Results 4,221-4,240 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (27 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service pension schemes, and for the National Shared Service Office (NSSO) which makes pension payments to retired civil servants. The NSSO provides access to payslips via an online service as standard; however, in exceptional circumstances this can be reviewed by the NSSO, with a view to posting payslips...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (26 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, while I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service pension schemes, questions about the pension schemes of any particular public service body should be referred to the Minister of the parent Department for the body concerned, in this case the Minister for Housing. However to address the general point raised, it is a fundamental feature of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Development Plan (25 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The National Development Plan 2021-30 (NDP) published last year provides a detailed and positive vision for Ireland until the end of the decade, and sees total public investment of €165 billion over that period. It is important to note that the NDP is fundamentally a high-level financial and budgetary plan, which sets out the framework and broad direction for investment priorities. It...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: There are a total of 10 people in my Department working across press, communications and social media. Below is a breakdown of these roles in tabular form. Head of Press and Communications Unit 1 Press Office (including Social Media) 3 Communications Office 2 Office of Government Procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (25 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have direct responsibility for the civil service pension schemes, while I hold a policy and approval role in respect of certain public service pension schemes. Pension benefits for civil and public servants can vary depending on individual careers in the public service. Pre-1995 Pension Schemes In general,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Education and Training Boards (25 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The terms and conditions of Adult Education Tutors employed by Education and Training Boards are a matter in the first instance for both the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The particular matters raised in the proposals are complex and raise significant policy, legal and exchequer cost issues which are being...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (25 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The National Lottery is a significant asset which plays an important role in generating funds for Good Causes throughout Ireland and across a range of areas including sport and recreation, culture and heritage, community health, the arts, and youth affairs. The National Lottery Fund transferred €289m to the Exchequer in 2021 which represents a significant 14% increase on 2020 and is a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Appointments Service (25 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) was established under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Commission is the principal regulator of recruitment and selection processes within the public service. It has a statutory role to ensure that appointments in the organisations subject to its remit (that is, those that fall under the authority...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tax Collection (25 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Programme for Government commits to a gradual increase in the carbon tax over the next decade to reach €100 a tonne by 2030. It is estimated that these increases will lead to €9.5bn in additional revenue over the period 2021 - 2030. The Programme for Government states that all of the funds raised by the increases in the carbon tax will be used to support increased...

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions during the Second Stage debate. Many interesting points were made by colleagues from across the House. Broadly speaking, there is good support for the Bill, but some colleagues want to go further and will table amendments, which is what the legislative process is all about. As is always the case, I will give very careful consideration to any...

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (20 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to present this Bill to the House. Communication, dialogue and engagement are central to a well-functioning democracy and are critical drivers of trust. The Government needs to be open to outside interests and ideas. Lobbying is an essential element of the democratic process. Individuals and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (20 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I and my Department are responsible for the Civil Service pension schemes, which cover personnel in established and unestablished Civil Service and State Industrial posts. We would not be in a position to provide figures for 2022 until such time as the full year has elapsed and the Appropriation Account for 2022 has been audited. This will be completed over the course of 2023. Total pension...

Estimates for Public Services 2022 (19 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I move the following Supplementary Estimate: Vote 29 — Environment, Climate and Communications (Third Supplementary Estimate) That a third supplementary sum not exceeding €1,362,000,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2022, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Priorities (19 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: Staff numbers in the public service have continued to grow over the last number of years. Between end-2015 and Q2 2022 overall serving numbers in full-time equivalent terms (FTE) increased from about 302,000 to 370,000, an increase of 68,000 FTE or approximately 20%.  Pay in the public service has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was...

Estimates for Public Services 2022 (18 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I move the following Supplementary Estimate: Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Supplementary Estimate) That a supplementary sum not exceeding €719,413,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2022, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Children,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (18 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The National Lottery is a significant asset which plays an important role in generating funds for Good Causes throughout Ireland and across a range of areas including sport and recreation, culture and heritage, community health, the arts, and youth affairs. The National Lottery Fund transferred €289m to the Exchequer in 2021 which represents a significant 14% increase on 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cybersecurity Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: For operational and security reasons, my Department is advised by the National Cyber Security Centre not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise the Department's cybersecurity efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose any information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in cybersecurity...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Cybersecurity Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), which is a division of my Department, produced a Cloud Computing Advice Note for public bodies in October 2019. This moved the debate on the use of cloud from whether we should use it to what, how and when we should move to the cloud. My Department has taken its own advice in this regard and now makes extensive use of cloud....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: Special Advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State may be appointed by Government in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The terms approved by Government for the appointment of Special Advisers are set out in the “Instructions to HR Managers on Ministerial Appointments for the 33rd Dáil” published by my Department. My...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The details requested by the Deputy on Special Advisers employed by my Department since 2015 are shown in the table below: Special Adviser Minister Date of Cessation of Special Adviser Employment with my Department Ronan O’Brien Brendan Howlin 06 May 2016 Anne Byrne Magner Brendan Howlin 06...