Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Public Accounts Committee

Business of Committee

10:00 am

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The first item is the minutes of the meeting of 14 March 2013. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed.

Next is matters arising from the minutes. We will publish the two reports today at 3 p.m. and I call on as many members as possible to attend the audiovisual room at 3 p.m.

No. 3 is correspondence received since our meeting on 14 March 2013. No. 3A is correspondence from Accounting Officers. No. 3A.1 is correspondence dated 13 March 2013 from Mr. Cathal Guiomard, Commissioner for Aviation Regulation, providing information requested regarding key performance indicators. This is to be noted and published. No. 3A.2 is correspondence dated 14 March from Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills, providing information requested at the meeting of 28 February 2013. This is to be noted and published.

No. 3B is individual correspondence. No. 3B.1 is correspondence dated 12 March 2013 from Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills, providing a note on issues raised previously by Ms Nora Beattie regarding the appointment of school secretaries. That is to be noted and forwarded to the original complainant. No. 3B.2 is correspondence dated 12 March 2013 from Ms Geraldine Tallon, Secretary General, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, providing a note on issues previously raised by Ms Marie Therese O'Sullivan regarding The Warrens wet and dry homeless hostel, Wicklow town. This is to be noted. It is primarily a matter for the local authority. We asked the Department whether it was appropriate that capital funding provided for social housing could end up funding a homeless shelter. A copy is to be forwarded to Ms O'Sullivan, the original complainant. That is to be published.

No. 3B.3 is correspondence dated 12 March 2013 from Mr. Tom O'Mahony, Secretary General, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, providing a note on issues previously raised by Deputy Niall Collins regarding the expansion of the bicycle hire scheme. This is to be noted and published and a copy is to be forwarded to Deputy Niall Collins. No. 3B.4 is correspondence dated 12 March 2013 from Mr. Bev Cotton, Clonakilty, County Cork, re committee meeting of 28 February 2013. This is to be noted and a copy forwarded to the Department of Education and Skills for a note on the issues raised. No. 3B.5 is correspondence received on 12 March 2013 from Mr. Frank Power, Bantry, County Cork re works carried out at Schull Community College. This is to be noted and forwarded to the Department of Education and Skills for a note on the matter. No. 3B.6 is correspondence received 15 March 2013 from Mr. Anthony Dunne re alleged accountancy malpractice at Aer Lingus. This is to be noted and a copy forwarded to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for direct reply since Aer Lingus does not come within the direct remit of the PAC. No. 3B.7 is correspondence dated 14 March 2013 from Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General, Department of Education and Skills, providing a note on an issue previously raised by Mr. John Fallon regarding a lease of property by County Mayo VEC. This is to be noted and a copy forwarded to Mr. John Fallon, the original complainant.

There are several documents relating to today's meeting. No. 3C.1 is correspondence received 15 March 2013 from Ms Eileen Creedon, Chief State Solicitor, re briefing paper and matters to be considered for today's meeting. This is to be noted and published. No. 3C.2 is correspondence dated 15 March 2013 from Ms Eileen Creedon, Chief State Solicitor, re examination of chapter 15 of the Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 2011. This is to be noted and published. No. 3C.3 is correspondence received on 14 March from the Department of Justice and Equality re briefing papers and matters to be considered at today's meeting. This is to be noted and published. No. 3C.4 is correspondence received on 19 March 2013 from Ms Eileen Creedon, Office of the Chief State Solicitor, re opening statement. No. 3C.5 is correspondence received on 9 March 2013 from Mr. Brian Purcell, Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality, re examination of chapter 15 of the Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 2011. This is to be noted and published. No. 3C.6 is correspondence received on 20 March from Mr. Brian Purcell, Secretary General, Department of Justice and Equality, re opening statement. This is to be noted and published.

The reports and statements received since the meeting of 14 March 2013 are listed. Nos. 4.1 to 4.4 all have a clear audit and members can raise any related matters if they wish to do so.

The work programme is now on screen. There will be a private meeting next Wednesday at 4.30 p.m. to share our views with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government audit team. Our next meeting after that will be on 18 April when we will discuss matters relating to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I have covered the details of the meetings on 18 and 27 April. Our meeting with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland will deal with chapter 20, the Broadcasting Fund, row 30, Communications Energy and Natural Resources and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland financial statements for 2011.

At the meeting last week we said we would examine the Dublin Docklands Development Authority again and we said we would write to the Department and the authority. When will that meeting be scheduled?

Clerk to the Committee:

The Accounting Officer of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is due before the committee on 2 May. The next phase of the examination will involve her Department and the oversight by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is likely that we will have it towards the end of May or early June.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Will that be a separate meeting?

Clerk to the Committee:

It will be a separate meeting, yes.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The sooner we have that, the better. As I understand it one of the witnesses who appeared the last day will not be available.

10:10 am

Clerk to the Committee:

My understanding, Chairman, is that the interim CEO has left this week and is to go to An Bord Pleanála, but there will be an executive authority in place at the DDDA.

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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We should have that meeting as soon as possible.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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June is too late, so the meeting should be earlier, even if we have to slot in a special meeting.

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I would be entirely supportive of such a decision.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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That is fine. I thank the Clerk. The second matter is the finalisation of the report on the HSE and SIPTU. That report has been completed. When is it likely to come before this committee?

Mr Seamus McCarthy:

It is not actually completed. We have the final responses from all the related parties. I am expecting to work through those next week and to sign off on it before Easter.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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What is the subsequent process?

Mr Seamus McCarthy:

It will be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It will then lie with the Minister to arrange to have it presented. There is a period of up to 90 days, or three months, for that. We are asking the Department to progress it as quickly as possible.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Because it is a dated issue and has come before us previously, it is important that the remaining stages be dealt with quickly. We will ask the Minister that on receipt of the report he make it available to the committee so that we can arrange an early hearing. The DDDA just wants to get it in order to deal with it as quickly as possible within a reasonable timeframe. Is there any other business?

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise a point which relates to last week's meeting. I requested that the Secretary General of the Department of Social Protection provide the committee with further figures regarding the interview rates for people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. Some figures were presented to us relating to last summer. We asked if more up-to-date information could be provided. I assume that information has not been received as yet.

Clerk to the Committee:

It has been requested but it has not been received yet.

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In the context of last week's discussion regarding the table and the number of people who were in receipt of allowances and the difficulties arising, getting the information about the number of people who turn up for interview is very important.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Should a reminder be sent to the Department?

Clerk to the Committee:

I will do so. We can ring them.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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If there is no other business, we will deal with today's business. I ask the witnesses to attend.