Results 21,201-21,220 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: In order to ensure programme for Government priorities are achieved and to respond to the unprecedented impact of Covid-19, it is timely now for the Government to bring forward the previously planned review of the NDP and to consider the most important challenges facing us, including climate action, housing, balanced regional development, healthcare, social welfare policy, transport,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: The key objective is to introduce a degree of external assurance for major projects. As part of the review of the NDP, we are producing a range of research and technical papers, which will be published before the end of this year or early next year. That will feed into the process of adopting a revised NDP in the second quarter of next year. In essence, we are proposing an independent peer...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: There will be a specific paper on this issue, which will be one of the outputs from phase 1 of the review of the NDP. In broad terms, I am a strong believer that time spent at the project preparation stage is time well spent, by ensuring the project has been comprehensively appraised and assessed, that the potential pitfalls have been identified in advance and that the design work is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. Covid-19 has had a profound effect on our citizens and the Government has taken significant steps to cushion the impact of the crisis on households and businesses. Expenditure Report 2021 outlined the significant additional resources allocated to Departments in response to Covid-19. At that time, gross voted expenditure of €87.1 billion was estimated for 2020....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. Moving to level 5 has had a significant impact on the public finances. The number of people on the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment has increased by more than 100,000 in that period and currently stands at 350,000. The weekly payment rate has gone from approximately €66 million per week at level 3 to €104 million per week under level 5. Some of that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. As he has rightly said, the impact on various sectors of the domestic economy has been acute. A breakdown of the profiles of recipients of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment shows that the largest number of workers comes from the accommodation and food service sector, which accounts for approximately 103,000 people. It is followed by wholesale and retail trade,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for the question. With a view to increasing the transparency of the budgetary process and to facilitate meaningful dialogue on key elements of the budget, over the past number of years, a range of reforms have been implemented to enhance the budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient and effective way. These reforms feed into...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to acknowledge the tremendous work of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. In the previous Dáil, I was a member of the committee and really enjoyed that role. It is a great opportunity to get one's teeth into various issues. I also commend the work of the Parliamentary Budget Office. The quality of material it produces for all Members is very high and that should be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Budget Process (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: On the process in 2020, it has been a truly extraordinary year, the like of which we hope we will never see again. It certainly had a dramatic impact on the budgetary process. I have acknowledged that the mid-year expenditure report was not published at the normal time. In addition, the Oireachtas did not have the normal summer economic statement setting out the overall macroeconomic and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 114 together, although Deputy Paul Murphy is not present. Section 22 of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 provides that certain designated public officials are restricted from being engaged in lobbying in certain circumstances for a year after they leave their employment or office, unless they have obtained permission from the Standards in Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: The proposed appointment to SIPO is not being made under the Act cited by Deputy Doherty in his question tabled for oral answer. The Deputy is entitled to ask the question. The appointment is being made under the Standards in Public Office Act. The former Senator Geraldine Feeney is a qualified person for that role. As a former Member of the Oireachtas I think she has the skills and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Programme (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: Of course I have looked at the returns and I did receive a letter from Deputy Doherty's colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, to which I responded. I read the returns, which are available online, primarily relating to lobbying in the early part of 2017, which is what is defined under the Act. It essentially involved setting up a number of meetings within the Oireachtas. If memory serves...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 107 together. The present system of collective agreements has been in place in the public service since the Croke Park agreement was negotiated 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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Preparations (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: Regardless of the outcome of the ongoing negotiations on the future relationship, the UK will leave the Single Market and the Customs Union on 1 January 2021.  This will have significant implications for Ireland. A whole of Government approach is being adopted to addressing the challenges posed by Brexit, and my Department is playing its full part in responding to those challenges. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: On the 22nd of October I announced that the Regional Assemblies will act as Managing Authorities for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programmes for the 2021 – 2027 programming period. Ireland is likely to receive a total of €350m in ERDF funding, over the seven year period 2021-2027. Reflecting the two different EU classifications of the development...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: Expenditure on the key front line areas of Health, Social Protection and Education makes up the majority of public expenditure each year. These sectors have also been a crucial part of the response to Covid-19 and as such, have been allocated significant additional resources in order to support the State’s response to the pandemic. The Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not incurred any expenditure on private recruitment agencies for the years in question.  My Department avails of the services of the Public Appointments Service, which provides a central recruitment service to the Civil Service and a range of other public bodies.  A number of the bodies under the aegis of my Department have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: In Budget 2021 the overall Budget capital allocation  is €10,066 million. This represents an increase of €1,901 million (23.3%) over the original 2020 allocations of €8,165 million. Capital expenditure has been increased by a further €1,706 million in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing the overall capital investment to €9,872...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018 and has been largely been completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). The PSSA, which was negotiated in 2017, and the provisions of which were statutorily provided for under the terms of the Public Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Strategy Statements (17 Nov 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been very significant reform and innovation in the Public Service since my Department was established in 2011 and published its first Public Service Reform Plan shortly thereafter.  These changes continue to deliver improved services and cost effectiveness across a range of themes such as digital government, public procurement, shared...