Results 6,381-6,400 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I am delighted to be here in Seanad Éireann to discuss the review of the national development plan, NDP. I genuinely welcome the opportunity to update Members on the review of the NDP which is currently well under way. For the past year, the world has grappled with the spread of Covid-19 which, as we all know, has not only presented unprecedented healthcare challenges but has taken its...

Seanad: National Development Plan: Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank all the Senators for their contributions to the debate. It is really tough when one has only one or two minutes to cover such an important issue.Anyway, it is clear to me from the contributions made that there is broad support in this House for the ongoing work in respect of the review of the NDP. The importance of public capital investment is recognised by Members. An ambitious...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (11 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 51B.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Bodies (11 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 63 and 64 together. The information requested by the Deputy relating to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the below table. Body/Agency Code of Practice currently in operation? Trained Access Officer Access Officer appointed Access Team available Evacuation Chair available ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (11 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below. Body Is a procurement policy which includes consideration of obligations under Section 27 of the Disability Act 2005 in operation? Is such procurement audited for compliance with Section 27? Office of Public Works (OPW)...

Public Service Pay Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage (10 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Public Service Pay Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Deputies for facilitating the commencement of Second Stage of this Bill this evening. 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 aspects of Sláintecare. It continues the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Parental Leave (10 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I assume that the Deputy is referring to parent’s leave as parental leave is unpaid. The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of Parent’s Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. This is paid from the Social Insurance Fund at a rate of €245 per week. In relation to the additional...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, the revised plan for the Government’s response to COVID-19 – "COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead" – sets out our approach to the next phase and our path forward. The plan sets out the Government's approach of making steady progress in re-opening our economy, starting with childcare and schools, while avoiding a further wave of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Internships (10 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy regarding the 2019 work experience or internship opportunities for students in the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below. Body No. of Placements Total Cost Future Capacity Public Appointments Service 10 work experience placements No Cost 6-8 work...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Advertising (10 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has had no expenditure of this nature.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (4 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The 2014 Freedom Of Information Act made significant changes to the process by which it is determined whether FOI applies to an entity. Rather than setting out a definitive list of the bodies to which the legislation applies, the Act instead listed the criteria by which it may be determined which bodies are subject to the Act. In instances where a body has formed the view that FOI does...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Information and Communications Technology (4 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the deputy is probably aware, in October 2019 the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issued a Cloud Computing advice note. The aim of this note is to provide high-level guidance to assist organisations in making decisions in relation to the adoption of cloud services. Organisations should no longer decide whether to move to cloud for new or existing systems. The decision to be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (4 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: In accordance with the provisions of the Defence Act 1954 as amended, the Defence Forces Representative Associations are currently prohibited from being associated with or affiliated with any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister for Defence. I am also aware that legal proceedings were initiated last year in relation to this issue. Accordingly, as this is a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (4 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: In accordance with the provisions of the Defence Act 1954 as amended, the Defence Forces Representative Associations are currently prohibited from being associated with or affiliated with any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister for Defence. Accordingly, this is a matter for the Minister of Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (4 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: My Department is committed to ensuring that the process of engagement between the parties to pay negotiations including the recent negotiations which were facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission is based on fairness in the treatment of all concerned. While the LEVEL 5 restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic presented very real challenges to the conduct of negotiations on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (4 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that the websites of the National Shared Services Office and the Office of the Ombudsman are fully compliant with the Web Accessibility Directive EU 2016/2102. The table below lists the bodies under the aegis of my Department that are currently not yet fully compliant in this regard and the plans for full compliance during 2021. Body / Agency ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (4 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The information requested by the Deputy regarding the procurement of legal services by the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below. Body Legal Services procured through OGP Framework? Rationale Office of the Ombudsman Yes N/A Office of Regulator of the National Lottery Yes ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Lending (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, the revised plan for the Government’s response to COVID-19 – "COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead" – sets out our approach to the next phase and our path forward. The plan sets out the Government's approach of making steady progress in re-opening our economy, starting with childcare and schools, while avoiding a further wave of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Reviews (3 Mar 2021)

Michael McGrath: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides comprehensive statutory protections from retaliation for persons who speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace. A statutory review of the Act was published in July 2018. The review found that the Act was operating broadly as intended. However, a number of implementation issues were identified in the review and a commitment was given to look at...