Results 4,461-4,480 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Mr. Fraser very much for appearing before the committee. As I am sure he is aware, it is very important for the functioning of this committee that senior civil servants such as himself make themselves available and accept our invitations to appear. I thank him for appearing. When did Mr. Fraser first become involved in discussions with the CMO about his future work plans?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Has Mr. Fraser had an opportunity to read Mr. Watt's briefing note?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I do not know if he has it with him.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Will he please go to paragraph 20 of it? In fairness, this accords with what Mr. Fraser has said but, in paragraph 20, Mr. Watt says that it was in February of 2022 that the CMO entered into detailed discussions with the third level sector. He says this followed on from initial discussions he had with the CMO in August 2021 regarding his future work plans, these involving the Secretary...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Who initiated the discussion?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: In fairness, it probably was him. It would be unusual for Mr. Fraser to initiate a discussion with the CMO about his future work plans. Is it fair to say that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Of course.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Fair enough. That is fine.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: There are secondments in the public sector and within the Civil Service. Is it regarded as unusual for a senior civil or public servant to move through a secondment to an academic job in a third level institution? Has Mr. Fraser encountered that before?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: That is where somebody moves to an academic post in a third level institution.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. I will now bring you to February 2021. Mr. Watt states the initial discussions went quiet because of the growth of the pandemic in late 2020 and in February 2021 there were further discussions with the CMO about this. Is that Mr. Fraser's recollection?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I beg your pardon. It is 2021 and February 2022. Mr. Fraser is absolutely correct. Is he aware of who contacted Trinity College or how Trinity College became involved with this discussion?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Is it something that was organised within the Department of Health? Mr. Fraser has not been involved in discussions with Trinity College. Is that correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: When we look at this as a finance committee, we wonder why it is that maybe other third level institutions within the State were not given the opportunity to host a chair of public health strategy and leadership. Looking back, would it have been preferable if other third level institutions within the State had been given the opportunity to bid for this important and prestigious chair?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I know Mr. Fraser had no involvement but I am asking the question in general and from his perspective as Secretary General.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. I am not asking Mr. Fraser to talk about other people.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I do not understand that point.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: No, I am not trying to criticise other people. I am simply raising the question when the State was going to fund a prestigious chair of public health strategy and leadership of whether it would have been better for that option to have been open to other third level institutions, or that third level institutions could have expressed an interest in hosting that chair.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: What was Mr. Fraser's understanding of the funding arrangements for this secondment?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: What was Mr. Fraser's understanding of it?