Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

A copy of Minister McGrath’s diaries dated between January 2022 and July 2022.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I request from early records conditions attached to civil servants at the lower rates of pay received 4% increase in salary while those in the upper scales received 9% increase. These increases were brought in as a result of benchmarking. At the time every civil servant in junior ranks were obliged to attend meetings in Hotels hosted by Carr associates and explain how they could increase output. This was 2002.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• Any communications between Minister Michael McGrath and Minister Stephen Donnelly OR Robert Watt on the issue of HSE finances, between March 2022 to date. • Any modelling/briefings done by the department in 2022 on the exposure of capital projects to inflation. • Any modelling/briefings done by the department in 2022 on the exposure of other departmental budget's to inflation.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The Department has announced a consultation process on the operation of the FOI Act in Ireland. Can you kindly provide me with a listing of persons and organisations that have made a submission and the date received?

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

As a member of the public and an employee of a tendering firm, under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, I wish to place a request for the following: TOPIC: This Request is in relation to the specific tender “RFT 206674 - PROJ000007245 - PAS122F - Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of Business, Management and ICT Consultancy Services” as published on https://www.etenders.gov.ie/ (https://irl.eu-supply.com/) on 05/02/2022 at 16:18 by the Office of Government Procurement.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

REQUEST: All documentation relating to the above Multi-Party Framework including, but not limited to, documentation on the following: • Framework Design & Qualifying Criteria – o The internal design decision to apply a limit of 20 members and 30 members in various lots, o the turnover thresholds for each lot and the overall framework o the scoring methodology design and sub-criteria scoring o the design of qualifying criteria and their application as it appears that they did not get validated, other than taking the tenderer’s word, before progressing to the next stage of the process for further assessment – Clause 3.2 Selection Criteria states… “Tenderers will either pass OR fail each of the Selection Criteria in this part 3.2. A Tenderer who fails a selection criterion will be excluded from participating in this Competition” … yet it appears that without validation these criteria were adjudged to have been passed (or not). o Documentation relating to the review of previous framework, feedback (internal and external) on the previous framework and suggestions for the new framework and the review and approval of the new Framework including standard legal review sign off for these frameworks prior to publication. • Submissions o List of all tendering entities for each lot o All tender submissions – to enable assessment of the scoring applied to them • Assessments o By Lot, all reports / minutes of meetings / detailed scoring methodology including official and incidental instruction on how discretionary and/or additional content was to be assessed and scored where it was allowed, and how scoring was to be allocated across sub sections of the tender responses

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

when scoring was not made available to tenderers o By Lot, all documentation regarding the assessments and assessment process including points allocation by section for all sections including where sections no detailed scoring methodology was provided o By Lot, all Documentation relating to minimum qualification criteria and their assessment o By Lot, the guidance on how to assess previous experience (case studies) for minimum qualification criteria purposes prior to decision on progression to full framework assessment, when they were not being validated for quality, validity or budget with the clients who were the subject of the case studies. o By Lot, the list of tendering entities who were shortlisted post qualification criteria assessment o By lot, the details of the assessment panel and their relevant expertise / qualifications / experience of delivering/ assessing and/or buying the services and the breadth of their experience considering the broad scope of each lot o By Lot, the assessment of tenders and associated notes, including individual assessor notes and contemporaneous notes, minutes and drafts / summaries of the meetings and summaries of the tender reviews / tender feedback / tender assessment summaries o By Lot, the total number of tender applications and the scores by category for each tender? o By Lot, briefing materials / emails / letters / correspondence (internal and external) relating to the assessment process and outcomes by Lot as coordinated and facilitated by the Office for Government Procurement. o All documentation relating to Communications, meetings and engagements relating to the standstill period, standstill period extensions, the reason for those extensions, and challenges to the procurement process including but not just those made under remedies regulations and other means. o The concerns or challenges, relating to the process or outcome and the

