Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Nobody disagrees with better delivery or a review, but at a recent meeting in the audiovisual room volunteers and staff disputed what the Tánaiste has outlined. The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has said nothing which suggests it had concerns about the existing structure, although there may have been an issue about internal capacity. I ask the Tánaiste to read the transcript of the meeting at which CIB representatives appeared before the Joint Committee on Social Protection because he will see the disdain they had for concerns Oireachtas Members raised with them. CIS saves money because it reduces the need for costly processes such as appeals, employment hearings and court cases. Staff work directly with people experiencing disadvantage and there is a huge voluntary input, which saves a great deal of money. They also provide unbiased, impartial feedback for public authorities. CIS recently received a gold star award for service excellence from the European Foundation for Quality Management. It has also been part of a European project as a role model for Balkan countries in respect of its independence and transparency as a civil society organisation. Now it has go back and state what it has been doing has been dismantled. I am concerned by the CIB's total disregard for CIS, the authoritarian way it deals with concerns expressed by Oireachtas Members and staff and the way in which all of these issues are being addressed. The staff and volunteers deserve much better from the board.

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