Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2023

This question relates to concerns I raised with the Minister via parliamentary question and subsequent to a report by Mr. Conor Gallagher in The Irish Times in July that alleged that Irish-made parts were found on Ukrainian battlefields, allegedly as components of Russian military hardware. I would appreciate an update on the issue. Have sanctions been breached? Is it the view of Department officials that sanctions were breached? Has a determination been made? What action, if any, has been taken on that matter?

I can confirm that officials from my Department are still investigating the recovery of a number of items, ostensibly of Irish origin, from Ukraine. The investigations are still ongoing and are complex in nature. The components in question are in circulation in many jurisdictions and may have been resold a number of times before being acquired by bad actors. This has required multiple strands to be assessed, both from a technical and an international perspective, and we have worked with our EU and international partners, including Ukrainian officials, in this regard.

The high degree of complexity of the investigations and the wide web of stakeholders has taken time to bring these investigations towards a conclusion. I can assure the House that upon completion, my officials will take appropriate actions against any actor found to have breached any of the sanctions that are in place in terms of the sanction regimes now in the context of Russia and its actions in Ukraine.

Ireland remains steadfast in standing with the people of Ukraine and condemns Russia's unjustified and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine. The EU is responding to Russia's illegal actions with unity, firmness and determination. The EU has to date adopted 11 packages of sanctions in response to Russia's illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. These sanctions are broad-ranging and designed to degrade Russia's ability to continue its military aggression.

My Department has responsibility for the implementation of the trade measures in the sanctions package. The trade measures of these sanctions are sophisticated and targeted. For example, they prohibit the export of goods and technology from the EU to Russia that might contribute to Russia's military and technological enhancement or the development of its defence and security sectors.

My officials continue to engage with exporters across Ireland via outreach or by audits to remind them of their obligation to conduct due diligence so as to ensure that they do not either knowingly or unknowingly export items that are liable to end up in the hands of proliferators or those who are attempting to circumvent EU restrictive measures regarding Russia or, indeed, any other entity or country that is on a list of restrictive measures.

As the Deputy will be aware, the President recently signed the Control of Exports Act 2023 into law. The new legislation will continue to ensure that Ireland has a comprehensive and robust framework for regulating the export of controlled goods, principally dual-use and military items. The Act will mitigate the risk that controlled items could be exported from Ireland in breach of the regulations and used to cause injury in regional conflicts or to violate human rights in third countries. That was quite a long answer, but it is quite a complex issue.

Undoubtedly it is extremely complex, and I understand that. For the record, while we are talking here, I do not want to identify the company, even though it has been identified in the media, unless undue reputational damage would be done. I understand that an investigation is ongoing. What we are referring to here is something that was brought to the attention of the public by Mr. Conor Gallagher in The Irish Times. There was an article with a photograph of a Iranian-made drone that was found in wreckage in a city in Ukraine. The drone featured a carburettor stamped "Made in Ireland" allegedly by a company in the south of the country. Of course, this is a very serious matter and I understand it is complex. It is a very tangled web and reselling is an issue. It is very difficult to establish beyond doubt the provenance of items that may be found in military hardware of this nature. It could be sold and sold again. Could the Minister place on the record when he expects the investigation that is being undertaken by his Department to be completed? The breach of sanctions is a very serious matter and, in fact, constitutes a criminal offence, as Members will know. I would appreciate if the Minister could give a sense of the timeline of the investigation and when he expects it to be completed.

I cannot give an exact end date on this. I will, of course, inform the House as soon as I can. All I can say is that we are taking it really seriously but that if one follows the supply chain network in terms of how a component part gets into a missile in a part of the world and then gets subsequently exported to another part of the world where there may have been multiple different actors involved, it is quite difficult to follow that chain. That is what we are obviously attempting to do to understand and satisfy ourselves that there were no decisions made by an Irish company to facilitate or allow component parts that are being used against civilians in Ukraine to get into ammunition or missiles. Obviously, we would like to bring this to a conclusion as soon as we can so that we can provide clarity to our Ukrainian friends, but also to this House. As soon as I can give the Deputy a timeframe or clarity in terms of the conclusions of the investigation, I will happily do it.

My question is a simple one with regard to the review being carried out about the occupations appearing on the critical occupations list and ineligible occupations list. I have raised this previously, as have other TDs. I know it is under review but could the Minister give me a specific date for when it will be ready?

I am very grateful for Deputy Connolly raising the issue again at this session. I will give her an update as requested.

For the benefit of the House and as the Deputy knows, the occupations lists for employment permits are currently being revised as part of an evidence-based review, which incorporates a public consultation to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to submit data on the extent of skills or labour shortages. Well over 100 submissions were received over the summer. This is ten times the number of submissions received since the last time this review was carried out.

