Results 5,561-5,580 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Statutory Instruments (1 Dec 2021)

Michael McGrath: The legal basis and Ministerial power for the making of regulations for public service sick leave is founded in the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act of 2013 (No. 47 of 2013).   The responsibility for the application and implementation of those regulations, in this case S.I. No. 124/2014 - Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014 and...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: None of that is true.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: We can talk about it during the week.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Get off the high horse.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission came into existence on 1 January 2004 under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003. This founding commission legislation then led, in summary, to two consequences; one, that the commission became the sanctioning authority for expenditure and for deciding on staff numbers up to the grade...

Seanad: National Development Plan 2021-2030: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I appreciate the opportunity to come before the House to say a few words on the national development plan, NDP. I will have to leave the House at about 5.45 p.m. to go to Dáil Éireann as I must introduce a Bill. The Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, will deputise for me at that point. I am grateful to have this opportunity to speak with the House about the revised national...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Central Policy Unit for Freedom of Information at my Department has put in place a broad array of supports for bodies across the civil and public service in order to assist them in discharging their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act in an efficient and thorough manner. The Central Policy Unit has published on its website sample letters covering various situations that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Proofing (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Beginning with a pilot programme introduced for the 2018 budgetary cycle, Equality Budgeting is a way of approaching and understanding the budget as a process that embodies long-standing societal choices about how resources are used, rather than simply a neutral process of resource allocation. In practice, this means that equality budgeting attempts to provide greater information on how...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Equality Issues (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Since 2018, when it was first piloted, significant work has been undertaken to develop the Equality Budgeting initiative. With an initial focus on gender, due to the availability of data, Equality Budgeting has since been expanded across multiple dimensions of equality including gender, socio-economic, disability and minority groups. An Equality Budgeting Expert Advisory Group (EBEAG)...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Bodies (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The position of CEOs of statutory bodies is in the first instance dependent on any specific provisions in the legislation establishing those bodies, and may differ between organisations. More generally, in respect of board appointments, the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards published by my Department in 2014 states “Consistent with best corporate governance practice it is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department developed Guidance and FAQs on working arrangements and temporary assignments during COVID-19 for civil and public service employers. This Guidance and FAQs document has been continually updated to reflect public health and Government policy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAQs have been prepared to assist employees and management in the Civil and Public Service to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (25 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: Ireland faces legally binding targets at EU level on greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy. On greenhouse gas emissions, the Effort Sharing Regulation currently requires Ireland to reduce national non-ETS greenhouse gas emissions by 30% (compared to 2005 levels), with annual limits for every year over the period 2021-2030. On renewable energy, 2030 renewable energy targets...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (25 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. While I have received correspondence from the Deputy which refers, I have not received correspondence from the National Lottery in relation to the capping of the Lotto jackpot at €19,060,800 on September 29th 2021, which will lead to the largest ever jackpot in the history of the game. As Lotto is a game of chance, the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Lottery (25 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The National Lottery Regulator has informed me that the National Lottery Operator is required to have a standalone Prize Fund Account that all prize monies are held in and paid from. Where prizes expire unclaimed, the Licence governing the operation of the Lottery provides that the relevant amounts are transferred to the Operator, for use either to top up prizes, or for additional marketing...

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2021: Leave to Introduce (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2021: Vote 6 — Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 29 — Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 33 — Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and...

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2021: Referral to Select Committee (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on 31st December, 2021, the Supplementary Estimates be referred to the following Select Committees, as appropriate, pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(b) and 215(3), which shall report back to the Dáil by no later than 7th December, 2021: Vote 6 —...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Opposition does not want them to be built. The Opposition does not want the problem to be solved.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that during the period specified the Office of Government Procurement, which is part of my Department, terminated the employment of one member of staff due to misconduct.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for taking these Supplementary Estimates today. I will present to the committee a proposal for: a net Supplementary Estimate of €1,000 resulting in a gross Estimate of €34 million in respect of Vote 12 – superannuation and retired allowances; and a Supplementary Estimate of €3.665 million in respect of Vote 17...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary) (24 Nov 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for her questions. I do not have the outturn for 2020 with me because we are dealing with the 2021 Supplementary Estimates. I can, however, answer a number of the questions she has put. For example, the average annual Civil Service pension last year came in at just under €24,500. That is up from a figure of €23,000 in 2019. The average Civil Service lump...