Results 4,101-4,120 of 32,837 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 96 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Child Abuse Inquiry and Redress (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: On that, I asked were there minutes because it was very serious. It was not to embarrass Mr. Ó Foghlú. A big decision was made in relation to a sum of money, some of which was since taken back. It is a matter of accountability. I had my turn, but it is extraordinary that Mr. Ó Foghlú could not give an answer that there are minutes, and that he tells afterwards it is...

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: This is not the same as the written statement.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: We do not have the document and I would really like to have a copy.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Has each of the witnesses read the Ryan report?

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: It is worth reading. It is the background to what we are discussing now, as it is to the redress board, which we discussed this morning. This is important for survivors because sometimes a blaming attitude comes across from institutions generally. During our earlier session, I read into the record some of the conclusions of that report, including that the deferential and submissive...

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Let me just put my questions and if I am wrong on anything, Ms Higgins can correct me. It was set up in March 2013. It did not start receiving applications until January 2014. Is that right?

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: When it was set up in January 2014, what did Ms Higgins do other than advertise? Obviously Ms Higgins had time in addition to advertising and making these schemes known to work out the processes, policies and mission statement.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Yes. I propose that Deputy Cullinane takes the Chair.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Ms Higgins had nine months to sort out all of the procedures and policies.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Was Ms Higgins on her own completely?

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: But Ms Higgins was not on her own.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: How many staff did Ms Higgins inherit?

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Very good. So Ms Higgins had a considerable period within which to look forward, anticipate challenges and problems and work them out. There were no applicants, as it were, bothering Ms Higgins during that time. I will put it slightly more positively. There were no applicants coming in taking Ms Higgins's time during that time.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Ms Higgins had ample time to foresee and plan.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Good. Then in January 2014 we start receiving applications. Anybody can answer my questions. I am not addressing them to a particular witness. There is a board. Mr. O'Callaghan is chair of that board.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: He should feel free to answer these questions. From January 2014 onwards, for the following three months, the organisation is simply overwhelmed. Is that accurate? How many thousand applications came in? I think it was 2,500 in three months. The witnesses should correct me if I am wrong.

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: So the organisation was overwhelmed. Is that right?

Public Accounts Committee: Caranua Financial Statements 2014 and 2015 (13 Apr 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Absolutely. I have to ask these questions. There were nine months in which to anticipate this. The commission had reported. Ms Higgins knew exactly how many applications were going to come before the organisation. I forgot Mr. Yeomans's role.