The deliberative process is ongoing at present with submissions to the review under consideration by the interdepartmental group on economic migration policy with cross-departmental membership including the Department of Health, which has policy responsibility for the dental sector. The group was convened in late October to oversee the review, consider all evidence and submissions and collect the observations from Departments with regard to shortages and impacts in their sectors.

The role of dental nurse is listed on the ineligible occupations list and, therefore, is not eligible for an employment permit at present. One submission did make reference to "dental nurse" in the course of the review. I am expecting a report on the review in the coming days, which I will then consider. When I am in a position to do so, I will report back on the outcome. For exact clarity, I hope to have this report on my desk to review over the weekend. I hope, therefore, to be able to engage with my fellow Ministers and publish something within the next ten days to two weeks at the very longest.

I appreciate that, because the uncertainty is very unhelpful to people on the ground. We have all received representations about dental nurses, carpenters and a whole range of occupations. Obviously, we all want people to be employed from within the country but with the skills shortage and until we deal properly with apprenticeships and people coming forward, we need something in the meantime. I appreciate it.

I will not labour the point. I will take the Minister of State at his word that he will have this for the weekend and it will be published and available for everyone to see within the next two weeks.

I confirm that once it has been reviewed and signed off by me and my ministerial colleagues, it will, of course, be published and reviewed. The ambition is to do it within the next fortnight. I will be sure to stay in close contact with the Deputy directly should that timeline deviate by a day or two, as she will appreciate sometimes happens in these matters.

I am not tough enough. I will go back to being a TD.

My question relates specifically to the status of the implementation of the west regional enterprise plan to 2024 and seeks an update in particular in respect of action 7.2, which is to "develop initiative to encourage emergence of 'born sustainable, born circular' start-ups".

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste sin as plean fiontair an iarthair.

As the Deputy knows, balanced regional enterprise development continues to be a key policy for this Government, as is reaffirmed in the White Paper on enterprise. Our Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine regional enterprise plans.

The west regional enterprise plan covers Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, and was launched in Castlebar last year. Each regional enterprise plan is overseen and monitored by a steering committee made up of regional stakeholders and chaired by a senior level private sector businessperson, who, in the case of the west regional enterprise plan, is Ms Evelyn O'Toole from Complete Laboratory Solutions in Clifden. She is doing an excellent job in leading the plan.

I attended the most recent meeting of the west regional enterprise plan steering committee on 20 June in the BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry and I believe good progress is being made in delivering on the strategic objectives of the plan. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I also had engagement with Ms O'Toole and Ms Helena Deane, the programme manager for the plan, at the recent Building Better Business event in Ballina.

Action 7.2 of the plan, to "develop initiative to encourage emergence of 'born sustainable, born circular' start-ups", comes under the strategic objective to "facilitate an equitable digital and green transformation in the West". This objective aims to encourage enterprise to engage in the use of smart advanced technologies to improve energy and resource efficiency, and to promote the industry-related circular economy. The rationale for action 7.2 is that, looking to the next generation of indigenous enterprise, we need to instil a green mindset into the start-up development journey. We want to ensure that zero-carbon environmental practices and business models are embedded from the outset as companies grow and scale.

The action is currently in progress and led by the three west regional local enterprise offices in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, with quarter 4 next year as the target for completion. The LEOs have already started to embed the concept of born sustainable, born circular in their early-stage programmes, such as "Start your own business" and "Lean launch".

Regional stakeholders are also pursuing a range of other activities, bringing together public bodies, industry and higher education institutions to support adaptation to the circular economy.

The west region was designated a fellow under the EU circular cities and regions initiative in 2022. This initiative aims to enable the green transition by boosting circularity at local and regional level.

I am delighted the Minister of State is taking this question for the west of Ireland because I know he has a particular interest. The language about start-ups and "born sustainable, born circular" is wonderful. However, the Minister of State knows that the west region has been degraded by the EU. I know there is controversy around what exactly happened but all TDs on this side of the Chamber have raised the issue repeatedly. I cannot think of anything more sustainable and born circular than the seaweed industry and the potential there that has been utterly ignored.

I will move to wool, and the possibilities for an indigenous wool industry. Other than a wool council, around which the language is woolly, that possibility is not integrated into the plan. I think of the sprat. The Government introduced a fantastic policy to ban big trawlers from fishing within six miles of the shore. That policy was, unfortunately, held at naught by the court because of a failure to consult. There are enormous possibilities in that regard. I will stay within the time limit by way of example.

I thank the Deputy. I do not have specific detail on the three areas to which she has referred. I will get back to her because I agree there is potential. I had an engagement with a representative of the Irish wool industry last week. He pointed out the significant potential in far-eastern markets, in particular, and I am following that through.

The Minister, Deputy Coveney, launched the smart regional innovation scheme and we are currently open to ideas and proposals on that scheme via Enterprise Ireland. Every Tuesday evening, it is running online seminars to brief communities, companies and educational institutions about how they can get involved. If the Deputy engages with the programme team of the west regional plan, she will find they are incredibly open to ideas and suggestions, particularly in the space to which the Deputy has referred.

