Results 21,641-21,660 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I welcome Deputies Calleary and Niamh Smyth raising this really important question for Northern Ireland and, indeed, the Border counties of Ireland as well. PEACE+ is a special new cross-Border EU co-operation programme which will combine the existing PEACE and INTERREG funding streams into one cohesive new programme for the 2021-27 period. The programme area covers Northern Ireland and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising those questions. To add to my earlier remarks, following the consultation that is currently ongoing and any necessary revisions to the draft programme that may arise from it, the final PEACE+ programme will be bought to the Government and to the Northern Ireland Executive for approval. The draft programme will subsequently be submitted to the European...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The points raised by the Deputy are really well made. I have been briefed on several of the projects that have already been undertaken under the current PEACE and INTERREG programmes. They are inspiring and I am looking forward to visiting several of these programmes in person as soon as the public health restrictions allow. It is absolutely appropriate that one of the key themes in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have statutory responsibility for the terms and conditions of service, including remuneration, of civil servants, as set out in the Civil Service Regulation Acts. In meeting these responsibilities as regards the terms to apply for recruitment to the post of Secretary General in the Department of Health, I engaged with the Taoiseach, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy has acknowledged, the successful candidate, Robert Watt, has waived the salary increase in light of the economic conditions that apply now. That is being done on a voluntary basis and I acknowledge the decision he has made which is appropriate in the circumstances we are all facing. I will point out, as I did over the course of the hearing before the Oireachtas joint...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pay (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy knows, we did have an open, competitive process. We had a significant number of applicants, all of whom were treated fairly and assessed on their own individual merits. We had a shortlisting process and an interview process. Independent people were appointed to the Top Level Appointments Committee and they, ultimately, arrived at a decision and made a recommendation. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this question on behalf of Deputy Lawless. The Supporting Excellence: Capital Project and Programme Review Delivery report to which the Deputy referred was produced by EY for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and funded by the European Commission’s structural reform support programme. It is a key interim output for the ongoing review of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I assure the Deputy that we are acting on the recommendations made in this report. An action team for the Supporting Excellence: Capital Project and Programme Delivery Review report has now been convened and work is under way to maintain the momentum of delivery and implementation. On the issue Deputy Moynihan raised, I have confirmed a number of important reforms. I am setting up a new...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is undoubtedly the case that lessons need to be learned from the national children's hospital. That is one of the reasons I have focused on introducing these reforms to the oversight of the delivery of major public capital projects. If the Deputy looks at the three measures that I have outlined, I refer to the setting up of a panel of experts to advise Departments at critical decision...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions No. 57 and 103 together. I thank the Deputy for his question. The review of the national development plan provides an opportunity to reassess capital investment plans, particularly in light of the new programme for Government and the ongoing impact of and recovery from Covid. There has been significant progress in delivering a range of infrastructure projects...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy knows, the national development plan relates to the public capital programme. We have a record envelope of €10.8 billion this year and are keen to proceed with and set out an ambitious capital development plan for our country out to 2030 to make sure it is properly aligned with the priorities in the programme for Government of housing, transport, health and, of course,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies for raising these issues. The revision of the national development plan will take account of the pandemic, our learnings from it and the impact it is likely to have on the development of Ireland in the years ahead. In addition to reviewing the national development plan, we are also preparing a new national economic recovery plan. The intention would be to publish that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 124 together. It is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department to manage expenditure within the agreed allocations and, in order to provide enhanced scope for Departments to manage staffing levels and composition within their allocated financial resources, a policy of delegated sanction in relation to staff management was introduced in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: In 2019, my Department published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. The Circular instructs Departments to consider including green criteria in public procurement processes where: Clearly defined, quantifiable, verifiable, and measurable criteria have been developed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to thank the Deputy for his continued engagement and interest in this issue. As I stated in my previous responses to similar Parliamentary Questions from Deputy Richmond, on the 21st October and 17th November last year any proposal to ring fence funding allocations would contravene a general principle of public financial management that earmarking revenues for a specific expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: In line with our commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015-2024) (“CES”), the Programme for Government commits to an increase from 3% to 6% in the number of people with disabilities in employment in the civil and public service. Responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy correctly identifies, the past year has seen the policy landscape dominated by the double impact of Covid and Brexit, their impact on society and the economy, as well as the consequences this has had for public expenditure. As part of Budget 2021, core current expenditure will grow by €3.8 billion, or just over just over 6%, compared to the allocation in 2020. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I am committed to openness and transparency. My department produces an online Databank, which includes a comprehensive set of data on voted public expenditure in Ireland. I am responsible for the annual Estimates of Expenditure, and for the multi-year capital envelopes, which set the overall capital allocations across Departments; and for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: There are two primary measures for public capital expenditure. The first is public Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF). This is the measurement which is generally used for making international comparisons of public capital investment. This is a broad measure of public capital investment in the sense that it includes central and local government expenditure. The second measurement...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Over the course of 2020 and 2021, over €28 billion has been provided for additional expenditure to respond to Covid-19, with €12 billion of this amount included in the overall Government Expenditure Ceiling of €87.8 billion for 2021. This is a substantial additional allocation in addition to core public spending, and allows for measures to support our people, businesses...