Results 3,661-3,680 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Please do.

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Yes, absolutely. I know that when I am in the Dáil, my staff are here also.

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Yes. I will move to a slightly more concerning matter related to something referenced in the 2017 accounts. An allegation of fraud was made in respect of salary increments over a period of 18 months. It was to be classified whether it was a matter for the Garda to pursue. Is there any update on the matter? I assume that Mr. Finnegan put in place a more robust arrangement to ensure that...

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: It is still under investigation.

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: I appreciate that. On expenditure, unusually, there is a nil expenditure for the North-South Inter-Parliamentary Association. Only €51,000 was set aside for it, but nothing was spent. Is that due to the fact that the Stormont Assembly is not operating?

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: On the theme of interparliamentary associations and communications with other parliaments, it is an integral part of what we do in terms of our ability to learn from what others are doing. I am the head of the delegation for the OSCE, for instance. I am also involved in the parliamentary friendship group. I compliment the Ceann Comhairle and Mr. Finnegan on the supports that have been...

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Is it still not possible?

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: In terms of contractors that are used by the Oireachtas, is it Mr. Finnegan's opinion that the service provided by those contractors in the support of the ICT unit represents value for money?

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Yes. I cannot fault it, to be quite frank. In terms of the upgrade of Leinster House and all of the work that has been done over the past year or so, which I know is being managed by the Office of Public Works, did the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission or OPW incur the cost for the movement of the Seanad Chamber to the National Museum?

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: But otherwise there was not rent paid per se.

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Does that relate to securing the doors and things like that?

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: As opposed to personnel?

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: It involves physical things.

Public Accounts Committee: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Appropriation Account 2018 (11 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: That is not surprising, I suppose. I compliment the Houses of the Oireachtas on the work that it has done in the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office, PBO, and the legal services that have been provided. It is important to note that. There was a time in 2011 when I started drafting a Bill. It was only through the assistance from the Library and Research Service, which I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Business of Joint Committee (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: We are in public session. Apologies have been received from Senators Joan Freeman and Fintan Warfield and Deputy Tom Neville. I take the opportunity, on behalf of the committee, to wish Deputy Neville all the best on his recent marriage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: I welcome members and those viewers who may be watching proceedings on Oireachtas TV to the public session of the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss with representatives of Tusla and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs the recent "RTÉ Investigates" programme on childcare facilities. While there have been reports in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: Before we commence with questions from the members, does Mr. Smyth wish to make any further contributions or clarifying points that may have emerged since his statement was written?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: That is fine. Senator Noone and Deputies Rabbitte, Sherlock and Funchion have indicated but I first have a few initial questions. I thank our guests for attending. The speed at which they made themselves available is appreciated by all the members. I also thank the members for making themselves available at short notice during recess. Although the Dáil and Seanad are not sitting,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: On that basis, 4,500 service providers are operating with Tusla's permission and approximately 50% are investigated in any given year. How can we be certain then that incidents similar to those we witnessed last week are isolated? How can we be certain that when an inspector leaves a room, a low-paid childcare worker is going to adhere to the Children First guidelines and pick up the phone...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Issues Regarding Childcare Facilities: Discussion (31 Jul 2019)

Alan Farrell: I want to ask Mr. Lee a question and I am conscious of our remit in asking it. In a general sense, if Tusla had powers of immediate closure - which Mr. Lee mentioned on the programme to which I listened - would it shut down a facility that displayed non-compliance with fire safety regulations and in respect of which there were questions regarding physical altercations with children and...