Results 21,381-21,400 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: Every appointment of a Secretary General must go before the Government.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: The issue of salary is a matter for the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Taoiseach gave an update to the Cabinet on that day and informed us that Mr. Watt was to move across to the Department of Health on an interim basis and that there would be an open and competitive TLAC process for the permanent post.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: That was delivered verbally. Decisions can be made in that way. One does not have-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: Yes. It was a contribution by An Taoiseach which was loud and clear. Everyone heard it and it was noted as a formal Government decision. Government decisions are circulated to Departments after the event and such a decision does exist.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. Yes-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. Will he clarify the first part of his question? When he says "this particular appointment" is he referring to the salary associated with the open competition now or the interim-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: It does not apply to anybody else. The salary is for whoever comes through the open Top Level Appointments Committee, TLAC, process. There is nobody currently being paid the €292,000.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I believe it is one part of the overall context within which the decision was made. I said that earlier so I do not need to repeat it. There was certainly a recognition that when it comes to a senior leadership role in a hugely challenging and highly complex area we need to attract the very best candidates from all over the world. This salary was designed with a view to doing that. That...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: We are well on the way towards the full rewinding of FEMPI at this stage. Back in October, we had the full unwinding, for example, for all of those earning up to €70,000. There is what is called the long tail of FEMPI for the higher earners. In July of this year, there will be the unwinding of FEMPI for those between €70,000 and €150,000. In 2022, there will be the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I do not because we are coming to the end of FEMPI, as I have outlined. All low and middle-income public service workers have been fully reinstated at this point. We will have further restoration for higher earners in July of this year and then the final restoration for the highest earners in July 2022. Those dates are effectively set out in law. I would have had to issue orders before...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: Anyone can apply for the role. The closing date has passed. I do not know who has applied nor do I want to know. I have full faith in the process that it will be fair and objective. We have some outstanding people serving on the Top Level Appointments Committee. Many of them are private citizens who are doing a valuable job for the State. I have no doubt they will do their business...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: That is not what we have done. I think I answered that earlier. The enhanced salary does not apply to anyone currently and will only apply to whoever is appointed ultimately following the conclusion of the open process. That will take a number of weeks or months. Does Mr. Moloney wish to give a brief overview of how the PAS and TLAC stage will work in practice and how it comes to an end?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Senator for her questions and her contribution. As she said, it falls on me ultimately to make decisions on salary. For the vast majority of positions across the public service, it is done on a collective basis in relation to agreements entered into. As the Senator is aware, balloting is under way at present for the proposed new public service pay deal. For certain very senior...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: As I said earlier, the way in which the proposed deal has been designed is to the benefit of those on lower levels of income. I will not reiterate all the points but the Senator touched on the minimum benefit, whereby each time there is an increase of 1%, it will equate to a minimum of €500. That is a significant change. There is also the sectoral bargaining element, from which many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank Senator Higgins for her questions. We certainly want to raise the floor. That is very important and it is why the new public service pay deal is structured in the way that it is following the agreement we reached with the trade unions. It remains to be seen what the outcome of that agreement will be in the coming weeks. I certainly share that objective. We want to make sure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: There was one attempt to fill that post, which was unsuccessful. That is a reality we have to face up to. The post was subsequently filled and the incumbent is doing an exceptional job. We are getting value for money.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: The only point I would make in response to the fair point the Senator makes is that we are talking about two posts that are not only in the same sector but are directly linear and hierarchical in that the Secretary General of the Department of Health is the Accounting Officer with full legal responsibility for all of the expenditure that goes through the HSE. I take her point but there is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: On the justification and the reasons given, Covid is but one reason, but it is an important one. Covid will be with us for quite a while yet, unfortunately. The new Secretary General in the Department of Health will play a really important leadership role in respect of the vaccination programme and assisting the HSE in dealing with the fallout from Covid in day-to-day terms, but it should...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Senator for his questions. I do not think it would be fair of me to get into the detail about any individual. There was, as the Senator said, an acting Secretary General within the Department who worked very closely with the Minister at the time, which was one of huge pressure and challenge. It was listed as one of the four options set out in the minutes of that meeting. The...