Minister Burke welcomes publication of Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2026

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke today welcomed the publication of Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2026 by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC).

The NCPC’s annual report contains recommendations to Government on ways to address

Minister announces modernisation of furniture product safety framework

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, announced the revocation of the Industrial Research and Standards (Fire Safety) (Domestic Furniture) Order 1995, marking an important step in the modernisation of Ireland's furniture product framework.

The change will align Ireland's approach to furniture product safety with the European

Minister Burke chairs inaugural meeting of the Tourism Policy Oversight Group

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke today chaired the first meeting of the Tourism Policy Oversight Group, the governance forum established to oversee implementation of 'A New Era for Irish Tourism'. The meeting was held at the department’s headquarters on Kildare Street.

The Minister thanked members of previous tourism stakeholder forums for their significant

Minister Smyth announces new round of Tariff Suspension/Quota Scheme applications

Niamh Smyth, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, announces a new round of the EU’s Tariff Suspension/Quota Scheme applications opens today, Wednesday, 1 July 2026, and is calling for applications from manufacturers in the industrial, agricultural, and related sectors. The tariff suspensions scheme offers the possibility for such companies to import raw materials, components, or

Minister Burke sets out Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Priorities for Ireland’s EU Presidency

• focus on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, innovation and investment environment
• priority legislative files include EU Inc (28th Regime), Industrial Accelerator Act and European Competitiveness Fund
• strong emphasis on reducing regulatory burden and supporting SMEs
• flagship International AI Summit to position Europe at the forefront of applied AI and innovation

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke has outlined his department’s priorities for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, centred on building a more competitive, innovative and resilient European economy. A defining feature of Ireland’s Presidency will be the International AI Summit, to be held in Dublin in October 2026. As a flagship event of the Presidency, the Summit will bring

Minister Burke welcomes government approval for National Planning Statement on short-term letting

• NPS issued by Department of Housing provides clarity for short-term operators
• hosts who have been operating for more than 7 years will be provided with a pathway for change of use planning approval, subject to certain criteria being met
• operators will be able to avail of a new simplified planning process to be implemented by Local Authorities under direction from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• implementation of EU Short-Term Rental Regulation in Ireland

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to introducing effective regulatory controls for the short-term letting sector through the implementation of the EU Short-Term Rental Regulation (EU)

Ministers Burke and Smyth announce appointments of two new Members and Chairperson to the Corporate Enforcement Authority

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke and the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Niamh Smyth are pleased to confirm the appointment of two new Members and a Chairperson to the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA).

Following a Public Appointments Service recruitment process, Ms Gráinne Mannion and Mr

Ministers Burke and Dillon announce new right allowing employees to work until State Pension age

The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, has announced that the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025 will come into effect on 29 June 2026, introducing a significant new employment right for workers in Ireland.

The legislation allows eligible employees to choose to remain in employment beyond their

Minister Heydon meets farm organisations on the impact on farming of prolonged dry weather

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, today convened a meeting with Teagasc and the main farm organisations to discuss the impact of the prolonged dry weather on farming.

Minister Heydon acknowledged that this is a stressful time for farmers particularly in the

Call for applications to Heaney-Miłosz Residency 2027

The Heaney-Miłosz Residency, a writer-in-residence programme celebrating the friendship between Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney and Czesław Miłosz, is now open for applications.

The Heaney-Miłosz Residency offers the chance for an emerging or mid-career writer –