Results 28,481-28,500 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: What was the actual milestone? What was the reform that was being looked at?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: I welcome Mr. Murphy and his team and congratulate him. It is a proud achievement for Ireland, as well as himself. I want to ask a few general questions and a few specifics that he may not be able to answer. I want to drill down as we did the last time we had a conversation about expenditure in Ireland. My first general question is, what is the consequence when the Court of Auditors comes...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: Does the court attend those?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: In terms of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, how many member states are members of that now?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: How is it functioning with those countries that are not members yet?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: How does the court react? How do you have a differentiation between-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: Common law, yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: The reason I ask is that it seems to me to be an unsatisfactory arrangement if there are two different entities dealing with prosecution and the investigation of fraud.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: There might be a difference of understanding of its robustness, shall we say, one against another. It is obviously something the European Court of Auditors cannot have a view on-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: -----but surely it would be better if every member was part of a single entity and that entity was the European prosecution office?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: They are outside Mr. Murphy's pay grade-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: -----which is a very high pay grade. On a related question, in terms of applicant countries, how does the European Court of Auditors operate? Applicant countries get significant funds.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: Does the court have the same access to procedures in those countries and the same powers to investigate the way money is spent, potential fraud and so on? Aligned to that, does EPPO have exactly the same functionality there?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: Mr. Murphy has anticipated my next question. It seems to me that in some of the countries we visited that are now candidate countries, it would be necessary to have a robust internal audit system.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: Does the European Court of Auditors have sufficient resources to provide that sort of assistance, including seconded personnel?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: I will move on to domestic expenditure and the Brexit adjustment reserve. It will not come as a surprise that the latter is a fund of particular interest to me. Mr. Murphy indicated in his report that €361.6 million had been drawn down in December 2021 and a further €276.7 million was drawn down in May of this year. Can Mr. Murphy give an indication of the particular projects...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: They are not exactly round figures.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: When Mr. Murphy says €361.6 million it looks as if it is for some purpose. How would the European Court of Auditors come to such an odd figure?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: The risk lies with the member state.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors: Discussion (23 Nov 2022)
Brendan Howlin: Ultimately, if what is spent does not qualify, it is the member state that is at a loss.