Results 6,301-6,320 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 571 together. There is no central information on numbers of Civil and Public Servants currently working from home. My Department proactively supports employers across the Civil and Public Service in managing workplace attendance through the Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19.This document is regularly updated to reflect any...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Earcaíocht san Earnáil Phoiblí (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Is í an tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí (SCP) an príomh-earcaitheoir le haghaidh ceapachán don státseirbhís. Soláthar seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge ag an SCP Soláthraíonn SCP seirbhísí, trí Ghaeilge, do chainteoirí Gaeilge a dhéanann teagmháil leis an oifig. Tá socruithe daingne i bhfeidhm chun...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Rail Network (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The issue of a feasibility study is a matter for the Department of Transport in the first instance. My Department understands from the Department of Transport that Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) has no plans to undertake a feasibility study of the railway line at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Environmental Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: In summary, higher EU climate ambitions imply higher marginal costs to reach these targets and these higher costs should be reflected in public investment appraisal, through the Public Spending Code. Before these reforms can be made to the code, the higher targets need to be formally agreed and research work calculating the higher marginal abatement costs that might specifically apply in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: On the 22ndof October 2020 I announced that the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme 2021 - 2027 for the Northern & Western region would be managed by the Northern Western Regional Assembly (NWRA). Prior to this announcement the NWRA, in conjunction with officials from my Department, played a very active role in the process of programming for the 2021 -...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is assumed the Deputy is referring to a recent article in a national newspaper highlighting a small private survey that was undertaken. Official statistics show, that in general, the FOI system is functioning effectively and fulfilling its goal of improving openness, transparency and accountability in public bodies. In fact, the volume of requests processed annually by public bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The EU formally adopted Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") on 23 October 2019. All Member States, including Ireland, have until 17 December 2021 to transpose the Directive into national law. Ireland is one of just 10 EU Member States to already have comprehensive whistleblowing laws in place, in the form of the...

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

Michael McGrath: As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform I have responsibility for the development of policy to ensure adequate expenditure oversight on capital projects and for public procurement. The Department or agency proposing and implementing a capital project is responsible for appraisal; planning; implementation; management; post project review of the project; and for any procurements...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am very committed to improvements in gender balance across State Boards, and my Department has recently taken steps to further such improvements. In September 2020 I launched the Annex on Gender Balance, Diversity and Inclusion to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. This Annex sets out measures designed to enhance diversity on State Boards; specifically it provides for:...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am aware of the European Parliament resolution of 17 April 2020 on EU coordinated action to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. This is a wide ranging resolution comprising 72 items covering: a united and decisive response to a shared crisis; European solidarity and action in the health sector; European solutions to overcoming the economic and social consequences;...

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 to 594, inclusive, together. EU public procurement rules apply to all Member States within the European Union. Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement (goods, services and works) has been transposed into Irish Law in the form of corresponding Regulations under SI No. 284 of 2016 which forms the legal basis for the national rules governing public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: Housing remains a top priority for the Government and the Exchequer investment is evidence of this. In Budget 2021 I provided €5.2 billion to the Department of Housing, Planning and Heritage. This was an increase of €773 million on 2020 and a record level of funding. An extra €500 million was directed towards capital expenditure and will facilitate the construction of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Housing Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: This Government is committed to better understanding and therefore tackling the ongoing housing crisis. In June 2020 my Department requested the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) to undertake research on the following question; What are the policy options available to facilitate the delivery of public and private housing in line with the compact growth targets set out in the...

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

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, as part of its national response to the global pandemic, Government continues to make significant additional financial resources available to support frontline public services. In the 2021 Budget, the Minister for Finance and I announced budgetary measures that are supporting up to 16,000 additional posts in our health services, up to 990 additional SNAs and 403...

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

Michael McGrath: The Revised Estimates for 2021 have been published, and were referred to the Dáil Select Committees on 16 December 2020. The Estimates provide Departments and agencies with a capital allocation of €10,081 million for 2021. In addition, and with support from the House, capital carryover of just under €710 million has been approved. This will bring the total Exchequer...

Project Ireland 2040: Motion [Private Members] (1 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “notes that: — Project Ireland 2040 represents a new strategic approach to social and economic development, and it is the first time that spatial planning and investment have been explicitly linked in Ireland; — Project Ireland 2040 aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Data (1 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: My colleague the Minister for Transport and the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) have primary responsibility for regulation and licensing of the travel trade in Ireland. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP), an office within my Department, engages with CAR and ensures that appropriate licensing requirements are included in its central arrangements for travel agency services....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Claims Agency (1 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: While I acknowledge the Deputy’s question, I wish to advise that questions relating to the State Claims Agency (SCA) are a matter for the Minister for Finance to respond to it in the first instance. The NTMA is a State body which provides asset and liability management services to Government and is designated as the State Claims Agency when performing the claims management, risk...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Regulations (1 Apr 2021)

Michael McGrath: The new EU Environmental Taxonomy is a classification system providing appropriate definitions on economic activities which can be considered environmentally sustainable to help the private financial sector to navigate the transition and shift investments to a low-carbon, resilient, and resource-efficient economy. The Taxonomy will not, therefore, directly impact on public procurement...