John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy McCarthy has been replaced by Deputy Keaveney. I thank Deputy McCarthy for his contribution to the Committee of Public Accounts and I welcome Deputy Keaveney. I wish him well in his work on the committee. Are the minutes of the meeting of 22 November 2012 agreed? Agreed.

We will review the minute of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on our report on the VAT charge on the National Aquatic Centre at next week’s meeting when the latest issue raised by Dublin Waterworld can also be discussed. At next week's meeting we will deal with the draft report on the HSE, which will finish off that work and we can publish the report before Christmas. For the meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in respect of Votes 28 and 29, we will circulate the Department's interim report on the misappropriation of funds in Uganda and a memo on the issues arising from the committee's visit to Mozambique last week.

Next Thursday a delegation from the public accounts committee of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature of South Africa will be in Dublin and we will arrange a short meeting of Members who are available to meet the delegation early on Thursday afternoon. The clerk will be in contact with Members.

Correspondence has been received since the meeting of Thursday, 22 November 2012. No. 3A is correspondence from Accounting Officers and-or Ministers.

No. 3A.1 is correspondence, dated 21 November 2012, from Mr. Brian Purcell, Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality, providing information requested by the committee at its meeting of 25 October 2012.

No. 3A.2 is correspondence, dated 26 November 2012, from Mr. Brendan Ryan, chief executive officer, Courts Service, providing information requested by the committee at its meeting of 25 October 2012. I propose it be noted and published.

No. 3A.3 is correspondence, dated 26 November 2012, from Mr. Tom O’Mahony, Secretary General, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport providing information requested by the committee at its meeting of 15 November 2012 regarding Mr Garry Coughlan and Aer Lingus. I propose to note it.

No. 3A.4 is correspondence, dated 26 November 2012, from Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills, providing information requested by the committee at its meeting of 1 November 2012 regarding Mr John Curry and County Wexford VEC. I propose to note it.

No. 3A.5 is correspondence, dated 27 November 2012, from Mr. Ray Mitchell, assistant national director, parliamentary and regulatory affairs, HSE, about providing further information requested by the committee at its meeting of 8 November 2012. I propose to note and publish it.

No. 3A.6 is correspondence, dated 28 November 2012, from Ms Geraldine Tallon, Secretary General, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, providing further information requested by the committee at its meeting of 31 October 2012. I propose to note and publish it.

No. 3A.7 is correspondence, dated 27 November 2012, from Ms Orla McPartlin, chief superintendent, An Garda Síochána, providing further information requested by the committee at its meeting of 1 November 2012. I propose to note and publish it.

No. 3A.8 is correspondence, dated 27 November 2012, from Ms Clare McMahon, chief executive officer, County Wexford Vocational Education Committee, providing information requested by the committee at its meeting of 1 November 2012 regarding Mr John Curry and County Wexford VEC. I propose to note it.

No. 3A.9 is correspondence, dated 29 November 2012, from Mr. Ray Mitchell, assistant national director, parliamentary and regulatory affairs, HSE, amending correspondence dated 19 November 2012, the reference number of which is PAC-R-739, 3A.4, point 3, which was noted at PAC meeting of 22 November 2012. I propose to note and publish it.

No. 3A.10 is correspondence, dated 28 November 2012, from Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills, providing information requested by the committee at its meeting of 25 November 2012 regarding public sector allowances paid to third level lecturers to mark exam papers. I propose to note it.

No. 3A.11 is correspondence, dated 28 November 2012, from Ms Geraldine Tallon, Secretary General, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, regarding the statutory audit report to the members of Dublin City Council for the year ended 31 December 2011 on the Poolbeg Incinerator.

Items numbered 3B are individual correspondence and-or complaints. No. 3B.1 is correspondence, received on 22 November 2012, from an anonymous source, regarding the location of the national children’s hospital. I propose to note it.

No. 3B.2 is correspondence, dated 14 November 2012, from Mr. Michael Brosnan, North Circular Road, Dublin 7, regarding Mr. Charles Farrell. I propose to note it.

No. 3B.3 is correspondence, dated 21 November 2012, from Mr. John Moriarty, Dublin Waterworld Limited, regarding the National Aquatic Centre VAT dispute. I propose to note it. We will deal with this next week when we deal with the minute of the Minister in response to our report on the VAT charge on the National Aquatic Centre.

No. 3B.4 is correspondence, dated 22 November 2012, from Mr. Terry Melia on public sector procurement reform. I propose to note it and forward it to the Department of Education and Skills for a note on the matter.

No. 3B.5 is correspondence, dated 23 November 2012, from Mr. Owen Cooke on Fáilte Ireland. I propose to note it and forward it to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for a note on the issue.

No. 3B.6 is correspondence, received 27 November 2012, from Mr. Garry Coughlan regarding Aer Lingus. Earlier correspondence from the Department has dealt with the issues raised by Mr Coughlan.

Items numbered 3D are documents relating to the committee meeting of 22 November 2012. No. 3D.1 is correspondence, dated 30 November 2012, from Ms. Geraldine Tallon, Secretary General, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, regarding briefing paper on matters to be considered at the meeting of 6 December 2012. I propose to note and publish it.

No. 3D.1 is correspondence, dated 30 November 2012, from Ms. Geraldine Tallon, Secretary General, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government regarding an opening statement. I propose to note it.

Items numbered 4 deal with reports of statements and accounts received since 22 November 2012. No. 4.1 is Dublin City University; No. 4.2 is the Irish Sports Council; No. 4.3 is the Commission for Energy Regulation; and No. 4.4 is Pobal. The accounts of the Commission for Energy Regulation will be dealt with at our meeting of 17 January 2013.

The work programme is now on screen. The draft programme covering the period January to April 2013 will be discussed next week. Is there anything members wish to raise under any other business?