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

challenges raised and all internal and external communications related to these (we expect the challenger’s name to be redacted but not the content of the challenge/concerns) and all responses. All Tenderers Documents submitted save for where they have expressly noted their confidential or commercially sensitive nature should be fully accessible as clause 2.16.2 of the RFT document clearly states “….Tenderers are asked to consider if any of the information supplied by them in their Tender should not be disclosed because of its confidentiality or commercial sensitivity. If Tenderers consider that certain information is not to be disclosed because of its confidentiality or commercial sensitivity, Tenderers must, when providing such information, clearly identify the specific sections of their Tender containing such information and specify the reasons for its confidentiality or commercial sensitivity. For the avoidance of doubt Tenderers may not assert confidentiality or commercial sensitivity over the entire Tender but must clearly identify the specific section containing such information. If Tenderers do not identify information as confidential or commercially sensitive, it is liable to be released in response to a request under the above legislation without further notice to or consultation with the Tenderer……. " Therefore, I feel that, other than detailed pricing schedules, anything not marked and justified in advance as confidential or commercially sensitive must be available. Where an item has been marked commercially sensitive, then that aspect can be redacted. Any over-reaching to claim confidentiality and commercial sensitivity on an entire document should render it fully discoverable as to claim it is all confidential / commercially sensitive would be clearly inappropriate. For Pricing, it should be possible to see the minimum, maximum and the median tables as a minimum. In addition, pseudonymised pricing is relevant here as pricing is a critical factor in the

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

scoring and selection. All documentation related to scoring methodology and decision related documentation should be fully discoverable also as they must be to justify the decision(s) made. Timeframe: Specifically, between the dates of 01/05/2021 (the approximate start of meaningful preparation work for this Framework) up to and including 29/07 2022.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Copies of any records held in the email account of either the minister or the secretary general with regard to Circular 17-2022 or Circular 16-2022. 03/08/ during the period in which they were under consideration

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

A. 30.09.21/Email from DPER to DFHERIS regarding TU Act amendments. B. any other correspondence sent or received relating to the land/property- related aspects of the HEA Bill 2022 by DPER with the DFHERIS in 2021-2022.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

A list of all e submissions sent to the senior minister during Q2 of 2022

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• The Department’s Records Management Policy. • Any guidelines, procedures or manuals compiled as part of the Department’s Records Management programme, including Records Retention/Disposal Schedules. • The minutes of meetings held during 2021 and 2022 by any records management committee, steering group or similar body operating within the Department

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

A copy of the "terms of reference independently provided by D/PER in 2014- 15.". These refer to the manner and conduct of an Internal Audit into a Government Department, with particular reference to a protected disclosure.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

As I have discovered, the investigation into my Protected Disclosure, to the Minister for Social Protection, excluded the specific documents that related to the disclosure. In the public interest, I require the terms of reference that enables the Internal Audit function to exclude evidence from an investigation.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

1. The minutes of a virtual meeting held between Conor O’Connell of the Construction Industry Federation and David Moloney held between 1 September and December 2021, as shown on lobbying.ie. Any correspondence relating to the meeting, excluding correspondence relating to setting up the meeting 2. The minutes of a meeting held between Conor O’Connell and Ronnie Downes between May and August 2021, as detailed on lobbying.ie. Any correspondence relating to the meeting, excluding correspondence relating to setting up the meeting 3. The minutes of a virtual meeting that took place between Conor O'Connell of the Construction Industry Federation and Micheál Martin, Simon Coveney and Michael McGrath between January and April 2021, and any correspondence relating to the meeting, excluding correspondence relating to setting up the meeting.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• All briefing notes prepared for Minister McGrath in relation to the proposed MetroLink project • All correspondence between Minister McGrath, Sec Gen David Moloney or Paul Quinn, CEO and chief procurement officer at the OGP, on the same issue (i.e. correspondence exchanged by any two or more of those individuals) • All correspondence between any of the above-named individuals and Minister Eamon Ryan or DECC Sec Gen Mark Griffin The timeframe should cover the period of June 5, 2022 - July 5, 2022

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The ''author constructed datasets used for the Analysis of High-Tech Drug Activity and Expenditure by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as detailed in the Spending Review 2021 Paper by the IGESS 'Review of High Tech Drug Expenditure'"

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Q1. Please list the number of devices deployed by your organisation for the below list? (Listed Devices) Q2. Does your organisation have any plans of refreshing or replacing any of the ICT devices from the below list. If yes, please provide the indicative or projected expenditure in the given format? (Format Listed) Q3. Does your organisation have any plans for developing, refreshing, or replacing any software applications, if so, can you please provide the information in the below format? (Format Listed)

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

A complete list of vacant/unoccupied properties owned by the department and the agencies/bodies under its aegis. Please include the name and address of each property, and its zone status (e.g. residential, commercial, and industrial).

