Results 5,241-5,260 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (3 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, Section 483 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, provides for a gift on an annual basis to be made to the Minister for Finance to be applied for any purpose for or towards the cost of which public moneys are provided. Gifts are accepted by the Minister for Finance. While an individual official may decide to cease gifting, a "gift" by its common definition is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (3 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together. The increase on 01 October 2021 was part of the current public service pay agreement that applies to all public service posts. Chapter 3 of Building Momentum - A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022provided for a general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (3 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: In July, 2021 the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service which is in line with the Programme for Government commitment mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. The Policy Statement commits the Civil Service to implementing a policy of blended working for the future that can provide flexibility to both employees and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: The objective of the policy on One Person One Salary (OPOS) is to restrict payment of extra remuneration, from additional public service sources, to public sector employees. While the initial policy focused on board fees, it has been expanded over time to cover any type of potential second income from a public service source that might accrue to a public sector employee. Additional payment...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I am pleased to be in front of the committee today to present the 2022 Estimates for my Department’s group of Votes. I am joined by the Minister of State with responsibility for public procurement and eGovernment, Deputy Ossian Smyth. The group comprises a significant number of Votes including: Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform; Vote 12, Superannuation and Retired Allowances,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: I very much welcome the report published by the committee back in November. I appeared before the committee on another matter shortly after the publication of that report and we had an initial discussion on it then. I have now had an opportunity to consider the report in more detail. It is a very detailed piece of work, with 288 pages and a significant number of recommendations. Having...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: The question of gifting is a private matter for any individual. As Minister, I sign an annual gifting form. To date, I have signed forms to a value of well over €50,000. It is not for me to talk about-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: Yes, that is correct. This is a provision that is administered under-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: If I can answer the question, I would appreciate it. Under the Taxes Consolidation Act, section 483 deals with the issue of gifting of salary on an annual basis. The application is made to the Minister for Finance and it is applied for any purpose or it can go towards the costs of which any public moneys are provided. In other words, the use of the proceeds is a matter for government....

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: For example, somebody earning €20,000, instead of getting a flat 1% increase, which would amount to €200, will get two and a half times that.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: To be straight with the Deputy, as I always am, no such claims have been made. Whether we like the position or not, it is the case that the gifting of a portion of a person's salary, which I am happy to do because I think it is the right thing to do, is a matter for each individual. Our public servants and civil servants are entitled to gift a portion of their salary. The question of when...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: In simple terms, the main reason for that increase is that there was not much travel over the past couple of years and the level of travel will inevitably increase this year as there will be the necessity to attend ministerial meetings and other important international meetings at official level as well as ministerial level. It is important to make that point. Was the Deputy asking if the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Michael McGrath: It is not. This issue arose after Christmas and a decision was made following a security review that was carried out by the Garda Commissioner. As a result of that, a decision was made that three senior Ministers, including me, would be assigned a Garda driver or close protection officer. The cost of that is not explicitly provided for here. It was a decision that was made subsequent to...