Results 28,481-28,500 of 34,956 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I will conclude. That is in order. The committee will want to review the discussion here today. If I am wrong on this, the committee can tell me. However my view, like in my opening comment, is that when witnesses are here, all questions and answers are through the Chair. There is no vetting by any member of another member's questions. The Chair has authority to make a ruling that, to...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: It was not anything in relation to yourself. There have been previous occasions where I have instructed Accounting Officers not to answer a question which I felt was not within the committee’s remit.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: There is no precedent.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Yes, I made that decision.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: The Deputy raised an important point. There were so many issues in his document that could have been put specifically to the Accounting Officer for response in writing in due course because it was not the subject. However, because he included in the series of question the term “which may involve criminal activity”, it was not my job at the meeting to dissect his statement and...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: There was none. It was my own decision as Chair on the day.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I received advice from the secretariat on two occasions.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: It was during the meeting.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: They were supporting the view I had arrived at and stated myself. They supported the view that I had arrived at as Chairman.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: The Deputy was not thrown under a bus.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: No, it was off my head.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I am saying-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Yes, both.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I do not have to hand.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: As this issue refers to staff of the Oireachtas, it will have to be discussed in private session. I have no issue with that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: It was not legal advice. It was advice from staff.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: The Deputy did ask me that. I am giving it verbally and it will be in writing in the transcript. What would have made matters much simpler last week is if the term, "issues which involved potential criminality", had not been part of your statement. Then the question could have been passed on for an answer in due course. However, because the Deputy's statement included that item, I had...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Well I think it is clear.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: No.