Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It says it will consider suggestions on the reform of the commission of investigation process, the closing remarks made by Mr. Justice Cregan. We will see what comes out of that. We need to keep on top of that.

No. 1928 B is from Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Health, dated 8 June 2023. It provides information requested by the committee regarding the proposed secondment of the former Chief Medical Officer. It is proposed to note and publish this item of correspondence. Is that Agreed? Agreed.

I flagged this because it has been going around for a while. The letter is worded in order that it gives a very generalised answer. It says that there is no single policy on secondments between the Civil Service. The policy is not our direct area but except where there is a public expenditure element involved in it. He went on to say that in some situations, arrangements will be made for individual employees with particular skills and experience to second out by agreement between the Department and the host organisation. But it is a question of what kind of system exists for overseeing that or if there is anything there for that. On research funding for the Health Research Board, Mr. Watt said it was based on the five-year strategic plan and that the Health Research Board awards are then distributed through a variety of funding processes. The letter is very broad. From the committee's perspective, this will need further examination. The finance committee is supposed to be examining it in the next week or so and we need to watch that. It is useful that we highlighted it. From a public expenditure point of view, the reply gives some answers but it is a bit generalised. I propose that we send this correspondence to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach for its attention and that it be circulated to its members before it considers it. The members are considering it next Thursday, that is, on this day week. It might be sent to that committee's secretary to be brought to members' attention prior to that meeting.

We move on to category C correspondence, which is from and related to private individuals and any other correspondence. No. R1917 is from an individual dated 30 May 2023 and is further correspondence regarding a request to the committee to investigate proposed emergency accommodation in Leixlip, County Kildare, for international protection applicants. Previous correspondence from this correspondent was considered at the meeting of 4 May and it was agreed to advise the correspondent that the matter is not for this committee and advise them to write to the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Further correspondence was considered at the meeting of 25 May and it was agreed to advise the correspondent to write to the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. This letter issued after the receipt of No. 1917, which is before us. Deputy Catherine Murphy flagged this item for discussion.