Ninth Level Ireland

“The Government is to explore a new public sector pay deal with servants, even though it doesn’t have any available funds for any increases without adding to the National Debt. Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath told Cabinet yesterday he had instructed his officials to undertake ‘exploratory’ talks with the public services committee of ICTU over the coming weeks …” (more)

[Senan Molony and Hugh O’Connell, Independent, 8 September]

“The Government may have to consider introducing a fresh staff recruitment ban and freezing promotions in the public sector because of the recession caused by Covid-19, it can be revealed. In briefing documents prepared for new Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, obtained by the Irish Examiner, it is made clear some of the stark choices facing him as he grapples with the €30bn deficit …” (more)

[Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner, 2 August]

“Ministers have been warned by Government officials of potential lawsuits being taken by Leaving Cert students against the State due to the introduction of predicted grades this year …” (more)

[Martin Wall, Irish Times, 24 July]

“TDs, senators and the public service workforce are set for a 2% pay rise in October, the new Expenditure Minister has signalled. Michael McGrath indicated that the Government will honour the wage increase due under a pay deal …” (more)

[Anne-Marie Walsh, Independent, 1 July]

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have gone to war over the cost of the next public sector pay deal. With two weeks to go until election day, the two main parties launched attacks on each other’s approach to the forthcoming talks with public sector unions …” (more)

[Philip Ryan, Independent, 26 January]

“Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if universities are free to set out their own level of non-refundable capitation fee for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 9 July]

“Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if public sector employees that are to be allowed to work beyond 65 years of age in certain circumstances will continue to be paid at the point on the increment scale they were at when they reached 65 years of age; the position in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 9 October]

“Thousands of parents and students may be missing out on valuable tax relief on qualifying third level fees because they are not claiming it, according to Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Finance Michael McGrath TD. Deputy McGrath was speaking having received figures from the Ministers for Finance and Education and Skills which point to a significant under claiming of this tax relief …” (more)

[Mary Bermingham, TheCork.ie, 26 July]

“Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position on the planned technological university for Munster; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 12 June]

“Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath has accused University College Cork (UCC) of using non-EU medicine students as a ‘cash cow’ while Irish students are left without places. Non-EU students are liable for higher fees than EU students, and in recent years UCC has both increased their fees and taken in more of them …” (more)

[David Linnane, Evening Echo, 12 April]

“Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the gross cost to the Exchequer for each month that the planned pay increase under the Lansdowne Road agreement of €1,000 in respect of those with a salary of up to €65,000 is brought forward to earlier in 2017 …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 22 November]

“Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the steps she is taking to ensure that the Labour Court Recommendation LCR20577 in respect of a Labour Court hearing on 29 May 2013, relating to the pay of four workers at University College Cork Tyndall Institute, is fully implemented; if she will provide an update on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter … ” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 28 January]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total funding for higher education; and the total number of students enrolled in higher education in each year from 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 12 March]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Student Universal Support Ireland grants that were paid to students in advance of the Christmas break; the number that have been paid since the 1 January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 28 May]

“Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends that the higher education system should be reconfigured into five regional clusters; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 17 April]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to show separately, the amount of money that would be saved if all increments across the public service were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €60,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €75,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €90,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €100,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann Written Answers, 20 December]

“The Government has dramatically backed down on cutting allowances for public sector workers – reducing the €1.5bn bill by just €3.5m. Only one of 1,100 different payments will be cut from existing members of the public service after the Cabinet caved in to union opposition …” (more)

[Fionnan Sheahan, Independent, 19 September]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the unauthorised level of payments made to university staff; if universities have responded to him on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 27 June]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he intends to reduce the pay of those university presidents who continue to earn more than the €200,000 public sector pay cap and who recently refused his request for a pay cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 19 April]

“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of his plans to introduce a capital asset test as part of the qualifying criteria for maintenance grants at third level from 2013 and, specifically, if agricultural land and other business assets will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil Éireann, 11 January]