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

A breakdown of all data protection breaches at the National Shared Services Office for 2021

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Copies of any correspondence between your department and the DoH with regard to the Covid death-in-service benefit. Copies of any high-level documents prepared within the department with regard to the death-in-service benefit and whether it should proceed or not.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Copies of any (non-routine) correspondence between D/PER and SIPO with regard to the register of members' interests Copies of any briefings or submissions prepared for the minister with regard to the register of members' interests. Both parts of this request to cover the period 1 Jan 2020 to date of receipt of the request.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Section 8(4) of the 1997 FOI Act was amended in 2003. Originally, section 8(4) provided that any reason given by the requester for making a request, or any belief or opinion of the FOI body as to what those reasons were, was to be disregarded. The FOI Amendment Act 2003 inserted the words “Subject to the provisions of this Act” at the beginning of this provision. I would like copies of records that would shed light on the background to this amendment.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• A list of meetings held between the DPER and representatives of the Bar Council of Ireland since the start of 2022; • The names of those attending these meetings; • A copy of the agendas for these meetings and/or a list of subjects to be discussed; • A copy of any memos prepared by departmental officials ahead of these meetings; and • A copy of any minutes or summaries of these meetings.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• All records/notes/minutes related to any meeting between Sky Ireland and Ossian Smyth in the last four months.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The records I am seeking are in relation to setting an upper age limit for the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the basis for that upper age limit. This request includes, but is not limited to, records of decisions and consultations, all minutes of meetings, emails and other correspondence involving the relevant Minister(s) or senior officials, the relevant government department(s) or other State agencies or bodies, notes in any format, and research papers around the setting of the upper age limit and the basis for that age limit.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I note that your body partook in the inter-departmental group, the report from which (Report of Inter-Departmental Working Group: Future Investment in Childcare in Ireland) has been used as the basis for the upper age limit (see page 12 - “This is subject to an outside parameter of a child starting school no later than 5 years and 6 months.”) I am further requesting the submissions, underlying data, research papers and other relevant documents held by, sent by or received by your Department in relation to setting the parameter of 5 years 6 months in this report or otherwise.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Meeting minutes and briefing notes for Minister Ossian Smyth and his meeting with Workday on Jun 10th 2022 in San Francisco, as detailed on the lobbying register https://www.lobbying.ie/return/88736/workday-limited

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

In relation to all thermal screening systems (including all non-contact devices such as thermal cameras for fever or temperature checking during COVID-19 pandemic) that you have procured/purchased/licensed from February 2020 until the present, please provide: 1. the names of each company (vendors and manufacturers) and the names of the products including the model numbers; 2. The contracts and communication (such as letters and emails) with each company; 3. The duration of contracts and/or licenses; 4. Technical documentation such as data sheets received from the manufacturer and/or vendor; 5. Marketing materials received from the manufacturer and/or vendor; 6. Documents stating when these systems were used (e.g., start and end date), and 7. The total costs.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The release of any correspondence between the minister or minister's office and the Law Society sent between 1 May and 31 August about the Freedom of Information Act. My request refers to the entry on the Lobbying Register

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Any notes/briefing materials/minutes/correspondence, per the lobbying register, relating a meeting between Amazon Web Services and Barry Lowry.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Any notes/briefing materials/minutes/correspondence, per the lobbying register, relating a meeting between Amazon Web Services and Paul.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

All independent reviews carried out at decision gate one and decision gate two to date on major public investment projects from November 2021 to present, as per circular 25/2021.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Date range 2021-2022 Briefing documents created for or created by the Public Service Innovation Advisory Board meeting minutes of Public Service Innovation Advisory Board

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

In relation to PAS097F Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for the Provision of Business and Management and ICT Consultancy Services, the following information plus any other information that could reasonably be considered relevant; 1. OGP’s evaluation scores in relation to PA’s submission 1. For each of the 13 Lots: • Scoring allocation framework and methodology (overall and for sub- criteria) • Minutes of Evaluation Meetings in relation to assessment of PA’s submission • All briefing materials, emails, letters and other correspondence (internal and external) relating to assessment and evaluation of PA’s submission • Confirmation of how evaluators were trained and informed on the process • Documentation of OGP’s quality assurance and verification processes

