Results 5,801-5,820 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2022 will be framed in the context of: - continued sustainable increases in core public expenditure with a further significant increase in capital investment; - provision of exceptional additional funding for temporary supports to address the impacts of Covid-19; - addressing the impacts of Brexit, in particular through measures to be funded by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2022 (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: Budget 2022 is now less than three weeks away and engagement between my Department and other Departments and Offices is ongoing. In line with the fiscal parameters agreed in the Summer Economic Statement (SES), the expenditure ceiling for 2022 will be €88.2 billion. €80.1 billion of this overall ceiling will be for core expenditure while up to €8.1 billion in non-core,...

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

Michael McGrath: As part of the terms of the National Lottery licence, almost 30c from every €1 spent on National Lottery games is returned to the Exchequer to be utilised by Good Cause projects. I was pleased to recently announce plans to review the transparency and effectiveness of how National Lottery good causes related funding is distributed. This review is reflective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ethics in Public Office (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to assure the Deputy that neither I nor this Government are in any way complacent when it comes to the matter of ethics and standards in our political life. Since its establishment in 2011, my Department has committed significant resources in terms of policy development and consultation across government to explore how the statutory framework for ethics can be reformed to make it...

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 213 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 a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 224 and 228 together. The Government acknowledges the contribution of our frontline workers and all workers across the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of the contribution made by our frontline workers across the economy cannot be overstated. Their hard work and sacrifice has been crucial to getting the country through this pandemic and...

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216, 218 to 222, inclusive, 229 and 230 together. The medium term expenditure strategy to 2025 was set out in the Summer Economic Statement (SES) and detailed further in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report. This strategy aims to meet key challenges facing us in the short to medium term and reflects the Government’s commitment to return the public...

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 231 together. Over the last number of years, a range of reforms has been implemented in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient and effective way. The intention of these reforms is to increase transparency around the budgetary process and to facilitate meaningful dialogue around...

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

Michael McGrath: Over the past eighteen months, two issues have dominated the policy landscape, namely the global pandemic, and the UK’s departure from the EU. In relation to the global pandemic, the European Union has responded with an unprecedented €800 billion recovery package, NextGenerationEU. At the heart of this package is the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The National...

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

Michael McGrath: The process of unwinding the Financial Emergency (FEMPI) legislation commenced under the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016 – 2018, with the remainder of the process largely completed under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 (PSSA). This will continue under ‘Building Momentum: A New Public Service Agreement, 2021 – 2022’. At this point, salary...

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 232 and 233 together. Each individual Accounting Officer is responsible for the monitoring of performance of public contracts under his or her remit and for ensuring that the public procurement function is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and procedures efficiently and effectively to deliver maximum value for money...

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

Michael McGrath: Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022 (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) provides for the following pay adjustments: - A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on October 2021. - The equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as...

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

Michael McGrath: Government policy (through Circular 33/06) requires all public works projects that are delivered under the Exchequer-funded element of the National Development Plan to be procured in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF). Public works contracts are fixed price contracts, which are to be comprehensively defined prior to tender. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is on the back of the significant progress we have made with Covid and the reduced infection levels that the CMO has provided updated advice to my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly. The Minister is now engaging the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who, in turn, is consulting the education partners in regard to this issue....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is abreast of the situation. There are established dispute resolution mechanisms and the parties concerned should seek to avail of them. The issues fall to be addressed in the first instance by the board and executive of the IAA. The Government wants to see this dispute and any outstanding grievance resolved. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge that car parking charges in hospitals can be a burden on people, sometimes at what is a vulnerable time for them. Practices vary around the country. Some hospitals are, I believe, accommodating and have systems in place for frequent visitors, family members and so on, but that is not uniform. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is taking an interest in this issue and will...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is one in which he takes a keen interest. One of the lessons for us all from Covid is the imperative of having good connectivity all over the country. The Government wants to see the national broadband plan implemented as quickly as possible and there has been ongoing engagement between the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and National Broadband...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge the outstanding work that he has done in this area over a number of years. The Government will be represented by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, at COP26. He is finalising the climate action plan, which is anticipated to be brought to the Government in October and published at that point. I will discuss with the Minister the points...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is important to many families. Of the 91 progressing disability services teams, 83 are fully reconfigured and I am advised that the remaining teams will be reconfigured by the end of November. As such, work is at an advanced stage. I wish to point out the considerable work the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has done and continues to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Sep 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I confirm that there are no plans whatsoever to downgrade University Hospital Kerry. There are significant challenges there that the Deputy has rightly highlighted. The Ministers, Deputies Stephen Donnelly and Foley, are aware of them and have been working together and engaging with the HSE on resolving the problems. I am sure the Minister,...