Trade and Employment

The title and remit of the Department changed from Business, Enterprise and Innovation to Enterprise, Trade and Employment, following the formation of a new Government in June 2020. The Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, TD was appointed as Minister and two Ministers of State, Minister English and Minister Troy took up new roles in the Department. A comprehensive brief was prepared for the Tánaiste and Ministers, in line with the Public Service Management Act 1997, and a new Statement of Strategywas developed and submitted to the Tánaiste before the end of 2020. In line with the Programme for Government, this strategy sets out a revised Mission, Strategic Goals and the overall direction for the Department over the next three years. Prior to June, the Department was led by Minister Heather Humphreys, TD and Ministers of State, Pat Breen TD and John Halligan, TD.

Significant negotiations and work took place in relation to the transfer of functions, which involved five separate streams of work, four relating to new functions coming into the Department and one relating to the transfer out of existing work. The trade promotion function was transferred to this Department from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and employment rights and redundancy and insolvency policy transferred from the Department of Social Protection. The Department also assumed responsibility for the Low Pay Commission which has the principal function of examining and making recommendations to the Tánaiste on the appropriate level of the national minimum wage and related matters. The Department also took on responsibility for the Balance f or Better Business Group from the Department of Justice and the Trading Online Vouchers from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. Work was completed on transferring out responsibilities in relation to science, including Science Foundation Ireland and the Tyndall Institute. This will, with effect from 1 January 2021, transfer to newly formed Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The Department’s mission is to lead on the creation and maintenance of employment across all sectors and regions of the country. We play a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy, supporting enterprise and trade and creating an environment which assists job creation and maintenance. The Department also has a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.

Working together with its Agencies and Offices, the Department’s remit covers a wide range of activity including:

▪Leading on helping entrepreneurs and businesses create and sustain high quality

employment across all regions of our country, by developing a strong indigenous enterprise base, attracting Foreign Direct Investment and increasing trade.

▪Promoting quality employment, positive workplace relations, well-functioning dispute

resolution mechanisms and a safe working environment.

▪Creating a strong entrepreneurial culture.

▪Assisting enterprise with their research and development needs to maintain and create

new jobs and contribute to building a better society.

▪Identifying the future skills needs of enterprise and working across Government to

develop policies to meet these needs, including through upskilling.

▪Leading a whole-of-Government approach to developing a competitive environment for

investment, productivity and sustainable jobs.

▪Ensuring our business regulation facilitates investment and development, competition in

the marketplace, high standards of consumer protection and corporate governance, and provides Ireland with a competitive advantage in the global market.

▪Working ambitiously across Government with our EU and international partners to

achieve progress in EU and International fora, across a wide range of interests, including Brexit.

▪Representing and negotiating for Ireland’s interests in relevant EU fora, including:

• Competitiveness Council (incorporating Internal Market, Industry Space and Research),1

• Foreign Affairs Council (meeting in its Trade formation)

Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO)2 -

and relevant international bodies;

• World Trade Organisation (WTO),

• International Labour Organisation (ILO),

• Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),

• World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Council of Europe (Social Charter)3 -

1Responsibility for research at Competitiveness Council transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 1 January 2021 2 Responsibility for EPSCO transferred from the Department of Social Protection to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 14 October 2020

3Responsibility for Council of Europe (Social Charter) transferred from the Department of Social Protection to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 14 October 2020