions and a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be a key differentiator in winning FDI projects. The IDA regional property programme ensures the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs. I assure the Senators that I get regular updates from all our State agencies to ensure we are moving at pace to ensure we are supporting businesses.”
“Fundamentally, the SME test drives home and embeds the "think small first" principle. Let us just think of the wording used here in respect of "think small first". It is so appropriate for what we are trying to do. At the earliest opportunity across the policymaking system, the impacts that new policy, legislation or regulation may have on SMEs can be considered and steps taken to mitigate these impacts where appropriate. I think this responds to what all the Senators across the House said today. Regional development is already a key element of the Government's enterprise policy. As a Border TD from Cavan-Monaghan who is very familiar with the particular characteristics of the Border region, I am acutely aware of how important regional development is.”
“The SME test is a policy tool designed to invite officials tasked with policymaking to consider less stringent compliance requirements for smaller companies, where appropriate and proportionate. I know I am reflecting the views raised here today. The SME test is already being systematically applied to relevant legislation. In 2024 alone, 26 SME tests were conducted in eight Departments, and ten of these were undertaken by the Department of enterprise, tourism and employment. Additionally, offices and agencies of the Department are now being instructed by the Minister, Deputy Burke, to apply the SME test when developing new initiatives and offerings. I assure the Senators this stress test is there, is being done and will continue to be done very stringently.”
“This motion recognises the centrality of SMEs in our economy, the importance of reducing costs and bureaucracy and the need for a consistent and proportionate regulatory environment, which Senator Keogan spoke about. This is what we really want. It is about ensuring small and medium-sized businesses are not put sitting alongside our corporate and more global companies and expecting the same regulation for them. These are the better regulation principles that the Government fully endorses and is actively working to embed across the system. On this occasion, I cannot accept the amendments from the Senators, but I assure them it is for the very good reason, as I have outlined, that we are already doing all this.”
“It reflects a shared understanding across this House of the need to foster a more competitive, resilient and innovation-friendly business environment, especially in the face of heightened international uncertainty. I take this opportunity to also acknowledge the important work done by the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, who, on foot of what has happened geopolitically, has established the trade forum and invited me to sit on it. He has ensured all Departments, including all the Secretaries General and officials who have a role to play in this area, are around the table. Indeed, they have been around the table since these announcements were made.”
“I want the Senators to know and be fully aware that I will certainly do anything I can to help on my watch in this Department because I know how it feels. If you have lived this experience, you know exactly how the people around the table are feeling and what they are talking about. I must return to some of the formalities, though, if the Senators can bear with me while I do it. I am pleased to be here today to respond on this very important motion. I thank the Senators for raising it and for collating the details in it because this is exactly what we are about in the Government. I acknowledge the constructive and forward-looking nature of the motion.”
“This is what we are about and this is my particular area of responsibility in the Department. One of the amendments is concerned with the funding of enterprise parks and centres. Only yesterday, officials from Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council were working together on the basis of a shared island report to do exactly this. They were trying to identify lands and spaces to see how they can be developed with services put in place to ensure the small and medium-sized businesses referred to, which may have come from garden sheds, small garages and very small beginnings, can be helped by the local authorities to do exactly what this proposed amendment aims to do, namely, grow and scale. The smart enterprise fund is there to do exactly that. I do not disagree, therefore, with anything that anybody is saying today.”
“Perhaps the greatest job we have to do and the biggest hurdle we have to jump is demonstrating to businesses that are not digital or technical businesses how digitalisation can apply to them and help them. I will give the House an example. Kerry County Council, working with Failte Ireland, the LEO and CeADAR – I can come back at any time to give further information on this organisation – held a round-table training day with individual hotels in the hospitality sector. These were not part of chains but independent, small, family-run hotels. They spent time talking to those hotels and teasing out the mundane parts of their job that could be taken away and done by an AI tool or digitalisation to allow them the time and the space to be more creative and help their businesses to grow and scale.”
“I thank everybody for their patience and for waiting to hear the response. We are all of the same view that everything has to be done. The Minister, Deputy Burke, has been incredibly proactive in putting together teams of people around the table with the officials – I am ably assisted here today by some of the officials – to hear what the burdens are and how we can simplify them. My role around digitalisation and AI involves working with our local enterprise offices, LEOs, Enterprise Ireland and CeADAR. This last organisation is another Government agency to help businesses interested in developing AI, that is, not just businesses seeking to use the technology but actual AI businesses too.”