Results 4,401-4,420 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Updated Economic and Fiscal Position in Advance of Budget 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Chairman has asked a very good question. We are very conscious that the kind of inflation that is being experienced impacts on everyone. That is why it will involve a combination of measures, some of which will be targeted. We have made progress in recent years in reducing inequality and poverty. Even at times when it was not possible, for example, to increase the weekly core social...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Updated Economic and Fiscal Position in Advance of Budget 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the committee.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy may wish to be aware that my Department has recently completed a review of Motor Travel Rates in conjunction with Staff Side representatives. The outcome of the review is that revised rates were introduced with effect from 1stSeptember 2022. The revised rates are set out in Circular 16/2022: Revised Motor Travel Rates. Motor Travel Rates This Circular sets out the rates which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted on 22 December last. It underpins a key Programme for Government commitment and it is notable that this coincides with Irish having become a full working language of the EU Institutions since January. From submissions made to the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy may be aware, the previous Government approved the current pension increase policy as part of its commitments under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). Under this policy, which applied for the duration of the PSSA, pay increases granted to serving staff over the course of the PSSA were passed on to those pensions awarded under the pre-existing public service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy may be aware, the previous Government approved the current pension increase policy as part of its commitments under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). Under this policy, which applied for the duration of the PSSA, pay increases granted to serving staff over the course of the PSSA were passed on to those pensions awarded under the pre-existing public service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: A Blended Working Policy for Staff in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was published on 31 August 2022. This Blended Working Policy provides for staff to apply to work remotely for up to 2 days per week. There is no provision in the policy for remote working on a 5 day per week basis. The communication with this policy explained to staff that applications for blended...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The following material has been submitted to me by the Regulator of the National Lottery for use in answering this question. ORNL Materials Advertising Budget Under the terms of the Licence to operate the National Lottery, the Operator is required to advertise and promote the National Lottery in two respects: A. Base Marketing: The operator is required to undertake “base...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The total amount of spending by the Operator of the National Lottery on advertising per annum is the confidential and commercially sensitive information of the Operator, within the meaning of Clause 20.6 of the Licence to operate the National Lottery, and therefore is not provided to me, the Minister, and cannot be disclosed by the Regulator to the Minister without the Operator’s...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The following material has been submitted to me by the Regulator of the National Lottery for use in answering this question. The 90% and 10% figures used in the National Lottery advertisement are taken from the most recent audited accounts of the Operator – 2021 – (to be laid before the Oireachtas shortly). These are the most recent figures available. When one looks back over...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery has confirmed: There are numerous safety factors built into the National Lottery to discourage addiction. 1. The National Lottery gaming system only sells tickets between the hours of 7am to 11pm. 2. The types of games that the National Lottery may sell are strictly limited. 3. Every new game or change to an existing game must be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. You will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In the case of the Civil Service, remote working will be facilitated into the future on a blended basis, with the aim of achieving the goal in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (14 Sep 2022)

Michael McGrath: Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, and the rules of the An Post Pension Scheme, pension increases or alterations to the schemes are subject to the authorisation of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications given with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. An Post formally sought Ministerial approval on 4 May...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (14 Sep 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...

Summer Economic Statement: Statements (14 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: We had two hours of debate in committee.

Summer Economic Statement: Statements (14 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: This debate provides an important opportunity to consider the Government’s fiscal strategy for budget 2023, as set out in the summer economic statement. This morning I was glad to have the opportunity, alongside the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to engage with colleagues at a meeting of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. The meeting gave us a good opportunity to tease out...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (14 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together. The Summer Economic Statement (SES), published on 4th July 2022, sets out the key parameters for Budget 2023. This included a total expenditure budget package of €5.7 billion over 2022 and 2023, €0.4 billion of which is phased into 2022. This is an increase of €1.7 billion relative to what was originally provided...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Summer Economic Statement (14 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: Under the approach set out in last year’s Summer Economic Statement, 3% of the core current expenditure base is being set aside each year to meet Existing Levels of Service or ELS costs. These include costs arising from demographic pressures in areas such as Social Protection, Health and Education as well as the carryover costs from measures already introduced in prior year Budgets and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Health Services (14 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: This is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Health. The Department of Health will reply separately to provide clarification on this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (14 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2022 made provision for up to €7.5 billion in funding to continue our response to the Covid-19 pandemic and for the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. Following the Revised Estimates in December 2021, €3.9 billion of this funding remained unallocated. This contingency is held in reserve centrally to allow Government flexibility to respond to emerging needs during the year. In...