Results 22,181-22,200 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

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

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: The challenges arising from changing demographics and an ageing population are recognised in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future. In particular, the Programme for Government provided for the establishment of a Commission on Welfare and Taxation and a Commission on Pensions. The terms of reference for the Commission on Welfare and Taxation include: a review of how best...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the reduction in counsel fees over the period of 2009 - 2011 were underpinned by Government decisions and formed part of the broader Government need to reduce costs across the public service. I fully acknowledge and appreciate the very important work undertaken by barristers who prosecute and defend cases throughout the criminal courts. My Department has engaged...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2022 will be framed in the context of: - continued sustainable increases in core public expenditure with a further significant increase in capital investment; - provision of exceptional additional funding for temporary supports to address the impacts of Covid-19; - addressing the impacts of Brexit, in particular through measures to be funded by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2022 is now less than three weeks away and engagement between my Department and other Departments and Offices is ongoing. In line with the fiscal parameters agreed in the Summer Economic Statement (SES), the expenditure ceiling for 2022 will be €88.2 billion. €80.1 billion of this overall ceiling will be for core expenditure while up to €8.1 billion in non-core,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: As part of the terms of the National Lottery licence, almost 30c from every €1 spent on National Lottery games is returned to the Exchequer to be utilised by Good Cause projects. I was pleased to recently announce plans to review the transparency and effectiveness of how National Lottery good causes related funding is distributed. This review is reflective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ethics in Public Office (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to assure the Deputy that neither I nor this Government are in any way complacent when it comes to the matter of ethics and standards in our political life. Since its establishment in 2011, my Department has committed significant resources in terms of policy development and consultation across government to explore how the statutory framework for ethics can be reformed to make it...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Supports (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 213 together. At the end of June, agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the European Commission’s proposal for a Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The Reserve has a total value of €5 billion in constant (2018) prices, or €5.47 billion in current prices. All Member States are to receive a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 224 and 228 together. The Government acknowledges the contribution of our frontline workers and all workers across the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of the contribution made by our frontline workers across the economy cannot be overstated. Their hard work and sacrifice has been crucial to getting the country through this pandemic and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tax Data (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216, 218 to 222, inclusive, 229 and 230 together. The medium term expenditure strategy to 2025 was set out in the Summer Economic Statement (SES) and detailed further in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report. This strategy aims to meet key challenges facing us in the short to medium term and reflects the Government’s commitment to return the public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 231 together. Over the last number of years, a range of reforms has been implemented in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient and effective way. The intention of these reforms is to increase transparency around the budgetary process and to facilitate meaningful dialogue around...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Economic Policy (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Over the past eighteen months, two issues have dominated the policy landscape, namely the global pandemic, and the UK’s departure from the EU. In relation to the global pandemic, the European Union has responded with an unprecedented €800 billion recovery package, NextGenerationEU. At the heart of this package is the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (23 Sep 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 (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 232 and 233 together. Each individual Accounting Officer is responsible for the monitoring of performance of public contracts under his or her remit and for ensuring that the public procurement function is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures efficiently and effectively to deliver maximum value for money...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022 (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) provides for the following pay adjustments: - A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on October 2021. - The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Government policy (through Circular 33/06) requires all public works projects that are delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the National Development Plan to be procured in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). Public works contracts are fixed price contracts, which are to be comprehensively defined prior to tender. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (28 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards was published by my Department in November 2014 and, subject to specific arrangements which apply to NewEra companies, these guidelines apply to all State Boards both commercial and non-commercial. The guidelines build on earlier work by contributing to greater openness and transparency in the selection of appointees to State Boards. These...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (28 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) has increased year-on-year since 2014 with Budget 2021 announcing an overall allocation of €868 million for Irish Aid. The ODA allocation for Budget 2022 is currently under review within my Department. My officials are engaging with the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to this matter which will form part of the annual estimates process...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (28 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: The 2021 revised estimate gross figure for the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General was €15.506 million. The estimated cost of increasing the funding by 10%, 15% and 20% is as follows: Gross Estimate 10% 15% 20% 2021 Increase Increase Increase €m €m ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (28 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I refer the Deputy to the document attached at TAB A which details the 19 Secretary General posts and level, listed by Government Department. Other senior posts in the Civil Service with pay rates at these levels are included at TAB B. TAB A - Secretary General Posts Level Post Number of Posts I Secretary...