Results 21,061-21,080 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

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

Michael McGrath: I wish to inform the Deputy that Ministerial appointments in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are made in line with the approved Guidelines on Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil. This document includes “Guidelines on staffing of Ministerial offices” issued by my Department in July 2020. The details requested by the Deputy on Special Advisers in my...

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

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware under section 12 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 (No. 18 of 2013) obliges me to submit a written report of the operation, effectiveness and impact of the FEMPI Acts of 2009, No.2 of 2009, 2010 and 2013 to the Oireachtas and as part of that report, to consider whether or not any of the provisions of the relevant Acts continue to be...

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340, 342 to 344, inclusive, and 348 together. The fiscal position entering the Covid-19 crisis was reasonably positive. A General Government surplus of 0.4% of GDP was recorded in 2019, a balanced budget in structural terms was delivered, and debt to GDP ratio of 59%. From an expenditure perspective the initial response to the Covid-19 crisis was...

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

Michael McGrath: I expect to be in a position to meet in full the expenditure anticipated in 2020 and subsequent years in the Public Capital Programme. The gross voted capital allocations for 2020 were set out in the Revised Estimates Volume, published in December 2019, the allocations amounting to almost €8.2 billion represented a 15% increase over the 2019 outturn and was deemed sufficient, at...

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

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware from previous replies, in my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning in, and recruitment to, the Civil Service. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) are the independent recruiter for the Civil Service and through its Client Relations Management structures the PAS ensures...

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

Michael McGrath: Public Procurement is governed by EU legislation and National rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime that delivers best value for money. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has responsibility for the National Public Procurement Policy Framework which sets the overarching policy framework for...

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

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Annual Report of my Department sets out extensive information on the progress that the Department has made in pursuing its two strategic goals which are: - To manage public expenditure at sustainable levels in a planned, rational and balanced manner in support of Ireland’s economic development and social progress; and - To have public...

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

Michael McGrath: The current public service pay agreement - the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 is due to expire on the 31st December.  The Programme for Government, contains a commitment to seek to negotiate a new agreement with the public service unions.  As the Deputy may be aware, I have instructed my officials to engage in exploratory talks with public services committee...

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

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Civil Service Mobility scheme which comes under the remit of my department offers an opportunity for staff members to apply for mobility through an open and transparent system. The scheme is being implemented on a phased basis with Phase 1 for the general Civil Service grades of Clerical Officer (CO) and Executive Officer (EO) launching in 2017/18 for...

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

Michael McGrath: The Government has no plans at this point to establish an ombudsman for older persons.  It would fall to the relevant Minister with responsibility for policy regarding older persons to consider and to bring forward such a proposal. The costs related to such an establishment would be estimated at that time.  I would like to point out to the Deputy that older...

Revised Estimates and Further Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020: Motion (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 215 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business: (a) the following Revised Estimates and Further Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2020, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 30th September, 2020, being a date later than that prescribed for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 79 together. The third party media monitoring costs for my Department and the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department, are set out in the table below.  The details of the 2020 costs for the Department itself reflect a change of supplier earlier this year. The Deputy may wish to note that some media monitoring is also...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The details requested for my Department and for the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department, are set out in the tables below. Hardcopy Media Subscriptions Cost since May 2020 Irish Times €236.56 Irish Independent €151.47 Financial Times €184.96 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 81 and 83 together. In July 2020, the European Council agreed a new position on the Multiannual Financial Framework, which sets out the budget of the European Union for the seven-year period from 2021 to 2027. Subject to agreement with the European Parliament, the European Commission has communicated revised allocations for each Member State from the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Programmes (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The 2014-2020 EU-funded PEACE IV programme is funding 95 projects  in the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland under the themes of Shared Education, Children and Young People, Shared Spaces and Services, and Building Positive Relations.  PEACE IV and its sister programme, INTERREG VA, have a total value of €553m and provide valuable support...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: Ireland’s allocation of European Regional Development Funds have in the past, and will continue in the future, to support projects in all parts of Ireland. Moreover, in accordance with the EU Regulatory requirement, stakeholders at local, regional and national level will continue to have a key role in the planning, monitoring and delivery of these programmes. At a regional level, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have responsibility for the development of policy to ensure adequate expenditure oversight on capital projects and for public procurement.  The Department or agency proposing and implementing a capital project is responsible for appraisal, planning, implementation, management, and post project review of the project and for any procurements...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: No costs arise as salary increments for members of the Oireachtas were abolished under the provisions of section 2 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009 (No. 29 of 2009), effective from the commencement of the 31st Dáil / 24th Seanad in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Service Agreements (PSAs) provide for agreed redeployment arrangements to apply in the civil service and in other parts of the public service. My Department remains responsible for redeployment in the civil service and non-commercial state bodies, and these redeployments panels are operated by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). My Department are in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has not incurred any fines for non-transposition of EU directives into Irish law.