Results 4,321-4,340 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I cannot answer the question on the European Commission publishing its assessment but will seek to find out the answer for the Deputy. As I said in my reply, the Commission classifies regions into three categories depending on their GDP output performance relative to the EU average. Based on that, the northern and western region has been reclassified from a more developed region to a region...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget 2023 (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: This is the expenditure report. It is not terribly glossy, but it is full of useful information. The way that the distribution analysis is presented is there is the 2022 impact and then, separately, the 2023 impact. The Deputy is asking to strip out the 2023 measures that are cost-of-living related, such as the €400 energy credits that will apply next year, the continued reduction...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget 2023 (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: If it were the case that we only provided €12 a week increase in the core weekly rates and did nothing else, then the Deputy’s conclusion would be a fair one. However, of course, that is not the case. The increase in the core weekly social welfare rates is being supplemented by an extensive range of once-off payments that will start to flow within the next short number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public services and changes to work practices. As the Deputy will be aware,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Budget 2023 (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: In addition to a €4.4 billion package of temporary supports to be provided this year, budget 2023 provides for additional core expenditure of €5.8 billion. This significant commitment, which will bring overall core spending next year to €85.9 billion, is designed to support households and businesses in a challenging economic climate, and to invest in public services and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget Process (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that the costs accrued during the commissioning of official promotional material in respect of Budget 2023 were paid by my Department. In order to ensure that Budget documentation was made available promptly to members of this house, to Seanad Éireann, and to media representatives, a limited print run of the full set of documents was prepared. Folders to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 124 together. As the Deputy will be aware, a claim by SIPTU in respect of staff employed under the Scheme for Secretarial Assistance has been under consideration at the conciliation service of the Workplace Relations Commission. The staff in question are employed in the Houses of the Oireachtas by individual TDs and Senators. It was agreed to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy may be aware, my colleague, the Minister for Defence, provided his consent for temporary association membership of ICTU to PDFORRA and RACO which was accepted by the associations on the 24th of May and 2nd of June this year respectively. Accordingly, the Defence Forces representative associations are now encompassed by the Public Services Committee of ICTU for the purposes of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The “Inflation/Supply Chain Delay Co-operation Framework" was introduced on 10 May in the interest of safeguarding public projects that are already under construction by mitigating against the risk of insolvency or contract repudiation in light of the exceptional increases witnessed in the price of construction materials, fuel and electricity. The Framework facilitates both parties to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ethics in Public Office (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: We made a commitment in the 2020 Programme for Government to ‘reform and consolidate the Ethics in Public Office legislation’. As the first step, I asked my Department to undertake a review of the statutory framework in advance of bringing fresh proposals for reform to Government. I am happy to inform the Deputy that this process is now well advanced. I expect the Ethics...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: Public service pay has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable, affordable and orderly manner. These agreements have also enabled significant reform of public services and changes to work practices. The current public service is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements provided for a range of significant reform and productivity measures including the introduction of additional working hours for public servants. Section 4.2 of Building Momentum provided for the establishment of an independent body to assess issues arising in addressing the Haddington Road Hours and to make appropriate recommendations to be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Agriculture Industry (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Programme for Government recognises the special economic and social role that agriculture plays in Ireland, but also commits to the creation of schemes that will encourage and incentivise farmers to farm in a greener and more sustainable way. This is with the aim of developing a sustainable Irish agricultural sector that protects the environment and aligns with emerging consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: In 2019, my Department published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. This Circular instructs Departments to consider including green criteria in public procurement processes where clearly defined, quantifiable, verifiable, and measurable criteria have been developed, and the cost can be met within a Department’s existing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2023 (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2023 provides substantial resources (c. €4.5bn) in expenditure measures to respond to price pressures, particularly for those on lower incomes. While Government has already taken significant steps to ease the burden of the rising cost of living, it is clear the winter ahead will bring uncertainty for many households and businesses. To go towards alleviating this, Budget 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 256 together. In Budget 2023 I have set out a responsive approach to fiscal policy - investing in the future of our public services and economy while addressing the challenges faced today. I have provided €85.9 billion in core expenditure. This funding will support the sustainable delivery of public services and infrastructure, and invest in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Expenditure Policy (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2023 set a comprehensive response to support investment in public services, facilitate continued response to externally driven challenges alongside measures to help alleviate the cost of living pressures experienced by households and businesses. Cost of Living The Government announced a €2.2 billion Winter cost of living package for households. This includes: - a double week of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: The new 2021-27 PEACEPLUS cross-border EU programme has a total funding package of some €1.1bn. I am very pleased to note that this represents an unprecedented financial investment in support of shared peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland – double the combined value of the outgoing 2014-20 INTERREG and PEACE programmes. The draft PEACEPLUS programme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2023 (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: In my speech on 27thSeptember, I acknowledged that not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Arts, Sports, Gaeltacht and the Community and Voluntary sector, are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are also very vulnerable to the severe impact of increased energy bills. For that reason, I am making €60 million available in 2022 to ease the pressures...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (4 Oct 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is responsible for the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and to ensure that expenditure is managed by Departments in line with these allocations. The responsibility for the management and delivery of investment projects, within the agreed allocations and within the national frameworks such as the Public Spending Code,...