Results 4,021-4,040 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Social Media (14 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department did not incur any social media advertising costs during 2022. The information in respect of 2021 is set out below. Social Media Platform Cost in 2021 Details of Advertisement Google Ads €1,700 Passenger locator Form

Appropriation Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank all the Deputies who have contributed to the debate. There is broad support for this Bill, which is an important one in the annual budgetary calendar to ensure there is proper legal underpinning of expenditure in the current year. It is also important in ensuring there is legal provision for expenditure to continue next year until the relevant Oireachtas committees consider the...

Appropriation Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I am not laughing at anyone.

Appropriation Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Bill to the House. The annual Appropriation Bill is critical financial legislation that must be enacted before the end of the year. It has two primary purposes, the first of which is that it provides legal authorisation for all the expenditure that has occurred in 2022 on the basis of the Estimates voted on...

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: There are a lot more of us here than there are from the Opposition.

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I work closely with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, every single day. He works harder than anyone in this House to address and tackle the housing crisis. That is the truth. He has secured an extra €11 billion for housing in the national development plan out to 2030. In 2016 the housing capital budget was €435 million. In 2020 it was €1.4 billion. Next year it...

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----that while you condemn capitalism-----

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----you talk about developer led and you talk about market base. Your motion also laments the fact that there are indications that private supply is slowing and you do not seem to see the irony in that.

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Opposition never talks about the hard yards, the issues that are actually involved in delivering housing supply, such as, the reforms to the planning system; access to affordable finance; the apprenticeship system; tackling materials inflation; land availability; and access to private capital. If we want to deliver 33,000 homes per year, and the Opposition says we need more than that,...

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: I support the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and look forward to voting to express confidence in him this evening. I do so because I see every day the work he is doing. I know he absolutely cares about the people affected by the homelessness crisis, the people struggling with rents and the people who aspire to homeownership. I also know...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: Throughout my tenure as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the staff of my Department have worked collaboratively on a wide range of policies and initiatives to deliver on the strategic goals set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy. This includes the strategic management of well-targeted and sustainable public spending and the negotiation and allocation of €85.9...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) was introduced on 1 January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2010 and extended via the FEMPI Act 2013. It was the only measure that decreased the actual pay-out value of public service pensions in payment as part of the Government’s programme of emergency measures introduced to address the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: When this Government took office in June 2020, we immediately signalled our intention to bring forward the review of the National Development Plan which was originally planned for 2022. Following a thorough process of engagement, analysis and reflection, the revised National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 (NDP) incorporating a public investment package of €165 billion was...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: Delegated sanction is the policy in place across the majority of the public service for the management of public service staffing levels since 2015. It was introduced by the Government to provide Offices and Departments with flexibility to recruit staff at grades up to Principal Officer level in order to meet identified business needs subject to remaining within overall pay ceilings agreed as...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: OGP has completed significant engagement with domestic and European stakeholders to identify possible cloud services procurement solutions, their scale and scope, along with the associated challenges. OGP has also conducted a detailed analysis of demand for cloud services across the public service. Having reviewed and assessed all potential opportunities, OGP is planning to put in place a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The new 2021-27 PEACEPLUS EU cross-border programme, which has been finalised by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), working in close cooperation with my Department and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, has been informed by extensive public engagement and consultation. This has included two full scale public consultations held across the programme area for PEACEPLUS of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parliamentary Party Allowances (13 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 (the Principal Act) as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2014. The legislation provides that each Party Leader and Independent member in receipt of the allowance must...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Expenses (8 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 (the Principal Act) as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2014. The Allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying Party in relation to expenses arising from...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (8 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The following rates are payable to members of Interview/Selection Boards in the Public Appointments Service. These rates have been in place since the 1st July 2013. Retired Public Servants (on pension): Secretary General €377 Deputy Secretary €295 Assistant Secretary €200 Principal...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (8 Dec 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme in the Western region. While the relevant EU regulations do not refer to flagship projects, they do provide for 'operations of strategic importance'. The "Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027" published by the NWRA and available at the...