Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 28 November 2019

Public Accounts Committee

Business of Committee

9:00 am

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely. We referred to that clearly in our report. Figures from several years before 2015 were much higher than on previous occasions. The Comptroller and Auditor General produced several reports on the costs of accommodation and acquiring hotels. Some hotels did not come into use. A previous Committee of Public Accounts discussed accommodation that was not utilised when required. There is a long history. This is not a recent phenomenon. That is the essential point being made. We will note and publish the correspondence.

No. 2567B is from Mr. Pádraig Dalton, director general of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, and provides a link to CSO releases regarding environmental air emissions accounts. The detail is available. We raised the issue and Mr. Dalton has given us the link to the various CSO releases. We will note and publish that.

No. 2569B, from Ms Rachel Downes, CEO of Caranua, dated 22 November 2019, is responding to information requested by the committee regarding eligibility criteria. At our meeting on 14 November, it was agreed to request an information note from Caranua to ascertain whether there are other options open to an individual who has not already received an award or settlement from the redress board or a court. Caranua does not appear to have answered the question and I propose to request that it address this specific point. It refers to the legislation, stating the person had to have received the award or a settlement. We shall ask Caranua to clarify the exact point. It seems to answer it but I would like absolute clarification on the specifics we referred to.