Results 9,121-9,140 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 162. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planned Cork metropolitan area transport strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14532/19]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2019: Motion (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: Looking at the breakdown, much of the carryover seems to relate to salaries. Is there an explanation for that?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2019: Motion (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: Yes, but looking at the breakdown, the explanation given for a number of them relates to salaries. Are they salaries relating to the capital projects? This is the underspend in capital that is carried over. Does an overspend in capital also carry over and reduce the amount of available capital in the budget for the following year under the relevant Vote?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2019: Motion (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: I suspect it is just a formula used in terms of wording. I have the text of the motion. It provides a breakdown. For each Vote, it starts with the words "for the salaries and expenses of" the respective office so I imagine it is a standard wording but it is not actually salaries if I am reading it correctly.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2019: Motion (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: The reference to salaries is the title. It is not actual salaries, it is capital spend. What are the implications of an overspend for the following year? If there is an underspend, it is carried forward to keep the budget but does an overspend reduce the following year's budget?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2019: Motion (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: So it has no knock-on effect into the following year.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: "(2) Dáil Éireann may, on a proposal by the Minister brought before that House, pass a resolution authorising the amount of assets referred to in subsection (1)to be altered.". Amendment No. 1 relates to the overall cap, which is set at €8 billion. Could the Minister of State explain...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: I shall speak first to give Deputy Jonathan O'Brien a chance to catch his breath. I ask the Minister of State to set out the amount being transferred in from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF. It was stated that it can be up to €2 billion. As set out on Second Stage, however, it is €1.5 billion. What is the procedural position? When is that due to happen? It has...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: Regarding the statutory provision, what is being set out is a framework to bring the fund up to €4 billion. The initial sum will be €1.5 billion through ISIF. That will be followed by €500 million for five consecutive years.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: That would bring the fund to a potential €4 billion. To grow beyond that amount and move towards the €8 billion cap will require further legislative change.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (28 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: The EU supports the principle of having a fiscal buffer. It supports a rainy day fund. The context of Brexit has been raised, understandably. It is pretty clear under section 6 of the Bill that if Brexit goes badly wrong over the coming weeks, then the money is not going to be paid into the fund. That is the reality. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has made that clear. If we are in an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (27 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 194. To ask the Minister for Health his Department and the HSE’s plans for the development of new hospitals in Cork; the state of progress and the timelines; the details of the funding that has been ring fenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14369/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Trade Union Recognition (27 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 203. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to resolve the industrial relations dispute involving some staff in the National Ambulance Service who are members of an organisation (details supplied) and who are seeking union recognition from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14420/19]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (27 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 250. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects the main construction work to commence at the Dunkettle interchange in Cork; the expected duration of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14367/19]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (27 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 251. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that have been taken in line with the national development plan in support of a high-speed rail link between Cork and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14368/19]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (27 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 253. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the planned M20 motorway between Cork and Limerick; the stage of the project; the next steps and associated times; when he envisages the project moving to planning, detailed design, tender and construction; when he expects the motorway to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14412/19]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pensions Data (27 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 270. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of small self-administered pension schemes in existence here; the net asset value of these schemes; the reason the exemption from IORPs is being lifted for these schemes; if an economic assessment has been undertaken on the potential impact of removing this exemption; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (26 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 162. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to support a UN binding treaty on business and human rights in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13464/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (26 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 178. To ask the Minister for Finance when proposals to change the VAT rules will be advanced through the European Union; if defibrillators are liable for VAT at the standard rate; the reason under the current rules defibrillators cannot be charged at one of the two lower rates of VAT; if it will be permissible under the new rules as they are proposed to exempt defibrillators from VAT; and if...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Compensation Fund (26 Mar 2019)

Michael McGrath: 243. To ask the Minister for Finance when the State Claims Agency expects to have a High Court hearing for the next tranche of moneys to be drawn down from the Insurance Compensation Fund for claimants yet to be paid as a result of the failure of a company (details supplied). [14250/19]