Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a previous report. At this stage, if the individual wants to take up a policy issue on the matter, we refer him to the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport for whatever action it deems appropriate.

No. 1533 is a matter from an individual dated 20 August 2018 on a query from the committee on foot of our correspondence regarding the timely presentation of accounts. This body was incorporated into Dublin City University at the end of September 2016. That is the old St. Patrick's institution. We note it.

No. 1534 is from an individual, dated 20 August 2018, inquiring about the President's expenses. We note the correspondence but will not discuss it.

No. 1535 is correspondence from Deputy David Cullinane on Dr. Graham Love. We have discussed this issue at length and it is noted.

No. 1539 is from an individual, dated 15 August, on presidential remuneration. We note it but will not discuss it.

No. 1540 is from an individual, dated 23 August, who is inquiring about the costs associated with an inquiry into the Midlands Regional Hospital and the PRG investigation into Portlaoise. I propose we write to the HSE for a detailed information note on the direct and indirect costs associated with this matter. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 1541 is a letter from Mr. John Devitt, chief executive, Transparency International Ireland, dated 27 August 2018, providing information on its integrity at work programme; the Speak Up Report 2017 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Is it agreed that we note and publish this correspondence? Agreed. Mr. Devitt has offered to meet the committee and we will consider that suggestion as part of our work programme.

We will keep it on the list for consideration.

Nos. 1553, 1555, 1559 and 1564 are from an individual requesting confirmation that the Government did not incur expenses arising from the visit of the Pope to Ireland. I propose we request the information from the Department of the Taoiseach or the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as appropriate. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 1565 is from Deputy David Cullinane regarding a proposed invitation to Dr. Gabriel Scally regarding his report. We will deal with that separately in the context of how we deal with the cervical cancer as part of our role compared to the role of the Joint Committee on Health.

No. 1580 is from me, proposing that the committee examine Vote 1. There will be no further discussion.

No. 1581 is dated 18 September, from Dr. Gráinne Flannelly, looking for clarification on whether she is needed for next week's meeting on CervicalCheck, which was supposed to be this week's business, but we are rescheduling that. We will hold her offer to attend open until we finalise that work programme and the date for that. She was the clinical director of CervicalCheck but no longer works for the HSE.

Nos. 1516, 1517, 1573 and 1574 are from an individual with regard to a previous HSE human resources, HR, inquiry. The correspondence is further to previous correspondence that was dealt with at our meeting in July. It was agreed to ask the HSE to respond. The HSE to wrote to us on the matter and advised that an agreement was concluded between the staff panel, unions and the HSE under the aegis of the national joint committee in May 2015. The corporate employee relations service notified all divisions of the HSE and section 38 agencies of the provisions of the agreement and the necessity to advise those who were unsuccessful in their application for regularisation or who have otherwise not received any outcome of their application. I propose to send the HSE response to the individual and if the individual wants to come back to us with further information, he or she is free to do so. While all those wonderful provisions happened at national level, it appeared from what the individual wrote that staff members on the ground never got the information. They were never aware of this programme. While employee relations services, corporate committees and joint committees said it was all in order, staff members who may have been interested in being considered for that insist they were never notified. We will send all that. That is the official response. What happened on the ground may have been different. If he or she has evidence, we will look at that matter because it does not fully address the exact query with regard to individuals not being informed on a local level.

No. 1576 is from an individual, dated 30 August, who alleges unauthorised state aid is paid by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to Horse Sport Ireland. I propose we request a response from the Department. It does not like giving money to Horse Sport Ireland. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 1578 is from an individual, dated 14 September, requesting the committee to make recommendations to the Government regarding accountability for the management of the State's property assets. This matter is related to a forthcoming report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and refers to an issue raised with the previous committee. I propose we await the forthcoming report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and consider it as part of our work programme at that stage.

No. 1579 is from Susan Gilvarry, solicitor to the Cooke commission of investigation, dated 14 September 2018, requesting documents submitted to the committee from Fortress during the inquiry into Project Eagle. The secretariat has sent the requested documentation to the committee and we will note the request. The letter refers to Deputy Catherine Murphy but it should have been Deputy Catherine Connolly.

No. 1587 is from a solicitor, dated 27 August, requesting the committee to make inquiries regarding increased cost of long-term care in West Kerry Community Hospital. That is probably funded by the fair deal scheme. The people who set the price for the fair deal scheme are the National Treatment Purchase Fund, or it might be a matter for the HSE. We will write to both organisations for a response to that matter because I am sure the State is paying most of the costs of care in that organisation, through the fair deal scheme or otherwise, even though there is a private element involved.