Results 21,501-21,520 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Capital Expenditure Programme (25 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: The BUILD Reports produced by the National Investment Office in my Department in 2019 and 2020 have highlighted capacity constraints arising in the construction sector in recent years, noting that “potential risks and constraints are present in the form of cost inflation, limited sources of additional labour supply and stagnant productivity growth”. A key metric to consider...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Data (25 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Civil Service Renewal programme of reform, supporting the development of high performing Civil Service organisations, continues to be embedded. This programme is overseen by the Civil Service Management Board which focusses on driving whole-of-Government reform across the Civil Service, rather than at individual Departmental level. The Civil Service Renewal Plan has delivered a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Sector Reform (25 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that significant reforms in the Public Service have been brought about since the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A core goal of this Department is to continue to deliver reforms for Government through improved, cost-effective public services across a range of areas including governance, accountability, procurement, shared...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Sector Pay (25 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 2865, dated 20/01/2021. The position remains the same. PQRef: 2865/21 The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018 and was largely completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). To...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am pleased to be before the committee to present the 2021 Revised Estimates for my Department's group of Votes. I am joined by the Minister of State with responsibility for public procurement and eGovernment, Deputy Ossian Smyth, and a number of our officials. The group comprises a significant number of Votes, as the Chairman outlined, including: Vote 11 - the Office of the Minister for...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I acknowledge the significant public concern as a result of the Bank of Ireland announcement. None of us want to see bank branches closing because we realise just how important they are for the communities they serve, for personal customers and for business customers. On the role of the Government, as the Deputy has pointed out, the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for his comments. They are points he has made on many occasions. I was a member of this committee for many years and took part in many of the hearings it had with the banks. We had many robust exchanges. We made progress on some issues and did not make progress on others. However, it is true that the Government is not directly involved in running the banks, even those...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is important to acknowledge that there is competition in the Irish market. We have the pillar banks, obviously, but Permanent TSB is playing an increasing role in the SME market. It has significant ambition in that space. On the personal banking side, we have a foreign-owned bank, KBC Bank, in the Irish market. It has restated its commitment to remaining in this market, which is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: Will I respond?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for his questions and the Chairman for his remarks on this issue. The Chairman has always been consistent and forceful in raising these issues related to the banking sector. He has also been very effective as Chairman of this committee for some time. The issue of the staff of the banks was mentioned. First and foremost, they are the people we think of at this time....

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am happy to. SBCI loans are not just administered through the pillar banks. We extended the range of platforms for the administration of those loans to include non-bank lenders, and there are plans for the SBCI to extend that further. The credit unions are being considered as part of that. We can come back to the Deputy with a precise update on that point. That offers very significant...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will know, there was a report previously on public banking. There is no current plan at this time for the Government to set up new banks here.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I will deal with the national children's hospital and the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, might deal with the capital works management framework and construction procurement

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Doherty for his questions. I will take the question on the national children’s hospital. As the Deputy is aware, a specific board, namely, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, is responsible for the delivery of that project under the Department of Health. Obviously, my Department has a central role in the overall expenditure position. It is important to...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: We have the official figures and they remain unchanged. There is no updated figure on the cost of the development of the hospital at this time.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: My understanding is that it is €1.7 billion, including the tertiary sites. I do not have a file on the children's hospital to hand but that is the figure which has not changed in relation to the overall development. However, as I said, a written report is expected from the hospital development board. There have been problems, as the Deputy knows, with this contract on site. We are...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: As I sit here today, I do not have any confirmation of additional costs, beyond the already disclosed figure, for the cost of developing the children's hospital. As soon as there is any information or update to the contrary, it will be brought to the Government and shared with Members of the Oireachtas in the normal way. That is the up-to-date information I have at this time.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am not sure if the Deputy is accusing me of sitting on a figure that I am not revealing to him. That is not the case.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: No. We expect the contract to be fulfilled and the project to be delivered. The hospital development board and the Department of Health are managing that on a day-to-day basis. We have remained in close contact with the Department of Health and I have engaged and corresponded on the issue on a regular basis. I have been informed that there will be an update given shortly by the hospital...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised) (2 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: That is correct.