Results 21,721-21,740 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The EU formally adopted Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") on 23 October 2019. All Member States, including Ireland, have until 17 December 2021 to transpose the Directive into national law. Ireland is one of just 10 EU Member States to already have comprehensive whistleblowing laws in place, in the form of the...

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

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have responsibility for the development of policy to ensure adequate expenditure oversight on capital projects and for public procurement. The Department or agency proposing and implementing a capital project is responsible for appraisal; planning; implementation; management; post project review of the project; and for any procurements...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am very committed to improvements in gender balance across State Boards, and my Department has recently taken steps to further such improvements. In September 2020 I launched the Annex on Gender Balance, Diversity and Inclusion to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. This Annex sets out measures designed to enhance diversity on State Boards; specifically it provides for:...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am aware of the European Parliament resolution of 17 April 2020 on EU coordinated action to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. This is a wide ranging resolution comprising 72 items covering: a united and decisive response to a shared crisis; European solidarity and action in the health sector; European solutions to overcoming the economic and social consequences;...

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

Michael McGrath: The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018, with the remainder of the process largely completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). This will continue under ‘Building Momentum: A New Public Service Agreement, 2021 – 2022’. At this point, salary...

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 to 594, inclusive, together. EU public procurement rules apply to all Member States within the European Union. Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement (goods, services and works) has been transposed into Irish Law in the form of corresponding Regulations under SI No. 284 of 2016 which forms the legal basis for the national rules governing public...

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

Michael McGrath: Housing remains a top priority for the Government and the Exchequer investment is evidence of this. In Budget 2021 I provided €5.2 billion to the Department of Housing, Planning and Heritage. This was an increase of €773 million on 2020 and a record level of funding. An extra €500 million was directed towards capital expenditure and will facilitate the construction of...

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

Michael McGrath: This Government is committed to better understanding and therefore tackling the ongoing housing crisis. In June 2020 my Department requested the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) to undertake research on the following question; What are the policy options available to facilitate the delivery of public and private housing in line with the compact growth targets set out in the...

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

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, as part of its national response to the global pandemic, Government continues to make significant additional financial resources available to support frontline public services. In the 2021 Budget, the Minister for Finance and I announced budgetary measures that are supporting up to 16,000 additional posts in our health services, up to 990 additional SNAs and 403...

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

Michael McGrath: The Revised Estimates for 2021 have been published, and were referred to the Dáil Select Committees on 16 December 2020. The Estimates provide Departments and agencies with a capital allocation of €10,081 million for 2021. In addition, and with support from the House, capital carryover of just under €710 million has been approved. This will bring the total Exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (22 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, I have responsibility under the Public Service Management Acts for recruitment to the Civil Service and this includes the fixing of eligibility criteria for competitions for recruitment to the civil service. As the Deputy will be aware, appointments to the civil service are by way of open competition and the Public Appointments Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Transport Policy (22 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is the principal Government Department with responsibility for active travel.  Among a broad set of responsibilities across the transport area, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has certain statutory objectives and functions in relation to the promotion of active travel. Project Ireland 2040, which was launched in February 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, the role of Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is pivotal in terms of budgetary and expenditure policy and central to the overall Government reform agenda. I intend to fill the position of Secretary General in my Department via an open competition to be undertaken by the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) with the assistance of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Data (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I and my Department are responsible for the civil service pension schemes, which cover staff in established and unestablished civil service positions and State Industrial posts It would be a matter for those sectoral authorities, including relevant Ministers, to supply such information as may be available in respect of the wider public service. With respect to the civil service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The EU formally adopted Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") on 23 October 2019. All Member States, including Ireland, have until 17 December 2021 to transpose the Directive into national law. Ireland is one of just 10 EU Member States to already have comprehensive whistleblowing laws in place, in the form of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 314 together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. - Job vacancies advertised on publicjobs.ie Percentage of job vacancies advertised on publicjobs.ie since 2016 Job vacancies advertised on jobsireland.ie Percentage of job vacancies advertised on jobsireland.ie since 2016 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that none of the bodies under the aegis of my Department have availed of the JobsPlus incentive since 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is the responsibility of public bodies to ensure they adhere to procurement rules and guidelines and utilise national frameworks put in place where available and appropriate and in conformance with the Public Spending Code, Public Financial Procedures, and other such relevant guidelines already in place.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I understand the legislation referred to by the Deputy is the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 which confers a duty on public bodies to promote equality, prevent discrimination, and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. The Act also notes the relevance of the functions and purpose of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Irish Language (28 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. My Department is committed to meeting its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 and, in particular, the commitments outlined in the Department’s Official Languages Scheme which is available on the Department's website.  My Department makes every effort to accommodate customers who wish to conduct their business...