Results 7,041-7,060 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for her follow-on question. There is always transparency as to the persons who have been appointed and the salaries they are paid. We will continue with that transparency. The details will be published in the normal way. That cannot happen until we have adopted a formal Government policy on the appointment of special advisers. A memorandum will be brought to Government...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Whatever we do will be fully in accordance with the relevant 1997 legislation. The rates of pay of any adviser appointed will be governed by that. It is principal officer level for Ministers’ special advisers and assistant principal officer level for any special adviser appointed for a Minister of State. The very issues and policies the Deputy has highlighted underline the need for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes and for his question and Iook forward to working with him over the term of this Dáil. He has put forward a really good question. I will read the official answer and look forward to engagement on any particular issues he may wish to discuss in the course of this debate. Covid-19 has been an unprecedented public health emergency with implications...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for raising those points. One of the issues that will have to be considered by Ireland and by Europeans in general is whether we should reduce our reliance on other countries such as China for the provision and manufacturing of essential items that could be required in the event of the pandemic becoming more serious. We need to become more self-sufficient in respect of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy for her question and congratulate her on her appointment and look forward to working with her. On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of ministerial offices. The guidelines for the 33rd Dáil currently await Government approval. Appointments to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: An allocation of €70.4 billion in gross voted expenditure was set out in the 2020 Revised Estimate of Public Service published last December. Taking into account the additional expenditure agreed by the Dáil, the revised Government Expenditure Ceiling now stands at €79.7 billion. This includes an additional €6.8 billion for the Department of Employment Affairs and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Community Employment Schemes (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: As a newly appointed Minister, I intend to give careful consideration to this issue and I will meet directly with the relevant stakeholders in the period ahead. I have a strong appreciation of the role of Community Employment Schemes in communities right across country and I know this role could not be fulfilled without the leadership of the Scheme Supervisors. I am aware that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. Discrimination against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size or remuneration where such remuneration has not be provided for in national legislation could be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rdDáil are currently awaiting Government approval. Appointments to the position of Special Adviser are made in accordance with Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997 which...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Strategic public procurement can play a key role in responding to societal, environmental and economic challenges. Consequently, the inclusion of strategic public policy considerations in procurement processes is a key feature of the Programme for Government. Therefore, my Department is focused on ensuring that public procurement affords opportunities for SMEs to benefit from the significant...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: The inclusion of strategic, green and social policy considerations in procurement processes is a key feature of the Programme for Government. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, developed Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. The Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Strategic public procurement can play a key role in responding to societal, environmental and economic challenges and, as such, the inclusion of strategic public policy considerations in procurement processes is a key feature of the Programme for Government. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has been actively engaged and proactive on the issue of green procurement. In this regard...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget Process (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Over the last number of years, a range of reforms have been implemented in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework. A key aim of these reforms is to increase transparency around the budgetary process and to facilitate greater meaningful engagement on key elements of the Budget and on what is being achieved with public funds. A central part of these reforms is the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Public procurement is the acquisition, whether under formal contract or otherwise, of works, supplies and services by public bodies. National rules governing public procurement must comply with the relevant EU, WTO and national legal requirements and obligations. Under EU law, public contracts above a certain value must be advertised EU-wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of the Ombudsman (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent Statutory Body under the aegis of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I am advised by the Office that while it is difficult to accurately predict the number of complaints that may arise, the estimated cost of the Office of the Ombudsman establishing an independent complaints process for the Prison Service is approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Communications (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Details of public consultations by Government Departments and Local Authorities are available on the gov.ie website at www.gov.ie/consultations. Semi-state bodies are not required to provide details of their consultations on the site. The site allows details of each consultation to be shared easily on Facebook, Twitter and by email.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: We are faced with unprecedented economic, social and environmental challenges. However, we are fortunate not to have to face these issues alone. The recent pandemic has brought out the best aspects of international cooperation, particularly in relation to health and rebuilding for the future of Europe. In addition, the Programme for Government is focussed on rebuilding the economy in a fair...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval. The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: The details of the contracts awarded by my Department to the company in question or its subsidiaries are outlined in the table below. - 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 (to date) Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Campbell Catering €27,730.00 ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Priorities (21 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 233 together. Over the last number of years, a range of reforms have been implemented in order to enhance Ireland’s budgetary framework and ensure that expenditure is managed in an efficient and effective way. The intention of these reforms is to increase transparency around the budgetary process and to facilitate meaningful dialogue around key...