Results 21,521-21,540 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

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 is aware, the ESRI operates on an independent basis. The analysis it publishes on a regular basis on different issues is of very high quality and is carefully considered by Government and others in civic society. The additional funding I provided in the budget, in the form of a €225,000 increase in the grant, to the ESRI was to make sure there was a particular focus on...

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: In essence the scheme is an attempt to bridge the gap for many first-time buyers who have a certain level of income and who cannot afford to purchase on the open market. The State has already done a considerable amount, as the Deputy knows. I know he does not agree with the help-to-buy scheme, for example. However, many thousands of first-time buyers would not have been able to purchase...

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 not give a Civil Service answer and there is nothing wrong with our Civil Service. I will give my own opinion and the facts. The facts are that the Government cannot intervene over a commercial decision, as the Deputy knows as well as I do. I will not sugar-coat it. The decision by Bank of Ireland to close so many branches is a very serious blow for the communities served by 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: An opinion from the relevant Minister, who is a shareholder, would also be seen as more than an opinion. However, I do not see why an opinion cannot be expressed. I believe I have given the Deputy my opinion, personally, as a member of Government. I think the decision is deeply regrettable and it will have real consequences. It falls on us-----

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 understand that the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, will appear in the Dáil this week to deal with banking issues at which time the Deputy will have an opportunity to question him directly on this and other issues. That is the appropriate way for that to be done and for him, as the line Minister, to have an opportunity to address that directly.

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: Can the Deputy restate the issue, the figures she gave and what the context 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: I am broadly familiar with the issue of the lending limits. It is very much a regulatory issue. It would be wrong of me, as Minister, to cross over into space that belongs to the Central Bank. The Oireachtas has a role in setting the legislative framework for the Central Bank to perform its functions, but it would be wrong and inappropriate of me as a Minister to comment on a specific...

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: The Chairman raised a lot of queries and I will do my best to respond to as many of them as I can. In regard to the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General, it comes under the remit of the Department of Finance. I am aware that officials are looking at the relevant legislation and we will consider again the idea of the Comptroller and Auditor General following the money in respect of...

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: The functions of the Comptroller and Auditor General come under the Department of Finance. I take the Chairman's point on the broader question of broadening the pool of people whom we ask to contribute to different boards, projects and initiatives that the State is undertaking. An area for which I am directly responsible is the review of the national development plan. I will shortly be...

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 have a look at that issue. I would point out that an external chairperson, Mr. Sean O'Driscoll, who is formerly of Glen Dimplex, has been appointed to the ESRI. He is doing a really good job there. Regarding the employees in a company in Shannon, the Chairman might provide me with the details of that particular case. Is the organisation to which he referred under the remit of 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 will look into it. I am keen that we have as much transferability as possible across the civil and public service and also the wider public sector. That is important. On the whistleblower legislation, I will be bringing forward new legislative proposals in this area in the coming months. A review is needed and some changes are required. An EU directive on whistleblowing was adopted...

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 will consider that as part of the new legislative provisions. We need to be careful to ensure that employees who are the subject of an allegation or disclosure made by somebody else are entitled to their good name. If we have a situation where such persons are cut loose and left to carry huge costs in defending their good name in the performance of their duties for the public good, as...

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 question. It is absolutely the case that the pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the public finances, first and foremost on the people we serve, including the 470,000 people on the pandemic unemployment payment, many of whom have remained out of work for almost a year since they lost their jobs in March 2020. Our number one priority and challenge will...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Lending (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, the revised plan for the Government’s response to COVID-19 – "COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead" – sets out our approach to the next phase and our path forward. The plan sets out the Government's approach of making steady progress in re-opening our economy, starting with childcare and schools, while avoiding a further wave of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Reviews (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides comprehensive statutory protections from retaliation for persons who speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace. A statutory review of the Act was published in July 2018. The review found that the Act was operating broadly as intended. However, a number of implementation issues were identified in the review and a commitment was given to look at...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that the procurement processes for all contracts in my Department were carried out in accordance with the Office of Government Procurement’s (OGP) Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services which aim to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers the best value for money. The following table sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The details requested by the Deputy concerning the group specified are set out in the following table. As the matters raised relate to public health policy, the correspondence was referred to the Department of Health. Date Type of engagement Purpose Action 03/12/2020 Email to Minister Letter to the Taoiseach attached...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: In May 2012, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform engaged Accenture to undertake a capacity and capability review of the central procurement function and to identify the actions required to realise savings in public procurement in the short and medium term. The final report on this review was published on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website in September 2012. It...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 to 243, inclusive, together. The Departmental Estimates for 2021 presented to the Dáil in December included expenditure on Covid-19 related measures and supports of €6½ billion, within the overall gross voted expenditure amount of €82.4 billion. In addition there was €5.4 billion held back in Contingency Funds to be made...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The arrangements for paid sick leave in the Public Service are set out in the Public Service Sick Leave Regulationsand the administration of the Scheme is managed on a sectoral level by each public service employer. The access to paid sick leave as provided for in the Scheme is as follows. Ordinary Sick Leave Under the Scheme, public servants have access to the following paid sick leave: - a...