Results 5,461-5,480 of 26,512 for speaker:John McGuinness

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: It could be all of those Deputy, but that is entering into a discussion on the theories around this issue.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: I may have done that but this meeting is dealing with issues relating to my period as a junior Minister. The issues that Deputy Nash is raising and inviting me to discuss are theories that I am not prepared to discuss at this time as they are outside the business of this meeting.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: I have reasonable views.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: First, I do not consider it a fiasco.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: We are dealing with the results of constructive requests under the Freedom of Information Act. Is the Deputy asking me if I discussed the matter with Deputy Martin at that time or now?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: He knows about it.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: I do not know. The Deputy would have to ask him.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: He has expressed a view. Let us be clear, the leader has expressed a view publicly on the "Six One" news. Let me say that the Fianna Fáil Party leader considers, as Deputy Ross has pointed out in terms of the independence of this committee, that the PAC is an independent committee. He has never interfered or asked me about the work of this committee. I attend meetings, both...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: So he says. Let me refer Deputy Nash to his comments on "Six One" news or in the Chamber - Deputy Martin has expressed a view about this but he respects the independence of the committee in the work it does. I must say clearly that he has never ever interfered in that.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: I have always acted in a way and conducted the business of this committees so that the Committee of Public Accounts is above and beyond politics or reproach. Deputy Nash is asking again and again about the party leader's confidence in me as Chairman. That is for the Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party to express and he has made a number of statements about this leading into this week.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: In terms of?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: Deputy Micheál Martin had an opinion, which he expressed to an official and it is contained in that e-mail. This was a philosophical discussion about travel. He had his views and I had mine. I am not saying that Deputy Martin was right and I was wrong. I am not saying that I was right and he was wrong. I am simply saying that we should have been discussing those views, as we do in...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: I am just wondering myself.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: Deputy Nash is referring to the final paragraph in the e-mail. The concern that I had in writing this e-mail was that in my previous life in business, if somebody asked me a question such as "Can I do X or Y?", I would probably answer them directly. "No, you cannot," or "Tell me why I should let you do X or Y." In this instance the simple question was posed and it resulted in all of these...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: I answered the Deputy's question.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: The question was very general.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: The direct answer to that is that of course it does. Actions taken in one's life, engagements and debate colour one's position in either a positive or negative way.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: During the period of 2008-----

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: No, I do not think so. Is the Deputy asking whether a new person was appointed?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

John McGuinness: No, it was maternity leave and there was a difficulty in getting appropriately skilled staff to take up positions in the office. There was, therefore, a turnover of staff and a difficulty there and the people who worked directly for me prior to the maternity leave being taken had to provide cover. In addition to constituency and other work, they were expected to do departmental work because...