Results 6,121-6,140 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Vaccination Programme (15 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: Firstly, I encourage as many people as possible to take up their COVID-19 vaccinations when offered. It will not necessarily be known to employers if an employee has availed, or opted out, of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, however there may be situations where employers need to know if an employee has been vaccinated, having regard to the specific work context. Employers will need...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Government Procurement (3 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: As outlined in the Tender Advisory Service Information Note available at , which was published in July 2018, the Tender Advisory Service (TAS) is an informal outlet, provided free of charge, to suppliers in order to raise queries in relation to a live tender process carried out by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) or other public sector contracting bodies where the bidder is not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (3 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) was introduced on 1 January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010. It is the only measure which has decreased the actual payment value of public service pensions since 2008. PSPR is applied in a progressive manner, operating by way of percentage reduction to pensions above the relevant exemption threshold, with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Earcaíocht san Earnáil Phoiblí (3 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 253 agus 254 le chéile. Mar is eol don teachta, is í an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí (PAS) an t-earcaitheoir neamhspleách i gcomhair ceapachán sa Státseirbhís. Tá gach earcaíocht faoi stiúir éilimh agus téann PAS i mbun comórtas thar ceann na Státseirbhíse chun...

National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Statements (2 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak today on the national recovery and resilience plan, which forms a key element of the Government’s response to the global pandemic. The overall objective of the national recovery and resilience plan is to contribute to a sustainable, equitable, green and digital transition in a manner that complements and supports the Government’s...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (2 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) has now been approved by the Government and submitted to the European Commission. The NRRP has been developed by the Government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.Ireland is expected to receive €915 million in grants under the Facility in 2021 and 2022.  A further set...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (1 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The administration of pensions for retired civil servants is the responsibility of the Payroll Shared Service Centre (PSSC) of the National Share Services Office (NSSO). Following further consultation between officials from my Department and the NSSO on the matters raised by the Deputy , I can confirm that all outstanding issues pertaining to this case have now been resolved and that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (1 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Government, has committed, in the Programme for Government, to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working in 2021. In this context, My Department is, as a matter of priority, working with employers across the civil service to develop the longer term approach to remote working in the sector. My Department is also working closely with the wider public sector...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department has a data breach management policy in place to ensure that any data breaches are dealt with as required under Articles 33-34 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In line with this policy, the Department has identified and recorded twenty eight data breaches since 2018. Of the breaches identified in the Department since 2018, only a small proportion warranted...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Project Ireland 2040 (1 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department has published Project Ireland 2040 Annual Reports for 2018 and 2019, along with nine Regional Reports for each of those years. The reports highlight Project Ireland 2040 achievements during 2018 and 2019 and give a detailed overview of the public investments which have been made throughout the country including in the following regional areas: the North-East, North-West, West,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pay (1 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have been actively engaging with relevant stakeholders in relation to the request from The Bar of Ireland for restoration of fees to criminal defence barristers. There has been ongoing correspondence and engagement in respect of this request. The matter is under consideration and will be examined further in the context of wider...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Protected Disclosures (1 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that no correspondence was received from 2014 to date that required to be progressed within my Department under the provisions of the Protected Disclosures legislation. The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides under section 8(2) that a disclosure may be made to “a Minister of the Government on whom any function relating to the public body is conferred or...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces (1 Jun 2021)

Michael McGrath: Circular 51/1979 - 'Leave for attendance at training with the Reserve Defence Force' currently provides for up to 10 days of Special Leave with pay, depending on the duration of the training period, to attend annual or basic training with the Reserve Defence Force. Additionally, special leave with pay may also be granted in respect of any necessary time spent in travelling to and from the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Programme for Government recognises the special economic and social role that agriculture plays in Ireland, but also commits to the creation of schemes that will encourage and incentivise farmers to farm in a greener and more sustainable way. This is with the aim of developing a sustainable Irish agricultural sector that protects the environment and aligns with emerging consumer...

Public Service Pay Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (26 May 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank all the Members who participated in the debate on this Bill on Second Stage and also on Committee Stage recently. I thank Deputies Bríd Smith and Michael Healy-Rae for their contributions as well. In essence, this Bill is a key enabler for the new public service pay agreement, Building Momentum, and allows for a range of reforming pay matters including implementation of...

Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (26 May 2021)

Michael McGrath: The line Minister is awaited.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Cybersecurity Policy (26 May 2021)

Michael McGrath: For operational security reasons, my Department is not in a position to provide any details of its data security systems or those of the bodies under its aegis, as it would be inappropriate to disclose information that may in any way assist those with malicious intent.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Cybersecurity Policy (26 May 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department does not comment on operational security matters. We operate a defence-in-depth and security by design approach with a range of security systems in place that protect our digital assets.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Health Service Executive (25 May 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that this is a matter for the Department of Health rather than my Department and should be the subject of a separate question in that regard.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Living Wage (25 May 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is important that Ireland’s statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not confused. The Living Wage has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement. It currently stands at €12.30 per hour according to the Living Wage Technical Group document 2020. The National Minimum Wage is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis....