Results 21,021-21,040 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: In overall terms, it is very important that we manage the public service pay and pensions bill, which is of the order of €20 billion and which represents approximately one third of the State's overall current expenditure. This needs to be managed in an affordable and responsible manner. That will inform and guide my approach with what remains to be done with regard to the FEMPI...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I am aware of the FourDayWeek campaign led by Fórsa, ICTU and other civil society groups. Many of the implications of this proposal need to be carefully considered for the entire labour force and not simply in the public service. Indeed, any movement by the public service in isolation could have serious consequences for small and medium-sized businesses struggling in the face of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I am unsure whether the Deputy is advocating that people would work for four days and be paid for five days or would work for four days and be paid for four days. In any event, there are real consequences for key parts of our public services. Let us consider teachers for example. Is Deputy Boyd Barrett suggesting that schools would only open for four days per week and not for five? We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I would not like to accuse the Deputy of trying to cut people's pay. He put the question in the context of the public service only but this issue has to be examined in the round, for the private sector as well. I am sure he is not suggesting one treatment for public servants while people working in shops, factories and offices would continue to work a five-day week-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: We would still have taken the question. The Deputy said there were nuances and complexities, and there are very real ones, such as the example I gave of schools. Does he suggest they should open for only four days a week? This is an issue that would benefit from social dialogue. We need to put a new structure in place to facilitate a full dialogue involving civic society, with employers,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform Review (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge the extraordinary response of our public servants and their organisations to the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic. We can all be proud of the great work that is under way during this unprecedented public health emergency. A number of reforms that have been introduced under the Government’s public service reform agenda, such as the build-to-share ICT...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform Review (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: At this point, our public service has never been larger. The Deputy is right that there were major cuts to numbers at the bottom or in the trough. These left us with approximately 292,000 public servants and we now have about 343,000. Recruitment in recent years has been essential to keep pace with demographic changes and undo some of the cuts that were imposed during those years. We face...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform Review (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge that over the past six months, in particular, some public services have been under huge pressure and some have simply not been able to operate because of the extraordinary circumstances we are all living through. The numbers speak for themselves, however. The number of public servants has increased significantly and across the board, including in our health service, where we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy has waited patiently to contribute. The response to the Covid-19 crisis was swift, with many civil and public servants transitioning to working from home at very short notice. This was an unprecedented action but it was entirely necessary to ensure the health and well-being of staff across the system was protected as best we could. Most Departments and offices, including my...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy and agree with his initial point. Remote working brings certain opportunities for the regions and for individuals it may open career opportunities that people thought may not be possible. A degree of remote working is here to stay and we must think about what is the right balance both for the employer, the public servant and the public services being provided. There is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Data (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 128 together. The overall Budgetary Strategy for 2021 will focus on prioritising crisis management measures to address the challenges posed by Covid-19 and Brexit while preserving and maintaining existing levels of service within core expenditure programmes. Ensuring the provision of the necessary funding to support our citizens and key public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, I have instructed my officials to engage in exploratory talks with public services committee of ICTU to see if there is a basis for a successor agreement to the Public Service Stability Agreement to ensure pay stability, industrial peace and the delivery of quality public services. To date there has been constructive engagement between the public service management and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 137 together. My Department does not hold details of the number or value of non-compliant tenders requested by the Deputy. Individual Accounting Officers are responsible for ensuring that their public procurement functions are discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures and that contract prices are fair and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Public Service Pay and Pension Act 2017 provides for the restoration of reductions made to public service pay and pensions by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2010-2013. That process of restoration began on 1st January 2018 and is due to conclude by 1st July 2022. In that regard, on 1st October 2020, public servants will receive a 2% pay increase. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Advisers (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware on the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to Section 11 of the Public Services Management Act 1997. The Guidelines for the appointment of Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The EU formally adopted Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") on 23 October 2019. All Member States, including Ireland, have until 17 December 2021 to transpose the Directive into national law. Ireland is one of just 10 EU Member States to already have comprehensive whistleblower protection laws in place in the form...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: Government Departments and Offices have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health requirements by introducing new measures of flexibility in working arrangements. Civil Service Departments and Offices have been advised by my Department, as standard practice across the public service during COVID-19, to consider all forms of flexible working including: - working...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The jobs stimulus plan announced in July contained a €500 million package for accelerated capital works and other capital supports across a range of areas in support of employment-intensive economic activity in 2020. The projects and programmes announced as part of the stimulus cover a broad geographic and sectoral scope, including housing, education, transport, justice, environment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: Work is underway on a successor to the 2014 Civil Service Renewal Plan. This strategy will outline an ambitious programme of reform for the Irish Civil Service over a 10 year period. There is no doubt that the changes in how we work and where we work that have come about as a result of the pandemic will inform the next Renewal Plan. The public health requirements brought about by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Data (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 150 together. Budgetary policy has responded quickly in order to counter the worst effects of the pandemic. It is estimated that approximately €16 billion will be provided over the course of the year to respond to Covid-19 across a wide range of sectors, including; - the additional funding provided for labour market supports that will...