Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The committee will probably have to consider holding some meetings on Tuesdays because we have our normal work to do on Thursdays as well but we will come to the dates of the meetings in due course.

The first item on the agenda is the minutes of the meeting of 21 July, 2016. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. The second item is matters arising out of those minutes not already covered in the rest of our documentation. I do not believe there are any matters requiring further consideration. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next item is correspondence received since our previous meeting. No. 69A is a briefing document from Mr. Gerry Quinn from the Central Bank which we dealt with at our earlier session. No. 73A, from the Central Bank, also relates to our earlier session. The briefing document we received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was also discussed at our earlier session, as was the opening statement from the Department.

Nos. 17B, 18B, 19B, 20B and 21B are responses from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform arising from reports produced by the previous Committee of Public Accounts on the Bytel project, wards of court, fishery harbour centres, costs associated with undelivered capital projects and the Dublin Docklands Authority. At this point, I suggest that we dispose of the responses from the Minister on the Bytel project regarding fishery harbour centres, costs associated with undelivered capital projects and the Dublin Docklands Authority but that we hold open the one on the wards of court because we are still receiving correspondence on that. We will move on with the rest.

No. 47B is a follow-up letter from the HSE arising from our meeting on 15 July and providing information that the committee requested. That is noted.

No. 48B is correspondence from Professor Brian Norton, President of Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, providing information requested by the committee regarding the non-competitive procurement and advance payment for library services by the DIT. We all know that the company concerned went into receivership or administration and that approximately €700,000 had been paid upfront for a service that was not delivered. We received a very extensive report, over 100 pages long, on that so we will hold the matter over until members have had a chance to look at the report. We will not dispose of it yet.

No. 49B is a letter from the Minister for Finance providing up to date information on the NTMA and the remuneration of its director, which was requested in July. That is noted.

No. 52B is a follow-up letter from the Office of Public Works providing information arising from the strategic planning and flood risk meeting we had in July and that is also noted.

Item No. 57B is a follow-up letter from the HSE, arising from our meeting in July, providing further information regarding the oversight of section 38 and section 39 agencies. We will note that and hold it over because we will be returning to that topic in due course.

No. 64B is an e-mail from Ms Orla Kenny of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation relating to the late payments legislation and how it is being interpreted differently by Government Departments and agencies. Ms Kenny points out that the Department is taking steps to address this issue and that a memorandum for Government is being prepared. She has expressed the wish that we delay writing more formally to the Department until this memorandum has been finalised. It appears the matter is progressing well and we will await the finalisation and approval of the memorandum to Government and look forward to receiving a copy of it.

No. 66B is a letter from Mr. Fred McBride, chief executive officer at Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, regarding contracts awarded without a competitive tendering process in 2015. We asked for that at our meeting in July and have received a very comprehensive response, which we will note.

Category C correspondence is from private individuals who wrote to the committee. Nos. 14C, 44C and 45C relate to the wards of court issue.

We will hold them over for further consideration. These items were referred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the clerk informs me a response was received this morning. Can we agree to note these items and, when the Department's response is circulated, decide at the next meeting what further action needs to be taken? I have not yet read the response.

No. 46E is correspondence from an individual concerning his relocation from his home by the HSE and mental disability services. It is a handwritten letter concerning Meath disability services. I propose that we write to the HSE for a response and, when we get one, decide what to do then. I would not like to dismiss the correspondence if it concerns mental health services.

No. 50C is a letter from Mr. Gerard O'Leary, director of the office of environmental enforcement at the Environmental Protection Agency. He provides an update on the matter raised by an individual, namely, dumping on his land in County Meath. I propose that we forward a copy of the correspondence to the individual and if he reverts to us, we will deal with it.

No. 51C is a copy of a letter that was sent to the Minister for Health regarding the promotion of private health care and the wastage of public moneys by the HSE. The letter was circulated to most Oireachtas Members and we will note it.

Correspondence has been received from an individual concerning the alleged misuse of public funds within the National Ambulance Service. I propose that we forward the correspondence to the HSE for a response. When we receive a response, we will consider the matter.

No. 54C is a copy of correspondence sent to all Dáil clerks and Deputies regarding the Central Remedial Clinic pension fund. A copy of the independent actuarial report is attached. We will note the correspondence. I am sure the issue has been dealt with directly by the health committee.

Nos. 55C.1 and 55C.2 are a letter and a briefing note from Mr. Ray Mitchell of the HSE regarding abuse at a Brothers of Charity facility in Glanmire, Cork.