That is good to know, but it is not happening. We look at the wonderful policy to ban big trawlers. The whole purpose of that was for ecology and biodiversity, but also to provide sustainable livings for small fishermen on the coast. That policy has gone because of a failure to communicate, even though the court held completely with the rationale behind the policy.

I do not know how long ago I proposed a motion to encourage the development of an indigenous seaweed industry. In respect of wool, all we have so far is the Agile Executive report, which cost €100,000. It was excellent in parts and woolly in others. It set up a wool council. There is enormous potential for the wool industry. Farmers are getting a pittance for the wool. It is regarded as a waste product. Can you imagine? Wool is regarded as a waste product. Seaweed is almost regarded in the same way. There is enormous potential for the circular economy to match the lovely words "born sustainable, born circular". It is like going around in a circle without doing anything.

We have finally got to flooding in Louth. I would appreciate an update from the Minister on the nature of the statutory scheme he is considering to provide enhanced business supports for firms that are the victims of flooding. There are ad hoc schemes that the Minister brought to Cabinet recently in response to particular flooding events. There have been three such events in my constituency since August. There were floods in Bettystown and Mornington and, as the Minister will be aware, there was a more recent flood in north Louth. I would appreciate an update on the proposed scheme.

On 24 October, the Government activated the emergency business flooding humanitarian schemes that provide enhanced support of up to €100,000 to business, community, voluntary and sporting bodies that have been impacted by severe flooding events caused by recent storms. The current schemes now cover counties Galway, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Louth, Wexford and Kilkenny. We want to ensure no one is excluded.

To date, the Irish Red Cross has received 11 applications from businesses in Louth. The applications have only recently been submitted and are currently being processed and are not at payment stage yet. The number of applications may rise as the closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 15 December. It is a priority for the Government to provide the necessary emergency funding to those affected by these terrible flooding events. I have been to Midleton on numerous occasions and we continue to work through schemes for that area. We have 44 applicants from Midleton and have spent well over €600,000 so far.

There are two schemes, if I have time to outline them. One is the standard scheme, through which a business can apply to the Irish Red Cross for a €5,000 upfront payment without any auditing or anything linked to it. Businesses can also claim up to €20,000, which is a €15,000 on top of the standard scheme, on the back of an assessor making a recommendation on costs and losses. There is also an enhanced flooding scheme, through which businesses can get an upfront payment of €10,000 subject to an audit to show that figure is fully verifiable.

Then they can apply for up to €100,000, that is €90,000 on top of that, on the back of a full assessment by a team of assessors that the Red Cross has assembled. Those are the two schemes. Ironically, many businesses will apply for the standard scheme because it is cleaner and easier in some ways if the losses are not significant but the enhanced scheme is there for the businesses that have really been devastated. The Government has effectively made a decision to increase fivefold the supports that are available as a result of the extent of the flooding this year from €20,000 to €100,000 now. I will meet Red Cross representatives later today to talk about any anomalies or any flexibilities it deems appropriate to get money to people quickly.

I thank the Minister. Can we assume the statutory scheme, when he brings it forward, will look very similar to the business flood relief and enhanced flood relief schemes? Will he give a timeline on their introduction?

I want to record my appreciation to him for the rapid response by him and his Department on the introduction of a scheme for Louth on foot of the devastating experience by many businesses in the Carlingford area of north Louth at the end of October and in early November. He will accept that bringing in schemes on an ad hoc basis in response to flood events is simply not adequate. Climate change is here. This is the most demonstrable impact of climate change that people face. The devastation and havoc caused is very real. All the costs, however, cannot be socialised. There is a responsibility on the insurance industry to work with the Government to ensure those at risk can obtain flood relief cover given that climate change is here, this is its impact and the industry cannot shirk its responsibilities.

The insurance industry does have a responsibility to work with businesses post flooding and not to simply write off parts of the country because we have a flooding event. The Government will play its part in humanitarian support, which is effectively what this is. The Red Cross is a humanitarian organisation implementing humanitarian supports for businesses. It is not the alternative to insurance provision although, in the short term, in many parts of Ireland where it is not possible to attain flood cover, we must have supports available to business should flooding happen again there, which is why we need to move ahead with OPW-funded schemes to actually get flood protection in place in towns such as Midleton and other parts of the country, including Louth because we know that works. The reason Mallow, Fermoy, Bandon, Skibbereen and Clonmel have not flooded this year, despite all the rain, is the OPW has spent tens of millions of euro on each of those schemes and they work. They protect businesses and homes. We need to focus on climate adaptation as well as mitigation in Ireland and commit hundreds of millions of euro to put infrastructure in place to face the new realities of more violent storms and more rain. The Government is committed to doing that.