Results 5,501-5,520 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

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

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue and for his ongoing representations in support of the development of the PEACE PLUS programme. My Department has responsibility, on the part of the Irish Government, for the roll-out of this programme, working with the Northern Executive and, of course, the UK Government and the special EU programmes body. We have a very exciting programme at a...

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

Michael McGrath: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to come back to the Deputy on this issue of survivors of thalidomide and the legislation to which the Deputy has referred. He will come back to the Deputy with a specific update on that.

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

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Devlin for raising this issue and for acknowledging the importance of the booster vaccination programme. I can tell the House that, yesterday, 45,000 booster vaccines were administered, which was the single biggest number to date in the booster programme. Those between the ages of 40 and 49 will start to receive the booster brought vaccine no later than the week commencing 27...

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

Michael McGrath: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to come back to the Deputy on the specific issue of the ownership. I reiterate the point that has been made by the Minister and others in recent months, which is we will only be investing in a new hospital once we have absolute assurance that all legal services available in the State will be provided in that hospital and that it will be free of any...

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

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this issue. The Government has announced the reinstatement of the enhanced rates of the EWSS, which is a very important support for the hospitality sector and all other sectors. There are qualifying criteria because this is taxpayers' money. In essence it relates to a 30% reduction in turnover relative to a reference period back in 2019. The EWSS remains...

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

Michael McGrath: I have given the chequebook for transport to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and it is a large chequebook because he has a budget of €35 billion out to 2030 for transport-related capital projects. The national development plan is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every project that will happen in the coming decade. It is a high-level budgetary framework for our public capital...

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

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I acknowledge his work on it and his role in bringing forward the issue. The issue set out in the report is deeply disturbing. The fact it continued over such a period of time with the knowledge of people on the ground and members of staff is quite shocking. I will have to ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy on the intention to publish...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I should say that the Minister for Social Protection was the person who recognised that there was a need to reopen the PUP, has always been at pains to say that we have to look after the people who are most in need and are the most impacted by the restrictions. I think it is important to put that point on the record. The PUP is open for people to go back on it. People who came off it...

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

Michael McGrath: The Government absolutely acknowledges that many individuals and families are under pressure at this time, particularly with rising fuel costs and electricity costs and so on. It is important to say that the measure we agreed at Cabinet on Tuesday to provide a rebate or a discount, as such, of €100 off every domestic electricity bill is in addition to the targeted measures that were...

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

Michael McGrath: It is important to say that the updating of the technology to take account of the booster dose should be done at a time when people have had the opportunity to have that dose. We are now at a point where around 1.3 million booster doses and third doses for the immunocompromised have been administered. We are going to accelerate the roll-out of the booster vaccine significantly. The Deputy...

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

Michael McGrath: I have had a fair bit of engagement with the Minister for Education in relation to this issue in recent weeks. The minor works grant is normally paid in November or December. It is normally at a level of around €30 million for primary schools, as the Deputy has acknowledged. What was announced and paid out is a sum of €62 million, which is more than double the grant in total....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy rightly highlighted the HSE's plan and intentions, which are to develop a larger short-term respite care facility for north Tipperary and to retain the current day services, to include dementia services. The Deputy is correct in making that point, but the Government, through the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will engage further with the HSE and meet with the HSE...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is a hat-trick for the Premier County today. It is good to engage with Deputy McGrath. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has had ongoing engagement with representatives of the sector and, in fact, her officials met with them again yesterday. The Minister attended the meeting along with me and the Tánaiste on 6 December. The MEAI, to which the Deputy referred, was in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Each long-stay setting is different so the position that HIQA and the HSE adopt is particular to each. Therefore, the answer I am giving relates specifically to the Dean Maxwell. The HSE is in constant contact with patients and their families so they can receive updates. It is important that reassurance be given that no resident will be asked to leave the Dean Maxwell in advance of 1...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: There is a commitment given by the HSE to continue to admit residents unless it is instructed otherwise by HIQA. It is important to be clear on that caveat and qualifier. If a direction is issued by HIQA, that will need to be complied with. We take the HIQA reports and regulations extremely seriously. They are there to protect standards and safeguard residents and staff so it is important...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge the work that he continues to do on this issue along with Deputy Cahill and Councillor Michael Smith, who has rightly been acknowledged for his work. It is important to highlight what has been confirmed today, which is that the Dean Maxwell can continue from today to admit new residents. That is a significant and important development. The HSE has made...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I assure the Deputy that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is working on the legislation on the important issue of oversight. She is examining the HIQA report the Deputy referred to. The Minister of State will engage directly with HIQA on that. She will not fall short in taking the necessary steps to ensure there is a proper system of regulation and standards are upheld at all times. ...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy and wish to convey condolences from the Government to him, his party and the families of the late Liam Kavanagh and Toddy O'Sullivan, who represented my constituency with distinction for so long. Both of them were Labour Party stalwarts and great servants of their constituents and of their party. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha. I thank the Deputy for raising...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I wish to highlight the ongoing work within the Government and the HSE to address what is an important issue across society. As the Deputy is aware, the Government is committed to establishing a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services, which the Department of Health is developing. It is the view of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Policies (15 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: Throughout 2021, the staff of my Department worked collaboratively on a very wide range of policies, projects and initiatives to deliver on the strategic goals set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023. Full details in relation to the achievements of the Department in respect of its key objectives for 2021 (summarised below) will be set out in my Department's Annual Report...