Results 6,521-6,540 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Directives (3 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (also known as "the Whistleblowing Directive") was adopted on 23 October 2019 by the European Parliament and Council and must be transposed into Irish law by 17 December 2021. The Directive provides for a range of measures to establish a common set...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Appointments to State Boards (3 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together. As set out in correspondence sent to the Deputy on January 29th 2021, there are two State Boards which fall under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.   The answers provided in response to Parliamentary Questions No. 256 and 257 of 27 January 2021 provided details of State Boards that fall...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flexible Work Practices (3 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: Government Departments and Offices have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health requirements by introducing new measures of flexibility in working arrangements. Civil Service Departments and Offices have been advised by my Department, as standard practice across the public service during COVID-19, to consider all forms of flexible working...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for the invitation to come before them today, albeit virtually. As the Chairman has done, I acknowledge Mr. Moloney, the acting Secretary General of my Department, who is also with us. As members know, this is my first time appearing before the committee. As a former member of many years, I am familiar with the valuable work undertaken by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: If the Deputy looks through the correspondence and documentation in its entirety, in particular the minutes of the meeting at the end of October 2020, which was attended by me, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the Secretary General to the Government, it was for the very purpose of looking at the needs in the Department of Health and the need for a new Secretary General to be put in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: The reference I made to the international context a few moments ago was the expectation that a salary of this order would attract applicants from all over the world and one would hope people with experience of dealing with a large public sector or private sector organisation. When one looks at the responsibilities of the Secretary General of the Department of Health, one must bear in mind...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: Deputy Farrell referred to the juxtaposition in regard to student nurses. I of course fully understand that and the Government is determined to resolve that issue. As she knows, the Government appointed Professor Tom Collins to undertake a short-term review of clinical placement allowances for student nurses and midwives. He has reported back and made a recommendation. There is ongoing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: No, it absolutely was not. As I said, the context is very clear. The meeting to which I referred involved very senior people, including the Head of Government. There was consensus at that point that there would be a need to go beyond the standard terms if we wanted to get the best candidates interested in and applying for-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: It remains to be seen who ultimately applies for the job and comes through the process. In arriving at the figure I considered other senior roles across the public service. I touched on a number of those already. As the Deputy knows, bespoke arrangements were put in place for the Garda Commissioner and the head of the HSE. There is a very high salary for the Governor of the Central Bank....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I engaged directly with the pay division of my Department regarding the specific salary. That can be seen in the memo that was generated. There were discussions with my pay division prior to that. I referenced the engagement that was ongoing with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and Secretary General to the Government. I also consulted the Minister for Finance to draw on his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for his question. As he will be aware, as part of the additional funding we are providing for the Department of Health and the health sector, there is an ambitious plan to recruit approximately 16,000 additional health professionals over the course of 2021 to make the move that we all agree is necessary, which is to implement Sláintecare and build up the permanent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: It is only fair to say that the Government has not been found wanting when it comes to supporting people directly impacted by the economic devastation caused by Covid-19. We have extended the PUP again, leaving it open for new entrants and maintaining the higher rates. The same applies to the wage subsidy scheme. The Government has spent vast sums of money to try, insofar as we can, to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy said, our national debt is rising significantly but the cost of servicing that debt is actually falling. The average interest rate on our debt is now in the region of 1.6%. The National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, has done a great job of taking maximum advantage of the really favourable borrowing conditions by refinancing our debt where possible and availing of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I will ask Mr. Moloney to answer the question about the non-salary terms associated with the role which are standard in nature for these types of competitions. He will be able to provide some context vis-à-viscompetitions run by the Public Appointment Service, PAS and the top-level appointments committee, TLAC.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I can come in on the specific responsibilities of the position and where it fits into Government priorities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I will come in on the other aspects of Deputy Richmond's questions. I know he has read the booklet that was published as a part of the open competition which sets out the exact responsibilities in terms of oversight, management and leadership of the Department and of the overall health sector. It is a high-level leadership position in health across the country. The Secretary General is, of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: Thanks, Chair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: Again, to bring it back to an Irish context and in regard to senior leadership positions here, which is where the person appointed to this post following the open competitive process will be based, just over two years ago there was a failed attempt to fill the role of CEO of the HSE. That is a pretty sobering fact which we all must bear in mind. When I look at the performance of the current...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: I can understand that but the reality is that when in government, one must make decisions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Salary Increase for Position of Secretary General at the Department of Health: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (2 Feb 2021)

Michael McGrath: The point I would make is -----