Results 18,661-18,680 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Public Liability Insurance (28 Feb 2019)

Michael McGrath: 63. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of insurance underwriters authorised and prudentially regulated here to underwrite public liability and employer liability insurance; his views on the lack of competition for small businesses; the number of insurance underwriters for public liability and employer liability that are still prudentially regulated in the UK and regulated here under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Protection Policies (28 Feb 2019)

Michael McGrath: 228. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the decision to restrict mortgage protection insurance to certain insurance companies is a matter for local authorities; if the decision is made by his Department; the consumer protection laws both domestic and European that govern mortgage protection insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10162/19]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mortgage Protection Policies (28 Feb 2019)

Michael McGrath: 229. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons that have taken out mortgage protection insurance as part of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the number of companies that have been used for this insurance; the average cost per month for mortgage holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10163/19]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: This question relates to the work of the Public Service Pay Commission on the issue of recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. The purpose of it is to get an update from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, on the status of that work. As the Minister will be aware there is a recruitment and retention crisis across the Defence Forces which I know is an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: As the Minister will know, the numbers in the Defence Forces continue to fall. I understand that the current number is 8,874, which is below the threshold of 9,000 the Government indicated it would not allow the Defence Forces to fall below and which is far short of the 9,500, which was set out within the White Paper. Will the Minister clarify the role of the Department of Public...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Service Pay Commission Reports (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: The fundamental question is when the Government expects the matter to move on. I understand the Minister's determination to uphold the integrity of the public service stability agreement, which I support. We are dealing with a construct, however, within the confines of that agreement to address specifically a crisis in recruitment and retention. Any recommendations or any report of the pay...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: This question relates to what extra supports may be available from Europe for Ireland in the context of Brexit, which we will be discussing all week. This relates to the adverse scenario, a no-deal Brexit. It is to give the Minister an opportunity to update the House on his Department's engagement with the European Commission on what supports may be available to deal with and support the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: It goes without saying that this is a scenario that none of us wants or expects to see happen but it is certainly a possibility. Will the Minister outline to the House any specifics of what European authorities have committed to doing to assist the areas of the economy that will be worst-affected, including farmers, the food sector, agrifood and indigenous manufacturing? We have the Brexit...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: The commitment of support from the European Union is to be welcomed. There has been strong solidarity among our European partners on the issue of Brexit, so that should be acknowledged. These words of support from the European Commission and others are important. I assume that in the background the Government has been scoping out and fleshing out what would be asked for in that scenario....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: This question concerns the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018, specifically the interim measure that was agreed for those public servants who reached the age of 65 before the Act came into being. They had to retire as per their contract of employment. A commitment was given, on a request from Deputy Cowen, that within three months there would be a report to see what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: The Minister of State has said that those who availed of the interim measure and had to retire at the age of 65, because that is what their contract provided for, understood that they would be rehired on a temporary basis for a period of one year, and that they would then have to retire permanently and would be gone. Is the Minister of State saying that the report will not set out potential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: Maybe the Minister of State could clarify what the report is examining. What does he expect it to address? Obviously he does not know what the content is but what are the issues that the report is examining? When does he expect it to be made available? We all understand what the legal position was prior to the enactment of this legislation. People had contracts of employment and were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: I assure the Minister of State that every line Minister contributing to the €99 million required in savings or cuts is being questioned about how it is going to be done. The Minister of State is not being singled out; perhaps he thinks he is.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: To be clear, at the joint committee the Minister of State said that the €3 million cut or saving will not delay any project and that the savings will be achieved because projects were being delayed anyway. The Minister of State had a capital programme planned for 2019 and projects listed. Can he tell us what projects are delayed that will contribute to the saving he requires? I am...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: For the measures that are dealt with in the legislation here, I ask the Minister to highlight if there are changes to the status quo. My understanding is that in essence these sections are about the retention of the status quo. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, the enactment of these provisions essentially provides that the current arrangements with the UK, treating it as a member state,...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: If I understand the Minister correctly, he is saying that all these provisions will be reviewed in the normal way as the Oireachtas would do through the budgetary process and the finance Bill. However, from the point of view of the EU giving its imprimatur to these measures, which for the purposes of continuing with these reliefs allows Ireland to essentially recognise the UK as remaining...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: I wish to put my understanding of what the Minister said on the record. My interpretation is that what has been captured here is exhaustive from the perspective of the Department and that the Minister is not aware of any further changes that fall out of this by omission. If that is the position, it covers an awful lot that we could go into in greater detail.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for these amendments. On amendment No. 42 on duty free, as I understand it, if the Minister did not bring in this amendment then the default position would be that duty free would be reintroduced if and when the UK leaves the European Union at the end of March. The Minister is, therefore, bringing forward this amendment which, if enacted, allows him by commencement...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: The amendments are grouped.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: On the policy point, is it the Government's position that, notwithstanding what other European countries may do on the question of duty free, it intends to align its position with the UK's? Is that the thinking at this point?