Results 22,381-22,400 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Measures (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") was adopted in October 2019 and the deadline for transposition into Irish law is 17 December 2021. Ireland already has comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation in place in the form of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Transposition of the Directive will require...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Industrial Relations (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (the “Commission”) has the power to regulate the provision of “secretarial facilities” to Members. “Secretarial facilities” is a term encompassing the staff employed under the Scheme for Secretarial Assistance. The Act requires the Commission to obtain the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024(CES) recommends the phased increase of the current statutory target of 3% of employees with disabilities in the public sector to 6% by 2024. Increasing the minimum statutory employment target to 6% is also a commitment under the Programme for Government 2020. The Civil Service is fully committed to equality of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Officials from my Department have raised the case with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO), which is responsible for the administration of Civil Service pensions. I understand that following further correspondence between the NSSO and the former employing department (the Department of Justice) the NSSO has recently been provided with all the documentation needed to process the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The authorities responsible for the administration of the large number of pension schemes operating in the various sectors of the Irish public service are, in general, the relevant employers and Ministers in those sectors. It would be a matter for those sectoral authorities, including relevant Ministers, to supply such information. I and my Department are responsible for the civil service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not received any Protected Disclosures concerning my Department or the bodies under its aegis during the period specified, or to date in 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Social Enterprise Sector (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Due to the nature of my Department's role, funding for the promotion and support of the social enterprise sector is not provided from its Votes. However, the Deputy may wish to note that by supporting the administration of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and technical assistance costs for the SEUPB and the Regional Assemblies, my Department is indirectly supporting social enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (7 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent recruiter for appointments to the civil service.PAS undertakes competitions on behalf of the civil service to establish panels that may be drawn upon as vacancies arise in Government Departments or Offices. PAS has advised that no candidates were assigned from the Executive Officer with Irish panels to...

Estimates for Public Services 2021 (8 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move the following Supplementary Estimates: Vote 6 — Chief State Solicitor's Office (Supplementary Estimate) That a supplementary sum not exceeding €3,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2021, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. Vote 12...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am pleased to be here this afternoon and to have the opportunity to present the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021 to the House, which passed all Stages in the Dáil last week. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission came Into existence on 1 January 2004 under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003. The founding commission legislation in 2003 led, in...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: While funding is the sole purpose of the Bill, a number of amendments of a technical nature are required. I will briefly provide Senators with details of the amendments involved. Section 1 amends section 5 of the principal Act to provide funding for expenditure incurred by the commission during the period of three years from 1 January 2022. The amount of funding for that period is capped at...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank all the Senators for their contributions to the debate. I will be back in the Chamber tomorrow on Committee Stage. I look forward to discussing the issues in some more detail then. I have heard what everyone has had to say about staff generally in the Oireachtas. I fully concur with all those sentiments. We are very fortunate in the way we are looked after and served by all...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (8 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Circular E103/3/83 – Special leave for Sporting Purposes, provides that special leave with pay may be granted to officers representing Ireland at: (1) The Olympic Games (2) World Championship Events (3) European Championship Events (4) Pre-Olympic Qualifying Competitions Written confirmation from the National Governing Body of the Sport is required in order to be eligible for leave...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Chair for those remarks and for welcoming me back to the House today. I am delighted this issue has been ventilated in the way it has over the past week or so. In this regard, I took the Commencement matter and took this Bill through the Dáil last week. This issue was discussed at length yesterday on Second Stage in this House and was discussed again today. That is...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am happy to give the commitment that, if I am invited, I will come back within six months to update the House on my role in this matter. I would earnestly hope this issue will be dealt with within that timeframe, and that is certainly what I want to see happen. There is no need for endless negotiations or months of talks from 28 January. In regard to the other question on the role of the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The commission is empowered. It is a matter for the commission to decide how it arrives at its position and how that proposal is formed in respect of the input of the members of the commission and the officials who serve it and support its work. Exactly how that proposal will be formed is a matter for the internal workings of the commission.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The commission will make a proposal. In reality, that will follow a negotiation. We must let that negotiation take place. The manner in which this issue has been debated and highlighted in the past week or so will prove to be very helpful.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Reports (9 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Section 4.2 of Building Momentum provides for the establishment of an independent body to examine issues arising in addressing the Haddington Road Agreement additional working hours. The terms of reference of the Independent Body provide for the Body to report its findings and recommendations by the end of this year. The relevant section of the Agreement provides for the following: "4.2.1...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The electricity costs incurred by my Department since 2017 were provided to the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question number 35 (ref: 59708/21) on 2 December, 2021. I wish to advise the Deputy that the bill of charges for this utility are not itemised by specific services provided, so it is not possible to accurately identify what percentage or value of these costs are applicable to...

Appointment of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner: Motion (14 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, pursuant to subsection (2) of section 2 of the Ombudsman Act 1980, and subsection(4) of section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, Dáil Éireann recommends the appointment of Mr. Ger Deering, by the President to be the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner.