Results 4,561-4,580 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (5 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are currently no full time PhD candidates placed in my Department or the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department. I can also confirm that this is the case with regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department.   The Deputy may be aware that the refund of fees scheme supports civil servants to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (5 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: Motor travel rates were last reviewed in 2017 and the current rates are set out in Circular 05/2017: Motor Travel Rates. The rates are currently being reviewed by my officials and work is ongoing on devising new rates reflecting current input costs.  Proposals for revised rates will be discussed, as per existing agreements, with staff representative associations. It is anticipated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (5 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016-2018, with the remainder of the process largely completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 and ‘Building Momentum: A New Public Service Agreement, 2021-2022’. By 1 July, 2021, salary rates up to €150,000, which account for 99% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (5 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme is under the remit of Minister Humphreys and the Department of Social Protection, who I understand have received a similar question. Within the Public Service each sector is responsible for their own occupational health supports and their own occupational injury schemes, as sectoral needs require.  Access to such schemes is as per the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Airport Security (5 Jul 2022)

Michael McGrath: I would suggest that the Deputy refer his question to the Minister for Justice, as the matter of an additional Garda presence at Dublin Airport and the cost arising is a matter for the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and the Minister of Justice in the first instance.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (30 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy may be aware, the principle of abatement of a public service pension is longstanding within the rules of various public service pension schemes and pension abatement is an important aspect of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (the Single Scheme Act).   The Act provides for the abatement of a public service pension where a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (30 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that none of the bodies under the aegis of my Department are currently registered as a charity and also that none have held that status in the past.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (30 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: 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 applied equitably across all affected grades, groups, categories and sectors. Government approved the Independent Hours Body Report last April.  The circular issued recently, at the link, sets...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (30 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: Motor travel rates were last reviewed in 2017 and the current rates are set out in Circular 05/2017: Motor Travel Rates. The rates are currently being reviewed by my officials and work is ongoing on devising new rates reflecting current input costs.  Proposals for revised rates will be discussed, as per existing agreements, with staff representative associations. It is anticipated that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I fully agree with the Deputy about the incredible role our carers play. We can never properly recognise the work they do. In the previous budget, we did make the first changes in the means test in about 14 years, which was a step forward. All of this will be considered in the lead-up to the budget. Of course, there are issues arising from the Pensions Commission that are directly...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: My understanding is the planning regulator makes recommendations to the Minister, who considers those recommendations and makes a determination. It is fair to say the views of the Office of the Planning Regulator would be a very important consideration for the Minister in making the final decision but, as I understand it, it is a final decision for the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge this is an issue Deputy Smith has consistently raised, and I recall our meeting with local authority members for the Cavan-Monaghan area last year. It is also the case that, given the current cost of resurfacing works and with bitumen, an oil-based product, being particularly expensive, the work we did in reforming the public works contract, including in respect of energy, will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Naughten for raising this issue, which I know has quite a history to it. I assure him of the work that is ongoing within the Government to make progress on this. As many of the issues fall within the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, has...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to revert to Deputy MacSharry directly on this issue. We all acknowledge that when it comes to responding to a cardiac incident, time is paramount, but so too is the quality of the service. I have heard what the Deputy had to say in regard to a cardiac cath lab and the requirements at Sligo. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: As I said to Deputy MacSharry, I appreciate the importance of this issue. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to respond as a matter of urgency, given the latest developments on this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue which is so important for many people. I just want to reassure him that the HSE continues to engage in commercial discussions with Vertex. The Minister for Health advises that the matter is being expedited at speed and is receiving all necessary attention. Those discussions are commercial in nature, but the need to bring them hopefully to a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I can confirm that the Government approved the drafting of a family court Bill along the lines of the general scheme in September 2020 which has been published and the drafting of the Bill is ongoing. It is quite an intensive amount of work ongoing in respect of that with a view to publishing it as soon as possible. The family court Bill will make provision for the establishment of a family...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As I said earlier, the Department of Transport has a funding commitment of €30 billion out to 2030 in the national development plan, NDP. We have a provision within the programme for Government for a 2:1 ratio in terms of new investment in favour of public transport infrastructure-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----relative to new road infrastructure. That still provides very significant funding for investment in new road infrastructure, including upgrades of existing primary and secondary national roads. I will look into the issue the Deputy raised and ask the Minister to respond to him.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this. I absolutely recognise the value of developmental check-ups for children. As the Deputy said, it provides peace of mind in the vast majority of instances, but also, where there is an issue, early detection and warning is vital when it comes to intervening and making a difference. I do not know the detail of the area and the case the Deputy raised. I...