Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 31 January 2019

Public Accounts Committee

Business of Committee

9:00 am

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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On the day, when Deputy MacSharry asked about the mess committee, the issue was raised with several witnesses from the Prison Service and no information of any significance was forthcoming on the day. Now, it appears the matter was dealt with by the Labour Relations Commission in 2011 and there are massive negotiations between the union and the Prison Service on the matter. I feel all of that information was known to the witnesses who were present the last day and it was not made available to us in the public session. It would have been helpful had they done that. We have it now, thanks to Deputy MacSharry, and we have written to the committee for a detailed breakdown of information. It would have been helpful had they given us the information they were aware of on the day, given they knew about it. We will get a more detailed reply in writing in regard to the mess committee. The Comptroller and Auditor General might respond at that stage, although he will probably wait to see the reply. It is an issue the Comptroller and Auditor General is keen on. We will note and publish that. When we get the reply, we will come back to it.