Results 22,341-22,360 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 251 and 255 together. As set out in the most recent Fiscal Monitor, total gross voted expenditure at end-October was €67.5 billion. While this is almost €2 billion ahead on the same period in 2020, it is over €2.4 billion or 3.5% below the level of spending that had been profiled for this period. Of this, gross current expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (16 Nov 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 Sector Reform Review (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The goal of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is to serve the public interest through sound governance of public expenditure and by leading and enabling reform across the Civil and Public Service. As part of this, the Reform Division has driven and overseen the implementation of Our Public Service 2020(OPS2020), a framework for development and innovation in the wider Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equal Opportunities Employment (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Beginning with a pilot programme introduced for the 2018 budgetary cycle, Equality Budgeting is a way of approaching and understanding the budget as a process that embodies long-standing societal choices about how resources are used, rather than simply a neutral process of resource allocation. In practice, this means that equality budgeting attempts to provide greater information on how...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Project Ireland 2040 (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The NDP 2021-30 was published on 4thOctober, committing to an overall investment of €165 billion in the years from 2021 to 2030. It is important to acknowledge that the majority of public investment projects are delivered on budget and on time and there is a high level of professionalism across the sectors. Reforms are ongoing in governance and broader capability to help ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Reform Review (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for the question. Continuous reform of our public services has been an integral part of this Department's function since its establishment in 2011. In view of the significant and pervasive impacts experienced as a consequence of the Covid19 crisis, the Government's programme of reform and modernisation is particularly relevant as we seek to return our economy and society...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Brexit Issues (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The full implications of the UK’s departure from the EU remain to be seen but clearly will be significant. This is why the Government has been working to prepare for Brexit for several years. Our total Brexit related expenditure since the UK referendum on EU membership is now more than €1 billion. Within my Department Brexit issues are coordinated by a dedicated Unit...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards was published by my Department in November 2014 and sets out the processes for the appointment of members to State Boards. These guidelines are available online at www.stateboards.ie. The guidelines apply to all appointments to State Boards.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (16 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Departmental expenditure ceilings for 2022 are set out on pages 8 and 9 of the Expenditure Report 2022, with the NDP capital ceilings for the period to 2025 set out in Table 1 on page 249 of the Expenditure Report. As outlined in the NDP, the NDP ceilings include projects funded under the NRRP, with this amount set out in Table 1 on page 20 of the Expenditure Report. In line with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (17 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together. In relation to the request that the current panel in place from the 2019 Executive Officer with Irish fluency competition be further extended beyond 31 December 2021, I would refer the Deputy to PQ 54814/21 of 10 November. Candidates for this competition were advised that vacancies many not arise in all regional locations while the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (18 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: You will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In July, 2021, the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service, which was developed by the Civil Service Management Board. The Policy Statement commits the Civil Service to implementing a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Opposition does not want them to be built. The Opposition does not want the problem to be solved.

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2021: Leave to Introduce (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2021: Vote 6 — Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 29 — Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 33 — Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and...

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2021: Referral to Select Committee (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on 31st December, 2021, the Supplementary Estimates be referred to the following Select Committees, as appropriate, pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(b) and 215(3), which shall report back to the Dáil by no later than 7th December, 2021: Vote 6 —...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (23 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 256 together. My Department developed Guidance and FAQs on working arrangements and temporary assignments during COVID-19 for civil and public service employers. This Guidance and FAQs document has been continually updated to reflect public health and Government policy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAQs have been prepared to assist employees...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that during the period specified the Office of Government Procurement, which is part of my Department, terminated the employment of one member of staff due to misconduct.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (25 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Ireland faces legally binding targets at EU level on greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy. On greenhouse gas emissions, the Effort Sharing Regulation currently requires Ireland to reduce national non-ETS greenhouse gas emissions by 30% (compared to 2005 levels), with annual limits for every year over the period 2021-2030. On renewable energy, 2030 renewable energy targets...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (25 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. While I have received correspondence from the Deputy which refers, I have not received correspondence from the National Lottery in relation to the capping of the Lotto jackpot at €19,060,800 on September 29th 2021, which will lead to the largest ever jackpot in the history of the game. As Lotto is a game of chance, the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (25 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The National Lottery Regulator has informed me that the National Lottery Operator is required to have a standalone Prize Fund Account that all prize monies are held in and paid from. Where prizes expire unclaimed, the Licence governing the operation of the Lottery provides that the relevant amounts are transferred to the Operator, for use either to top up prizes, or for additional marketing...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission came into existence on 1 January 2004 under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003. This founding commission legislation then led, in summary, to two consequences; one, that the commission became the sanctioning authority for expenditure and for deciding on staff numbers up to the grade...