Results 5,481-5,500 of 26,512 for speaker:John McGuinness

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

John McGuinness: The post was not filled for the person who was on maternity leave.

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

John McGuinness: The person who left the post on maternity leave was very competent and skilled.

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

John McGuinness: That person, at that level, was not replaced. That was the problem.

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

John McGuinness: I will answer the Deputy's question but I must first respond with regard to his description of how individuals are notified of freedom of information requests. Notification depends on the freedom of information request. If the request relates directly to one's role in this House, one is notified. However, I was never notified of the freedom of information requests submitted about me. The...

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

John McGuinness: I will finish my response. Deputy Donohoe asked whether I have been notified that other freedom of information requests have been submitted to the Department in respect of me. The answer is "No" and nor was I ever notified that FOI requests had been submitted about me. I want the Deputy to understand that. He stated one would not have to go to a third party to obtain a copy of the freedom...

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

John McGuinness: Yes, but I did not get it.

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

John McGuinness: That is true and the Deputy can check that. I reiterate that the information released last Friday was released in the evening, almost at the close of business. I cited the time and date earlier. I believe it was on 7 June after 3 p.m. but I will check it again. That is when I got the information. The reason I apologised to the committee was that I could not inform it.

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

John McGuinness: No.

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

John McGuinness: No.

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

John McGuinness: As I speak, I am not aware of, nor have I been notified of, any freedom of information request that may have been submitted by a member of the press.

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

John McGuinness: No, in fact my reaction to the first indication I had about this matter was to submit my own freedom of information request to the Office of Public Works to get the information I required.

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

John McGuinness: I did not intend to damage the committee. I would not set out by way of comment or action to damage this committee; I have far too much respect for it. In my opening remarks I made clear that I have respect for the members of the Government parties on this committee who must often take difficult positions or listen to difficult challenges that may reflect on the Government of the day.

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

John McGuinness: My understanding is that on the day I would have received correspondence on this, the 7th or whenever it was, letters would then have been issued to the other people concerned. To return to the point made by Deputy Donohoe and to link it in, these people were never told that FOI requests had been submitted concerning them. I do not know the reason for that. Obviously-----

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

John McGuinness: Pardon?

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

John McGuinness: I know, for example, that my son was identified. The drivers were also identified and so were my secretaries. Perhaps they were not identified. I do not know what the FOI request was. However, these others were informed the FOI had been issued and that the information was about to be released.

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

John McGuinness: I think it is a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor General, if the committee requests that. Normally, in cases where one is going to make recommendations generally across the political or administrative system, the Secretary General would look at the various Departments and make the recommendations. I am sure the committee could also make recommendations.

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

John McGuinness: Provided it included everybody.

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

John McGuinness: The issue of me travelling in 2008 has been taken as if I was the only person who travelled then. Many others travelled in 2008. I remember being a member of this committee, between 2002 and 2007, when members and wives travelled and members paid for their wives. This was not unusual.

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

John McGuinness: Yes. One can examine the activities of committees, chairmen and Members down through the years and one will see that down through the years, Ministers, Ministers of State and Members travelled at a cost to the State. They may have brought their wives with them and paid for their wives.

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

John McGuinness: I do not know that. As I understand it, the Member would reimburse the Department or committee at that time. What I am being asked - I want to answer the question - is should all of that and all of the costs associated with every Minister or Minister of State who travelled be referred to the Comptroller and Auditor General. I heard the Comptroller and Auditor General answer a question...