Results 11,201-11,220 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Let me establish the facts. The NTA has more people who are on contracts than are directly employed. Are they classed as self-employed?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Yes, but are any of those on contracts deemed to be self-employed?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Has the NTA any obligation in terms of pension entitlements or holiday pay?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Do they get those entitlements from their employers?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: That is something. We have examined this issue in the context of RTÉ and other public bodies where there were increases for different reasons. Still, this ratio seems extraordinary. Will our guests provide a clear note on why it happened? Ms Graham mentioned that it was partly because, when the moratorium was put in place during the crash, the NTA had no choice but to outsource....
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Just so we are clear, is it possible that some of those who are on contracts are also on contracts with the companies in question? They could very well be classed as self-employed because they would be on contracts for service rather than contracts of service with those companies with which the NTA has entered into contracts.
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: That is in all of the NTA's contracts. The NTA can categorically say that no one could be categorised as self-employed.
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Our guests might provide that to us, along with the breakdown, in a written note.
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: From a value-for-money perspective, the Department and the NTA could revert with information on how much it costs to employ the 147 or 149 people who are on contract as opposed to the 140 who are directly employed. From a cost-benefit perspective, would it be more expensive or cheaper to have them directly employed rather than contracted? I will put this question to Ms Hanlon and Ms Graham....
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: That would provide for a great deal of investment in public bicycle sharing schemes and in local authorities' cycle lanes. That would be €20 million per year.
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: It is a lot of money.
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: The Department could respond first. The officials are here and they may as well respond.
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: A lengthy review process that involves deep levels of analysis is not necessary to come to the obvious conclusion, which we have reached, that it is costing €10 million more and that there is a problem here. The logic of putting the moratorium in place as a result of the crash was that we had to reduce and contain our costs, yet it turns out that in many cases it cost us more. Not...
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: I will move on to public transport and policy development. First, I commend the NTA on the work it has done. I read its 2018 report, which was comprehensive. There have been many advances in public transport for which we can be thankful. There has been an increase in the use of public transport as well, which is good. I wish to examine, from a value for money perspective, how the NTA...
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Why is the Waterford one behind the others?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Something struck me when Ms Graham referred to demand. I presume the modes of transport are based on demand. However, if one is looking at it through the lens of climate action, it is not just demand. Some people might see the car as king, but from an environmental perspective we may have to take measures not just to encourage people to get out of cars but also, perhaps, to go a step...
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Perhaps I am looking at it wrongly when I say "demand". One does not mean demand in terms of what people want. It is also what should be in place-----
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: -----to ensure we can get to a position where there is better integrated public transport, more options and people using them. We discussed the carbon tax earlier today. We will examine it with a different Department. It has been signalled that it will increase for the next ten years. If it does, that imposes more costs on people. People must know that alternatives will be available to...
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: I know those cities are all different, but density is important in determining what is possible in future. Critical mass is also important. For example, on light rail, are there any cities where it might become a possibility in the event of population increasing in line with the targets set by the national development plan?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the National Transport Authority (10 Oct 2019)
David Cullinane: Cork is the only one?