Results 7,061-7,080 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

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

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232, 234, 235, 236 and 237 together. For every Department and Minister, managing expenditure within allocations is a key responsibility. Over the last number of months, significant additional expenditure has been allocated to a number of Departments in response to Covid-19. While we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation with regards to this virus, all...

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

Michael McGrath: Since 2015 it has been the objective of successive Governments to gradually unwind this legislation in a sustainable manner. This has been accomplished on a negotiated basis with staff interests, firstly through the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2016-2018(LRA) and now the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA). The PSSA was given legal effect by the Oireachtas in the Public Service...

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

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy will be aware from previous replies, in my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning in, and recruitment to, the Civil Service. In Budget 2015, it was announced that there would be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills. The Deputy...

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

Michael McGrath: The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 was enacted on 26 December 2018. This Act introduced a new compulsory retirement age of 70 for the majority of public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004. The public servants covered by the Act are termed “relevant public servants” as defined in Section 2 of the Act. Under the Act, any relevant public...

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

Michael McGrath: Ireland continues to support the closest possible future relationship between the EU and the UK. Nevertheless we recognise that, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations on the future relationship, the UK will leave the Single Market and the Customs Union on 1 January 2021. This will have significant implications for us. We have been preparing for Brexit since before the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Commercial Rates (16 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: In May the previous Government agreed to waive commercial rates for businesses affected by the covid pandemic from end March to end June. This followed on from a earlier decision to defer rates for certain sectors most impacted such as the leisure, hospitality, retail and childcare sectors. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to "set out how commercial rates will be treated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Private Partnerships (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy may be interested to know that financial information for individual Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects are published on the PPP.Gov.iewebsite. The following table outlines the 2019 unitary / availability payments broken down by project for each sector. Department/Agency Project 2019 PPP unitary / availability payments (€,m) ...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pension Provisions (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Public service pensions, including those of retired members of An Garda Síochána, were reduced under the FEMPI legislation by way of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). The PSPR was introduced on 1 January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (FEMPI) 2010 and extended on 1 July 2013 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that the briefing documents provided by my Department to Minister of State Smyth and myself following our appointments will be published on the Department's website on Friday, 17th July. The published version will have regard to the relevant provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. I understand that the Office of Public Works will be making similar...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Government has set out a number of commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to public procurement including evaluating and managing the environmental, economic and social impacts of procurement strategies within the state, developing and implementing a sustainable procurement policy and tasking the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to update all procurement frameworks...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: All indications are that the Freedom of Information system continues to function well on a day-to-day basis in delivering its objectives of openness, accountability and transparency of public bodies. According to the Information Commissioner's Annual Report, 2019 once again saw a new record in FOI activity, with 41,176 requests dealt with by public bodies over the course of the year....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together. There are two Ministers of State appointed to my Department: - Deputy Ossian Smyth is Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with responsibility for Public Procurement and eGovernment; and - Deputy Patrick O’Donovan is Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Pensions Data (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: This question concerns two separate, but related, issues, both of which concern the balance between on the one hand the goal of transparency in public administration, and personal privacy rights on the other. Firstly, there is the routine publication of individualised information relating to pension payments. Consideration was given to this practice at the time of the introduction of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Inquiries (14 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has had no tribunals, public investigations or commissions of investigations under its remit since it was established in 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (7 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: The Blackpool and Glashaboy Flood Relief Schemes are currently undergoing assessment as part of the Confirmation process by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This process was instigated in late 2018 but was delayed by the transposition into Irish law of EU EIA Directive 2014/52/EU insofar as the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts are concerned. The Regulations were...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (7 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: Under the provisions of Section 28 of the State Property Act 1954, property held by dissolved companies at the time of dissolution can vest in the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There are often complex title and other legal issues associated with such properties, particularly given that the interest acquired by the Minister is described as a defeasible interest as it may be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (7 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: A decision will be made shortly in relation to the application for flood relief works on the Templemore to Borrisoleigh Road submitted by Tipperary County Council under the Remedial Works element of the Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (7 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I can confirm that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently carrying out cell refurbishment works at Kells Garda Station. These works are due for completion in September 2020. A new two story extension to include 4 new cells, prisoner processing facilities with ancillary rooms and new office accommodation is planned for Navan Garda Station. Tender documents will be issued shortly and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (7 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I am happy to respond to the Deputy in relation to this matter. I am advised however, that it will take a little time to review and assess any files and documentation relevant to the question and that my Office will respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Michael McGrath: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of the Taoiseach has arranged for the publication of material provided by Government Departments in accordance with agreed procedures, via the Department of the Taoiseach, to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, as part of Government formation negotiations. This material is available on the gov.iewebsite at the following link...