Results 21,181-21,200 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Estimates for Public Services 2020: Motion (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 215 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business the following Further Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2020, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 11th November, 2020, being a date later than that prescribed for the presentation of Estimates and be...

Estimates for Public Services 2020: Leave to Introduce (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020: Vote 20 — Garda Síochána (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 21 — Prisons (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 22 — Courts Service (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 34 — Housing, Local Government...

Estimates for Public Services 2020: Referral to Select Committee (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on 31st December, 2020, the Supplementary Estimates be referred to the following Select Committees, as appropriate, pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(c) and 215(3):— Vote 20 — Garda Síochána (Supplementary Estimate) — Select...

Finance Bill 2020: Financial Resolution (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: 1. THAT PART 35A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, which applies transfer pricing rules to certain arrangements between associated persons, be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution. 2. THAT Schedule 2 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39 of 1997), which deals with the machinery for assessment, charge and payment of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Supports (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2021 provides around €340 million for measures to prepare for Brexit through the continuation of existing measures as well as a number of new supports. This builds on more than €700 million of Brexit measures in successive Budgets since the UK referendum on EU membership, bringing Brexit expenditure to over €1 billion. Budget 2021 provides additional funding for a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: Grants from Voted expenditure to all bodies are accounted for to the Dáil in the annual Appropriation Accounts. The total amount of grants paid across all Votes each year is not calculated by my Department. The requirements of my Department in respect of the Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds are set out in Circular 13/2014. My Department provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: The purpose of capital investment projects undertaken by my Department, including the Offices of Government Procurement (OGP) and the Chief Government Information Officer (OGCIO), is to deliver greater effectiveness and efficiency across the Civil and Public Service, in the context of initiatives set out in reform plans such as Our Public Service 2020 and the Public Service ICT Strategy. As...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together. I wish to advise the Deputies that neither my Department nor the bodies under its aegis have had any engagement with the named company or the named subsidiaries for the purposes of renting or leasing office space.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no office space lease agreements outside of those arranged by the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under its aegis purchased any products of the type specified that were subsequently subject to a recall.

Appointment of Chairperson of Standards in Public Office Commission: Motion (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, pursuant to subsection (2A) (inserted by section 2 of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (No. 31 of 2001)), of section 21 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 (No. 22 of 1995), Dáil Éireann recommends the appointment of Mr. Justice Garrett Sheehan, a former Judge of the High Court and the Court of Appeal, by the President on the advice of the Government to be...

Appointment of Ordinary Member of Standards in Public Office Commission: Motion (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, pursuant to subsection (2)(b)(v) (inserted by section 2 of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (No. 31 of 2001)), of section 21 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 (No. 22 of 1995), Dáil Éireann approves the proposed appointment by the Government of Ms. Geraldine Feeney (being a former member of Seanad Éireann and not being a member of the European...

Finance Bill 2020: Motion (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, proceedings in the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on the Finance Bill 2020, where not previously concluded, may be brought to a conclusion by one Question, which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: The current system of collective agreements has been in place in the public service since the Croke Park agreement was negotiated back in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public services and changes to work practices. The current...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: What I can commit to is that the Government will do all it can to reach agreement. There are significant discussions under way and I am describing them as exploratory in nature. As the Deputy knows from experience, the way these things work is that if the parties feel there is a possible landing zone, they will enter into a more formal set of negotiations. I hope we can get there quite...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: The State is a good employer, and the State has been a good employer during the Covid-19 pandemic. That is, of course, a reflection of the work our public servants have been doing. We now have a public service with around 346,000 people working within it. As part of the budget which we brought forward last month, we have provided for an increase in the number of people employed across the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Lobbying Regulation (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputies Nash and Mairéad Farrell for their questions. I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 89 together. Section 22 of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides that certain designated public officials, the lobbied, are restricted from being engaged in lobbying in certain circumstances for a year after they leave their employment or office, unless they have obtained...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Lobbying Regulation (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Nash for those points. The direct issue which has been raised in these priority questions concerns section 22 and the fact that a breach of that section is a breach of a statutory provision in the Act, but it is not currently sanctionable. I believe that is an issue which requires change. In working on this issue in recent weeks, I have gone back to look at why there was no...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Lobbying Regulation (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I have read all of that material already and I am of course going to take it into account. I have been looking at what the record has been in the context of how many people have been applying to SIPO for exemptions from section 22. The numbers are quite low, but that does not mean they are insignificant. They relate primarily to special advisers. In 2020, there were six applications. In...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Lobbying Regulation (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I look forward to reading the legislation the Deputies intend to bring forward. Two statutory reviews of the 2015 Act have been conducted. A decision was made not to bring forward any legislative amendments in response to those reviews. In reviewing this particular issue, it is important to look back at the statutory reviews and the other information in the public domain, as well as the...