Results 6,221-6,240 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policy Functions (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: On the issue of capital investment, as the Deputy is aware, in the current year we have a budget of €10.8 billion, which is the largest in the history of the State. Learning from the previous crisis and taking account of the different conditions at this time, we will protect the public capital programme. That is a really important commitment from Government to which I look forward...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I welcome Deputies Calleary and Niamh Smyth raising this really important question for Northern Ireland and, indeed, the Border counties of Ireland as well. PEACE+ is a special new cross-Border EU co-operation programme which will combine the existing PEACE and INTERREG funding streams into one cohesive new programme for the 2021-27 period. The programme area covers Northern Ireland and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising those questions. To add to my earlier remarks, following the consultation that is currently ongoing and any necessary revisions to the draft programme that may arise from it, the final PEACE+ programme will be bought to the Government and to the Northern Ireland Executive for approval. The draft programme will subsequently be submitted to the European...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Programmes (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The points raised by the Deputy are really well made. I have been briefed on several of the projects that have already been undertaken under the current PEACE and INTERREG programmes. They are inspiring and I am looking forward to visiting several of these programmes in person as soon as the public health restrictions allow. It is absolutely appropriate that one of the key themes in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policy Functions (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Government's commitment to introducing a more open budgetary process focused on major public goals and proven policy performance is aligned with the ongoing process of budgetary reform that seeks to increase the focus on how public money is used to provide services, and on the impact these services have on people’s lives. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policy Functions (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I will make a few points. I welcome the Deputy's comments regarding the emphasis on existing levels of service. Of course, it is always the case that ministerial colleagues will seek to add to the existing budget with new ideas and new policy initiatives drawn from the programme for Government, but there is also a need for an emphasis on reform. We must always be asking ourselves whether...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Public private partnerships are partnerships between the public and private sectors for the purpose of delivering a project or service. This is an internationally recognised model to design, build, finance, operate and maintain public infrastructure. Some of the advantages associated with PPPs include the fact that they allow the public sector to avail of private sector expertise and...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is important to point out that from a public investment point of view PPPs are subject to the same robust and rigorous project appraisal process as traditionally procured projects. It is essential that projects are judged on their merits. In cases where PPPs can be demonstrated to give better value for money than traditional procurement, it is appropriate that they should be selected on...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I can certainly commit that any proposal to proceed with a project using the PPP model will be subject to the highest standards of examination and rigorous analysis of assessment of value for money. In my area of Cork some of the major projects developed in recent decades, such as the Cork School of Music and the National Maritime College, are fantastic projects. This building, the national...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: First, I disagree with the Deputy's assertion that Ireland's economic model, or projection of economic growth, is based on low corporate taxes. We are forecasting, in the stability programme update, a strong rebound in the domestic economy, with domestic demand starting to recover in the second half of this year, and strong underlying growth over the course of next year. That will be driven...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. This is an issue on which I would be really happy to engage further with the Deputy because it is going to be at the heart of the new national development plan. I will outline what the climate and environmental assessment of the plan involves. As a first step in the climate and environmental review of the national development plan, Departments are required to perform a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. I am happy to provide as much information on this issue as the Deputy would like. Under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill, where a sector has not complied or is projected to not comply with the assigned sectoral emissions ceiling, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications will, following consultation with the Minister...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Over the course of 2020 and 2021, over €28 billion has been provided for additional expenditure to respond to Covid-19, with €12 billion of this amount included in the overall Government Expenditure ceiling of €87.8 billion for 2021.  This is, by any measure, a substantial additional allocation in addition to core public spending, and allows for measures to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fiscal Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. In the current year, taking account of the carry forward from 2020, we have a capital budget of €10.8 billion, which is the highest amount in the history of the State. It is more than 5% of GNI* and it compares very favourably with other EU member states. The Government is committed to an ambitious public capital programme and we are currently reviewing the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Secretaries General (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the selection process for the appointment to the position of Secretary General in the Department of Health was undertaken by the Top Level Appointments Committee, TLAC, with the assistance of the Public Appointments Service, PAS. The Government is committed to ensuring a policy of open recruitment and the role of TLAC, as an independent body, is to support that...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Secretaries General (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The job was openly advertised; that is not in dispute. In my initial reply, I outlined the various platforms that were used for the open advertisement of this particular post. Regarding the background of the applicants, while it is true that 20 of the 23 applicants described themselves as being Irish nationals, that is not to say that they did not necessarily have international experience....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Secretaries General (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: When it comes to an openly advertised competition, the truth is that one never knows who will apply. This post was advertised on a number of websites. The competition was open to any person around the world who had an interest in applying for this position. A number of international candidates applied. We should not discount the international experience of the 20 candidates who applied...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The new Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill will, on enactment, require the Government to adopt a series of economy-wide carbon budgets on a rolling 15-year basis, starting in this year. These economy-wide budgets will then be translated into specific targets for each relevant sector. Ministers will be responsible...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 124 together. It is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department to manage expenditure within the agreed allocations and, in order to provide enhanced scope for Departments to manage staffing levels and composition within their allocated financial resources, a policy of delegated sanction in relation to staff management was introduced in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: In 2019, my Department published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. The Circular instructs Departments to consider including green criteria in public procurement processes where: Clearly defined, quantifiable, verifiable, and measurable criteria have been developed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and...