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

2. OGP’s failure to adhere to the stated process in evaluating PA’s submission 1. Supply Market Analysis Report 2. Framework Design Process 3. Regulation 84 Report 4. Abnormally Low Tenders Report/Approach 5. For each of the 13 Lots: • Confirmation of evaluation team membership. • Confirmation of evaluation team experience and expertise in relevant subject matter areas • Schedule of Lot-specific evaluation meetings 3. OGP’s failure to manage our initial challenge in line with good practice. 1. OGP Complaint Handling Procedures and Processes 2. For each of the 13 Lots: • Confirmation that OGP followed its stated complain handling process • Minutes of Complaint Handing Meetings in relation to assessment of PA’s initial challenge • All briefing materials, emails, letters and other correspondence (internal and external) relating to assessment and evaluation of PA’s initial challenge • Confirmation that those individuals dealing with PA’s challenge to the original evaluation decision were separate from those individuals who initially conducted the evaluation • Confirmation of how those undertaking the complaint handling processes were trained and informed on the process

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I would be obliged if you would kindly let me have a list of the title and duration of all public service wage agreements since 2011.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• Receipts and expenses claims of Minister O'Donovan relating to their trip to Chicago earlier this year,

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• Receipts and expenses claims of any support staff who accompanied the Minister on the trip.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Records of bilateral meetings between the Minister for Education and the Minister for Public Expenditure and/or senior officials from assistant secretary level upwards in relation to the education budget for 2023, from June 2022 to September 27th, 2022.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

A list of all submissions to the Minister in the period 1 March to 31 September 2022

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I would like to request, under Freedom of Information legislation, all correspondence from any member, representative, or chairperson of the Companies Law Review Group and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the last two weeks. The Companies Law Review Group is an expert group which advises on company law. So the subject matter of the records concerned would be on company law.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

• Correspondence between Minister Michael McGrath and Minister Heather Humphreys regarding Budget 2023 between August 1 2022 and the date of this request (to include the Minister's office and advisers) CLARIFICATION: I am referring to Minister Humphries’ Social Protection portfolio • Correspondence between officials in the DPER with the rank principal officer and above regarding the social protection budget for Budget 2023 between August 1 2022 and the date of this request • Correspondence between officials in the DPER with the rank principal officer and above and officials in the Department of Social Protection regarding the social protection budget for Budget 2023 between August 1 2022 and the date of this request

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Please confirm if your Minister uses WhatsApp for official government business and/or for exchanging messages with officials and colleagues. Please confirm if your Minister stores or deletes WhatsApp messages relating to government business or to and from officials and colleagues. Please confirm if your Minister has downloaded Signal on their work mobile phone. Please confirm if your Minister uses Signal for official government business and/or for exchanging messages with officials and colleagues. Please confirm if your Minister uses a private email account for official government business and/or exchanging messages with officials and colleagues. Please provide any guidance that has been issued to your Minister on the use of messaging systems, such as WhatsApp or Signal. Please send screengrabs of all WhatsApp messages in relation to government business sent to and from your Minister's work phone on September 27, 2022.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I request the following records relating to Shannon Heritage sites in county Clare. (i) Any records, correspondence, memos and briefing documents prepared for/by members of the Department regarding the proposed transfer of the management of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council (Namely Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Knappogue Castle & Craggaunowen) between January 1, 2021 and up to and including the date of this request.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Copies of all internal correspondence – including but not limited to emails, memos, PowerPoint presentations – within D/PER (as well as

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

correspondence to and from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Office of Government Procurement), from 1 October 2021 to 12 October 2022, regarding the proposed “Microsoft Whole of Government Agreement” (which is referenced in the publicly available minutes of the D/PER Management Board meeting of 19 September). This request includes (in addition to internal correspondence between officials, political advisors and Ministers) any legal advice that D/PER may have received, either from its own legal advisor, the Office of the Attorney General, or external legal counsel, on the “Microsoft Whole of Government Agreement”.

Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

Copies of all correspondence (including but not limited to emails, letters, memos and commercial documentation) between D/PER (including the Office of Government Procurement and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer) with Microsoft from 1 October 2021 to 13 October 2022, regarding the proposed “Microsoft Whole of Government Agreement” (which is referenced in the publicly available minutes of the D/PER Management Board meeting of 19 September).