Results 23,101-23,120 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ukraine War (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: At this stage it is difficult to provide an accurate estimate as to the cost of supporting refugees arriving from Ukraine as the range of potential arrivals is large and the accommodation solutions, both for larger numbers of arrivals and for the medium to long term, will have a significant impact on the overall costs. Work to better understand the potential expenditure requirement is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cost of Living Issues (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: Significant resources have been allocated by Government in Budget 2022 and subsequently to help households that may be experiencing difficulties as a result of rising prices. In Budget 2022, a range of measures to support citizens were introduced with a value of almost €1.2 billion. This included a Social Protection package of an additional €558 million which, among other...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have statutory responsibility under the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 for the remuneration and grading structure of civil servants, including for Secretary General posts. The selection process for appointment to the positions of Assistant Secretary General and above is generally undertaken by the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I am responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments and for monitoring monthly expenditure at Departmental level.  The responsibility for the management and delivery of individual investment projects, within the allocations agreed under the National Development Plan 2021 - 2030 (NDP), rests with the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 130, 191 and 193 together. Last year’s Summer Economic Statement (SES) set out planned expenditure ceilings to 2025 under our Medium Term Expenditure Strategy. This is part of a fiscal framework that seeks to ensure that the level of spending and overall position of the public finances are sustainable over the medium term. It sees overall core...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the drawdown of capital expenditure from the Exchequer is detailed each month and is publicly available in the Fiscal Monitor, which is published on the gov.ie website.  All line Departments and agencies submit information on their expenditure levels against profile to my Department, along with an explanation outlining details regarding any variance of under...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cost of Living Issues (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: Government has introduced a number of measures in recent months to provide assistance in relation to cost of living pressures. Temporary measures have been designed  to provide swift assistance, targeted at the main underlying problem of higher energy prices and to provide additional assistance to those most vulnerable, while being mindful of the need to avoid actions that could worsen...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ethics in Public Office (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: We made a commitment in the 2020 Programme for Government to ‘reform and consolidate the Ethics in Public Office legislation’. As the Deputy’s question mentions, as the first step, I have asked my Department to undertake a review of Ethics legislation in advance of bringing fresh proposals for legislative reform to Government. As agreed by Government, this Review has...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 131 together. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-30 is underpinned by 10 National Strategic Outcomes. National Strategic Outcome 2, enhanced regional connectivity, seeks to enhance intra-regional accessibility through improving transport links between key urban centres of population and their respective regions, as well as improving...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 120 and 140 together. Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 136 together. The experience of the COVID pandemic has had a significant impact on the world of work, with an overnight move by necessity to remote working in many sectors.There have been many positive aspects to this experience for both employers and employees.  It has also highlighted certain challenges. In the context of the return to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ukraine War (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: Funding to support Ukraine following the invasion by Russia has been provided through the Department of Foreign Affairs.  €20 million in humanitarian aid has been provided to the Ukraine emergency response which is funding the UN Appeal through a number of trusted agencies and the Red Cross movement. Ireland’s rapid response roster has also been activated with a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: In 2019, my Department published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. This Circular requires departments to incorporate relevant green procurement measures into their reporting cycles. The Circular further advises that an Annual Report template with an accompanying guidance note will be made available by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ukraine War (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: The situation in Ukraine and providing for Ukrainian refugees is a key concern for the Government. We are providing support both through the overseas humanitarian aid and support for refugees arriving on our shores. Providing supports for arrivals from Ukraine is a key humanitarian concern for the Government but one which is likely to have significant costs.  As we are yet at an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: My Department monitors construction sector trends, including inflation, on an ongoing basis. In addition to reporting on the progress of the portfolio of projects that make up the NDP through the Capital tracker, my Department also publishes the Build Report on construction sector prospects and performance. As the Deputy will be aware, construction sector...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cost of Living Issues (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: Government is acutely aware of the challenge that rising prices pose to many households, in particular for those on lower incomes. In light of this, a number of targeted support measures have been announced recently which build on the measures under Budget 2022 to provide additional assistance, focused on providing support against increased energy prices. In February Government announced a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: My Department monitors construction sector trends, including inflation, on an ongoing basis. Materials such as timber, structural steel and energy have increased significantly, as a result of pent-up demand following Covid-19 and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. These developments, if persisting for a prolonged period of time, would represent a risk to delivery of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 provides, among other things, for the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive"). The Bill is currently at Report Stage in Dáil Éireann. It is my understanding that the Deputy's question relates to the provisions in the Bill that amend...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Lobbying Reform (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: At its meeting on 15 February 2022, the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022, its referral to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach for pre-legislative scrutiny, and the priority drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Attorney General. The General Scheme was published on 16...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (28 Apr 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the deputy will be aware, the Government recently agreed to the establishment of an Independent Review Panel into recruitment and pay determination processes in place for Senior Public Service posts. The Panel is chaired by Dr. Donal de Buitléir, with Ms. Jenny Smyth and Mr. Bryan Andrews members of the Panel. The review will focus on a number of important issues including an...