Results 24,381-24,400 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if special needs assistants are permitted under the terms of their employment to perform general secretarial work for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49152/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (8 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to roll out the new INTREO service in Cork city or county. [49347/12]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (8 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the options open to a person (details supplied) who is here on a holiday visa and who wishes to legally extend their stay here. [49106/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (8 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the provision of home care assistance to persons (details supplied) in County Cork to ensure it is adequate for their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49102/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (8 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the impact that any further cuts to a foundation (details supplied) will have on those who depend on the services provided by this organisation; if he will take this into account in framing the budget for the foundation for 2013; if he will carry out an impact assessment of any further budget cuts for the foundation; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Museum Projects (8 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to establish a National Sports Museum / Hall of Fame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49126/12]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To put it in specific terms, based on the numbers Mr. Moran is looking at currently, is an adjustment of €3.5 billion sufficient to achieve a deficit next year of 7.5%? He is focused on achieving the targets, and we all agree on that, but what are the numbers telling him in terms of what is required to get to the target next year given that downward revision of growth?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: Is it still the Department's position that our national debt is sustainable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: When Ministers such as the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and the Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, say that Ireland's debt is not sustainable, that is at variance with the official Government position and the official Department of Finance position at this point in time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: It is sustainable according to the Department. The document The Irish Economy in Perspective, which the Department published last May, clearly states that the debt is sustainable. That is the official position of the Department and therefore of the Government. We have had mixed messages.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: Is it still the Department's position that the overall debt to GDP ratio will peak next year at 120.3% and then begin to decline? As Mr. Moran will be aware, the Fiscal Advisory Council holds the view that there is a 40% chance that the debt will not stabilise by 2015 and could continue to grow as a percentage of GDP. Is he still predicting that it will peak next year and then begin to decline?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: I will move on to the issue of mortgages. Mr. Moran made some comments at the recent Irish Banking Federation conference at which Fiona Muldoon from the Central Bank also spoke. There was a common theme of some frustration at the speed with which the banks are dealing with the mortgage crisis. Mr. Moran made the point that there will be a need for some level of debt write-down or debt...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: Does Mr. Moran think that is an issue of operational capacity or an issue of a willingness to tackle the issue? Each bank has deployed hundreds of staff to deal with mortgage arrears but they are not getting down to the level of agreeing sustainable restructuring of debt with people. They are moving them to interest-only mortgages and extending the term of mortgages. The advance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: On the issue of unemployment, it remains stubbornly high at 14.8%. I appreciate it is officially a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, but it is dealt with in the Department of Finance's statement of strategy. It remains stubbornly high and it is difficult to see how it will come down, particularly in the absence of any recovery on the domestic side of the economy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: Does Mr. Moran think that the level will not be coming down at the moment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: I welcome Mr. Moran and his colleagues from the Department. I wish to focus on some of the goals that are set out in the Department's statement of strategy. In the context of the macroeconomic picture and the fiscal forecasts, when will the Department publish its medium-term fiscal statement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: Okay. As Mr. Moran will be aware, earlier today the European Commission again downgraded Ireland's growth forecast for the current year to 0.4%. The Department is still forecasting a rate of 0.7%. The Commission has predicted a rate of 1.1% for next year, while the Department is still predicting a rate of 2.2%. Is Mr. Moran in a position to advise as to the Department's revised forecasts...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: In light of Mr. Moran's acknowledgement that the forecasts for this year and next year will have to be revised downward - I presume this will also be the case for 2014 - there is no doubt but that both the public finances and the adjustment path that has been set out in respect of 2015 will be impacted upon. Will the revisions in question have an impact on the forthcoming budget? Is it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: What does that mean in the context of the challenge for next year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Michael McGrath: To be fair, this is not a policy matter. It is a factual issue.