Results 23,921-23,940 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: That is up about 17%, which is a record increase in the delivery of bed capacity in acute, sub-acute, community and critical care capacity.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: We will continue to do more. We have increased the health budget by 24% over the past two years. We have recruited an extra 16,000 new healthcare professionals.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: There are growing demands but the Minister and the HSE do have a plan which they are focused on and implementing. We need a degree of balance and fairness in the presentation of these issues.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: Deputy Murphy has touched on a number of important issues in the whole area of planning. It is the case the Government yesterday approved the draft of the new planning Bill. The proposed Bill will be published and will go into the normal legislative process. There will be pre-legislative scrutiny by the relevant Oireachtas committee. We look forward to seeing the outcome of that over the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy referred to strategic housing developments, SHDs, and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has abolished the SHD process. Yesterday I brought forward a report on ethics in public office, which will lead to a new Bill that will be brought to the Oireachtas to consolidate the ethics in public office regime. This regime dates back to 1995 and was updated in 2001 by the Standards in Public...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is important we facilitate open debate. Members of this House and the public are entitled to raise concerns, undertake legitimate protest and hold this Government to account in every way they possibly can. That said, the Government has international obligations which we will fulfil. The response of the Irish people to the humanitarian crisis...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The initial contribution of the Deputy was not directed at the Government, as I heard it. They were directed at others in this House and perhaps people outside it. I was entitled to set out from the Government's perspective what we are doing to deal with what is a very challenging situation. We must be fair, open and honest about that. I will always vindicate and stand behind the rights...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge Deputy Berry’s consistent advocacy on behalf of those who work in our Defence Forces. We need to recruit more personnel to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps. I am particularly familiar with the challenges in the Naval Service because it is located in my community, I know many of the people who work there very well and I am aware of the challenges that are there....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: Through the decisions we made in the past couple of years, and I provided a summary of some of the improvements introduced, we have demonstrated a willingness to examine this issue. There will always be risks in terms of wider public pay policy and there is a complex set of allowances across the public service but we have demonstrated a preparedness to take some risks by making changes to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The issue here is the new core funding model. Our aim, in introducing the core funding model, is to make sure that the provision of service is viable for providers and that staff have good terms and conditions. We have seen a lot of progress in that regard with the new employment regulation order. I acknowledge the role of SIPTU in the Big Start campaign in that respect. We want to ensure...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy stated, St. John Ambulance commissioned Dr. Shannon to conduct a review of historical allegations of abuse within the organisation. I understand the findings have been presented to the board of the organisation. It is the Government's expectation that St. John Ambulance will publish the report thereafter. It has been reported in the media that it is expected that the report...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: We are not limiting the right of people to make submissions on planning applications. I am sure the Deputy will engage in the pre-legislative scrutiny process that will get under way when the bill is published. The Government has taken a multipronged approach to tackling the housing crisis. On the issue of speculators and hoarding and so on, as the Deputy has described it, a zoned land tax...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----and stand behind the system that clearly needs improvement.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I appreciate the importance of this issue for fishers, communities and for marine life. I do not have a specific update on that issue. However, I will ask the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, to come back to the Deputy with a detailed reply.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: As Deputy Higgins will know, there is a right to education. That right to education will be vindicated in the communities she represents as well. The Department of Education is very successfully implementing a school building programme. It has received a further allocation in the budget next year of €490 million. I am working closely with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to come back to the Deputy with more detailed update. It is an issue of which they are very much aware. They are working with the Road Safety Authority, RSA, to try to clear backlogs that have developed over the last couple of years. For young people in particular, it can be a real frustration and life...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: It is absolutely the case that the public sector has an important role to play in reducing our carbon emissions and in the more efficient use of our energy, whether that is in terms of our building stock, the procurement practices we follow, the nature of the goods and services we buy but also with regard to the national development plan and prioritisation of climate-friendly projects all...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I welcome the ambitious plans for the delivery of thousands of homes in east Cork and note the progress Irish Water is making. The delivery of water and waste water infrastructure in Midleton has been a long-standing issue and has held back its development so that is real progress. In relation to the road infrastructure project, the N25, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, and the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge the Deputy’s interest in this issue and in ensuring proper Traveller accommodation is in place around the country. I will follow up with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien. I am not sure how quickly new caravans can be procured and made available if the funding is provided but we will see what we can do. We want people to be safe, warm and comfortable in this...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The community safety innovation fund is an important new initiative which the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and a number of parliamentary colleagues were anxious to implement. It is about ensuring a link between where crimes are committed and proceeds are raised by CAB, for example, and the availability of those proceeds to improve investment in local communities. I do not have the details of...