Results 15,701-15,720 of 34,778 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: We would like to be satisfied that the Department has received legal advice not to come but has not been precluded from attending. There is a difference between the two. The education and training board also informed the committee last week that it had been advised not to answer questions, even though there was nothing to preclude it from doing so. This is the second time exactly the same...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: The legal advisers may have said they had taken charge of the case and Departmental officials may not discuss it. If I was in a car accident, my insurance company would take charge of the case and tell me not to discuss it. That is the insurance company taking charge. We understand the position. I referred to the second sum of €280 million. Why is Mr. Carville free to discuss...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: That brings the figure up to 50%.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: I understand commercial sensitivity, which is a phrase used here all the time. Will Mr. Carville explain why this contract is commercially sensitive? I know it is a commercial contract but I would like an explanation of the reasons it is commercially sensitive.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: I am delighted Mr. Carville said that because it is the gist of what he said the first time. He gave the example of investment banks. His principal rationale for claiming this is commercially sensitive is that there may be another liquidation or something major of this scale in future and he does not want to disclose this information in case it prejudices the State's negotiations the next...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: Mr. Carville must accept that the point on investment banks is not valid because it is a recurring issue. There could be recourse to investment bankers for the sale of more shares in other projects down the road. This is different.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: There is nothing with which this special liquidation can be compared.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: As of now, Mr. Carville is saying that his job is to protect. That sounds high and mighty, but no one can verify his statement that the Department is protecting the interests of the State by taking this approach, as information is not being published in the public arena. All we have is his uncorroborated word for it. I am not doubting the Department of Finance's word, but we only have its...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: How many full-time staff are involved in this case in the Department?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: There is a maximum of two whole-time equivalents dealing with something of this scale, yet Mr. Carville is telling us that the Department has it under control.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: It sounds light. The Department is protecting the interests of the State, yet we are now hearing that there is a maximum of two whole-time equivalent, WTE, staff dealing with this issue. We waited up all night in the Oireachtas to pass this special emergency legislation for the largest liquidation ever in the history of the State. I examined the figures this morning. The public sector...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: Please do. If Mr. Hynds tells me there are three, it will not change my view.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: When the legislation was being dealt with and the process was being implemented. That is understandable.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: In addition, there were 166 Deputies in the Dáil all night backing up the Department.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: I will hand over, but I have other questions to ask first. Mr. Carville mentioned that he would be able to provide us with further information once the litigation process was over. When does he expect that process to end?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: Explain the legal challenge. What was the timescale? Did the contract with the liquidators have a sunset clause or would it run forever? Was it open-ended?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: Ask someone to check. Could the contract run for ten more years?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: How many?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: One hundred and seventy-five. We just want the public to be aware that the loss of the liquidation process will be met through the liquidation. The liquidator's first call on everything is his or her own fee. The total cost of the liquidation will be met 100% before any final dividend is paid to the State. The greater the cost, the less the dividend to the State. Now Mr. Carville is...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 3 - Cost of Bank Stabilisation Measures as at the end of 2016
Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Liquidation (14 Dec 2017)

Seán Fleming: Mr. Carville must understand that, from where we sit, there is a prima facielack of supervision compared with what we would have expected for something involving 175 cases, a liquidation of this scale and all costs being met before the taxpayers get their final dividend. The Department only has two WTE staff and maybe a solicitor working on it. Even if Mr. Carville tells me that one and a...