Results 5,761-5,780 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank all the Deputies for raising a host of projects with me directly on the floor of the House. Many of those projects have been brought to my attention over the course of the review of the NDP and colleagues have been in touch with the relevant line Ministers as well, as have I in respect of a number of the projects. I will do so again, particularly in regard to any that have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I certainly would like to get to a point where the need for FOI requests would be reduced and where more information would be more readily available, particularly in the context of personal requests. It cab be quite a cumbersome process to get for people the information that they need. I will be bringing a memorandum to Cabinet - I expect to do so as early as next week - setting out the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputies for submitting these questions. The revised NDP is currently being finalised and it will set out annual expenditure ceilings for the initial five years for each departmental Vote group, including capital ceilings for 2022. This document is due to be published in the coming weeks, following final Governmental approval. Subject to Government approval, it is my...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy very much for her question. I am glad to have this opportunity to provide the House with further details on the upcoming review of the Freedom of Information Act. My Department will shortly publish a roadmap document that will set out in detail the process for the review and give detailed information on how interested stakeholders can get involved. My firm belief is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Freedom of Information (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: We will be consulting closely with the Office of the Information Commissioner on an ongoing basis as the review progresses, given the central role that office plays. As the Deputy knows, I announced the review back in June, before any of the recent controversies arose. I want to be clear to the House that the intention of the review, from my perspective, is to strengthen and improve the FOI...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for her question. The position in respect of Covid-19 absences in the public service has not changed since her previous question on the matter, which was answered in January. At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was decided that special leave with pay would be used for self-isolation or a diagnosis of Covid-19 for public service employees in order to assist with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: That sounds like a very difficult case. My thoughts are with that lady. It might be helpful for me to put on the record the arrangements for special leave with pay in the context of Covid. Where an employee had been in the work premises outside of home during the 14 days prior to contracting Covid, special leave with pay may be paid, including for long Covid where necessary and for as long...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Long Covid is very serious. It is a condition that the Government takes very seriously. We acknowledge how debilitating it can be for individuals in various circumstances. The truth is that we are learning more and more about it with each passing day. As I have outlined, in certain cases the special leave with pay applies for employees who suffer from long Covid. The particular context...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and am glad to have this opportunity to provide to this House further details on the upcoming review of the Freedom of Information Act. My Department will in the coming weeks publish a roadmap document that will set out in detail the process for the review and give detailed information on how interested stakeholders can get involved. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: In July 2021, officials from HSE Procurement presented to the interim Procurement Reform Board on the HSE’s self-assessment of procurement performance in 2020. While the Board welcomed the provision of the assessment, they raised concerns with the figures presented and the Board’s Chairman subsequently wrote to me to advise me of the situation. The HSE’s...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 26, 53 and 59 together. At the end of June agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on the European Commission’s proposal for a Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The Reserve has a total value of €5 billion in constant (2018) prices, or €5.47 billion in current prices. All Member States are to receive...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 24 together. You will be aware that the Government has committed in the Programme for Government to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working. In July, 2021 the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service, which was produced by my Department and agreed by the Civil Service...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 28 and 75 together. The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 sets out procedures relating to the recruitment and appointments for the civil service and certain other bodies in the public service. However as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, I have responsibility under these acts for recruitment to the Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I should first explain that as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform I am responsible for setting the overall multi-annual capital expenditure ceilings for each Ministerial Vote Group as set out in the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. My Department is also responsible for maintaining the national frameworks within which Departments operate to ensure appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Regional Development (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Balanced regional development is a key priority of this Government and this priority is at the heart of Project Ireland 2040. This strategic plan includes the National Planning Framework, which sets the overarching spatial strategy for the next twenty years, along with the National Development Plan which is currently in the process of being reviewed and is due for publication shortly. ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 38 together. I am committed to ensuring that we continue to build diversity within our State boards. This will be both better reflective of modern Ireland and also ensure we draw on the widest diversity of talent for better governance of our State bodies. In terms of gender diversity, on foot of the 2019 Inter-Departmental Group report on Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: There is no central allocation of public funds by way of competitive bidding based on quality or innovation of proposals. The accounting officer of each public body is responsible for determining what portion of their allotted budget will be so allocated. All Irish public bodies are obliged to spend or invest public funds with care, and to ensure that optimal value for money is obtained in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Capital Expenditure Programme (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the drawdown of capital expenditure from the Exchequer is detailed each month and is publically available in the Fiscal Monitor, which is published on the gov.ie website. All line Departments and agencies submit information on their expenditure levels against profile to my Department, along with an explanation outlining details regarding any variance of under or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Section 3.1.3 of Building Momentum - A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022 provides for a general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on October 2021. Under section 19 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, public servants with annualised basic salaries of up to €150,000 were due full FEMPI...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: The National Recovery and Resilience Plan will enable Ireland to access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, which lies at the heart of the Union’s €800 billion NextGenerationEUrecovery package. The aim of NextGenerationEU is to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and prepare for a post-Covid Europe that...