Results 5,481-5,500 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Programmes (19 Jan 2022)

Michael McGrath: The new PEACE PLUS programme will continue the vital work of the two North South cooperation programmes, PEACE IV and INTERREG VA, into the 2021-27 period.  As the successor to both programmes, PEACE PLUS will be a cohesive new programme for the Irish border counties and Northern Ireland.  Financial commitments from the EU, the UK and Ireland mean that the PEACE PLUS...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Government acknowledges the contribution of our front-line healthcare workers and all workers across the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working together has been a key element of the Government’s approach to the pandemic to date, and this should form part of any approach to recognition. The pandemic remains an ongoing challenge for us all. It has required our full focus...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Enhanced diversity on State Boards is a long standing commitment of Government and is also important in terms of enhancing the effectiveness of State Boards. I am strongly committed to building on the progress made in recent years in this regard. The Deputy may be aware that in September 2020 I published an Annex to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. The Annex deals...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Data (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, the first parts of the Data Sharing and Governance Act were commenced in 2019 and additional sections have commenced recently. The Act is changing how Public Bodies share data and requires a comprehensive data sharing and governance framework. The guidance on new procedures have now been published and these will support Public Bodies to share personal data in a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware I announced the formation of the Data Governance Board in July of this year and since then the Board has met on 3 occasions.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are 74 civil servants (FTE 72.55) currently employed in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am happy to advise that the Office of the Chief Information Officer has been working on the personal access data portal and has completed the prototyping phase of the project. The next phase of the project will involve a Proof of Concept and this work will begin in 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I was pleased to be informed that an agreement had been reached between the Department of Social Protection and the Data Protection Commission on the processing of personal data in relation to SAFE registration and the Public Services Card (PSC). The Agreement acknowledges and accepts that the Department and other specified bodies can continue to use MyGovID as the sole means of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent, statutory body that provides professional recruitment and selection services to the civil service. PAS forms panels for general civil service positions that candidates are assigned from as and when vacancies are notified to PAS by civil service employers. All recruitment is demand led and candidates...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Recruitment to the civil service may be way of open competition or by confined promotional competitions for existing civil servants on an internal (within one Department/Office) or interdepartmental (across all Departments/Offices) basis. The panels established from each competition are used to fill vacancies as they arise during the lifetime of the panels. As the Deputy is aware, the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Bonds Redemption (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together. The information sought by the Deputy is not collated centrally and is a matter for individual contracting authorities with responsibility for works projects. Performance bonds are financial securities taken out by construction clients (public or private sector) to insure the contract performance against a default or breach by the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Civil Service (16 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the 2021 Temporary Clerical Officer in the Civil and Public Service competition that was advertised in October 2020 by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as the principal recruiter for the civil and public service. Civil and public service employers may draw upon panels established form this competition to fill temporary Clerical Officer...

Appropriation Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank all the Deputies for contributing to the debate. As they highlighted, the Bill is an important piece of housekeeping in which the Oireachtas has to engage every year to ensure we have a proper legal basis for the moneys that were spent over the course of that year and to ensure spending can continue into the following year before the House approves the Estimates for that year. ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government welcomes the decision of the UK Supreme Court this morning in respect of the hooded men case. We will, of course, study the findings of that judgment very carefully. I am sure the Deputy will be aware that in the course of their campaign, the Government has met and engaged with the men and, indeed, has supported their case,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and for his continued interest in this matter. I will raise the specific issue with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. The additional funding he has provided will be very much welcomed and put to good use. It is important to state that there is already extensive legislation in place that imposes clear legal obligations in the context of animal...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. The roll-out of the vaccine for five- to 11-year-olds who are immunosuppressed and the most vulnerable will start next week. In fact, the vaccines of the particular paediatric Pfizer dose arrived in the country today. That will start next week. For all other five- to 11-year-olds, it will start in early January. The Government has no plans for schools to close...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I will do my best. I thank Deputy Clarke for her question. I heard a member of the Women of Honour group speaking on the "Saturday with Katie Hannon" radio programme last Saturday. There was to be a further engagement with the Department of Defence. I am sure the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will give an update on that. He is certainly satisfied that the terms of reference for the...

Presentation and Circulation of Revised Estimates 2022: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: That Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2022, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members, pursuant to Standing Orders 95(1)(a) and 215.”

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: At a human level, this has been one of the most difficult issues that has presented itself over the past 21 months or so where people have not been able to visit loved ones in hospital where they have been in very difficult circumstances and acute need. As the Deputy will know, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has issued guidance on access to acute hospitals over the course of the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I will pass on the Deputy's request for a meeting to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, but it is worth highlighting the work that we have done on this issue. Up to yesterday, the Government had already approved a donation of up to 2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to developing countries in the coming months. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, received the approval of Government for a further...