Results 6,861-6,880 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Service Agreements (PSAs) provide for agreed redeployment arrangements to apply in the civil service and in other parts of the public service. My Department remains responsible for redeployment in the civil service and non-commercial state bodies, and these redeployments panels are operated by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). My Department are in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has not incurred any fines for non-transposition of EU directives into Irish law.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: Officials from my Department are currently examining a request regarding pension increases proposed for An Post pensioners. As part of the decision making process further information and clarifications on issues arising from the request has been sought from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. Typically, as part of any such decisions due account must be taken...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Defence Forces Remuneration (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Service Pay Commission in its Report on certain health professionals published in August 2018, recommended "that the parties to the Public Service Agreement should consider putting arrangements in place, at an appropriate time, and without compromising the stability of the public service pay bill, to allow for the adequacy of current pay arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Data (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: The July Stimulus set out a range of tax and expenditure measures to provide targeted supports to stimulate activity across the economy, provide assistance to firms and to support employment. Table 1 below sets out the 2021 cost of tax and expenditure measures announced as part of the July Stimulus. Table 1 – 2021 Cost of July Stimulus Measures (€bn) ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Standards in Public Office Commission (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together. The appointment of the Secretary General of my Department as a non-Executive Director at this sporting organisation is in a purely personal capacity and is being undertaken on a voluntary basis. He is continuing to serve in his role as Secretary General and the steps raised in these questions do not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has not incurred any costs associated with social media monitoring in the years specified.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Data (6 Oct 2020)

Michael McGrath: The table below outlines the number of staff in the Department for whom sick leave was recorded per month for the period of March to September in 2019 and 2020. Sick pay arrangements: The arrangements for paid sick leave in the Public Service are in accordance with the Public Service Sick Leave Regulations (S.I. 124 of 2014) and the administration of the Scheme is managed on a sectoral level...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (1 Oct 2020)

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, and post project review of the project and for any procurements...

Revised Estimates and Further Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020: Motion (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I move: That, notwithstanding Standing Order 215 of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business: (a) the following Revised Estimates and Further Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2020, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 30th September, 2020, being a date later than that prescribed for the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 79 together. The third party media monitoring costs for my Department and the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department, are set out in the table below.  The details of the 2020 costs for the Department itself reflect a change of supplier earlier this year. The Deputy may wish to note that some media monitoring is also...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The details requested for my Department and for the Office of Government Procurement, which is also part of my Department, are set out in the tables below. Hardcopy Media Subscriptions Cost since May 2020 Irish Times €236.56 Irish Independent €151.47 Financial Times €184.96 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 81 and 83 together. In July 2020, the European Council agreed a new position on the Multiannual Financial Framework, which sets out the budget of the European Union for the seven-year period from 2021 to 2027. Subject to agreement with the European Parliament, the European Commission has communicated revised allocations for each Member State from the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Programmes (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The 2014-2020 EU-funded PEACE IV programme is funding 95 projects  in the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland under the themes of Shared Education, Children and Young People, Shared Spaces and Services, and Building Positive Relations.  PEACE IV and its sister programme, INTERREG VA, have a total value of €553m and provide valuable support...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Funding (30 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: Ireland’s allocation of European Regional Development Funds have in the past, and will continue in the future, to support projects in all parts of Ireland. Moreover, in accordance with the EU Regulatory requirement, stakeholders at local, regional and national level will continue to have a key role in the planning, monitoring and delivery of these programmes. At a regional level, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy has waited patiently to contribute. The response to the Covid-19 crisis was swift, with many civil and public servants transitioning to working from home at very short notice. This was an unprecedented action but it was entirely necessary to ensure the health and well-being of staff across the system was protected as best we could. Most Departments and offices, including my...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Civil Service (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy and agree with his initial point. Remote working brings certain opportunities for the regions and for individuals it may open career opportunities that people thought may not be possible. A degree of remote working is here to stay and we must think about what is the right balance both for the employer, the public servant and the public services being provided. There is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform Review (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: At this point, our public service has never been larger. The Deputy is right that there were major cuts to numbers at the bottom or in the trough. These left us with approximately 292,000 public servants and we now have about 343,000. Recruitment in recent years has been essential to keep pace with demographic changes and undo some of the cuts that were imposed during those years. We face...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Reform Review (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I acknowledge that over the past six months, in particular, some public services have been under huge pressure and some have simply not been able to operate because of the extraordinary circumstances we are all living through. The numbers speak for themselves, however. The number of public servants has increased significantly and across the board, including in our health service, where we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McGrath: I would not like to accuse the Deputy of trying to cut people's pay. He put the question in the context of the public service only but this issue has to be examined in the round, for the private sector as well. I am sure he is not suggesting one treatment for public servants while people working in shops, factories and offices would continue to work a five-day week-----