Results 5,541-5,560 of 26,534 for speaker:John McGuinness

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

John McGuinness: Yes. That was the case at the time. It is the case now and it was the case then. The Deputy is drawing the distinction between an Oireachtas PA and a Department PA. My understanding is that the two of them are different.

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

John McGuinness: No, they cannot. My understanding is that a TD's PA cannot, and when they are working in Departments they can. I believe that is borne out by the information in parliamentary questions recently across all Departments. That is my understanding of it.

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

John McGuinness: That is a different issue.

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

John McGuinness: I am sure that on the basis of what is going on here, and the Whip system, it can be accommodated to allow us finish. I am conscious that I want to answer questions. I am also conscious that Mr. Elderfield has been waiting. I ask members-----

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

John McGuinness: I have no difficulty.

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

John McGuinness: Deputy Deasy will have to repeat his question.

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

John McGuinness: Yes, absolutely, that is only fair and proper.

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

John McGuinness: I have been asked by other members of this committee questions which I have not avoided. I have just said I will not answer them because one is entering into the area of conspiracy theories. That is how I feel. I am here to answer questions about specifics. Deputy Deasy has done something different in terms of the questions. He himself is fairly combative and fairly straightforward. He...

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

John McGuinness: I must answer the question and it is a very detailed one on which I must take time-----

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

John McGuinness: I have spoken to Mr. Elderfield and he stated it is okay.

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

John McGuinness: When one writes a book, as I did in 2010, one certainly makes enemies. I wrote the book out of my experience in the Department and in politics generally, and I outlined my case. Does that win you many friends? No, not in here. I now understand why people write books when they retire rather than when they are in their place of employment. Was it a happy place for me in that Department?...

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

John McGuinness: I believe that they believe that I have gone too far. I would say they are quite upset with me over how far I have driven the committee, but I did not do that on my own. There are the members of the committee. Deputy Nolan just stated I am not on my own. All of those guys agreed with this and if they ask themselves for whom the bell tolls today, it tolls for each and every one of us.

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

John McGuinness: It actually tolls for democracy. That is for whom it tolls, and I am not on my own in this. I chair the committee by consensus. I have very strong views. Deputy Nash probably differs strongly with some of the views that I express because he asked me in general about the Civil Service and so on, and I do not mind. I try to be accommodating, but I will not stray away from my belief that we...

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

John McGuinness: That is the answer to Deputy Deasy's question. Deputy Deasy has answered the other parts of that question. He asked whether I had crossed the line. I have not crossed the line. I have taken the job seriously.

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

John McGuinness: I expect all of the trips to be held up to a measure.

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

John McGuinness: When I was appointed in 2007 I was told that if I was seen at home in Dublin I was not doing my job. That is how seriously the Government - not the Department - considered the matter. I challenge Deputy Harris to go forward in years and take out the Minister or Minister of State with responsibility for trade and commerce - it is structured differently now - to compare the figures. He...

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

John McGuinness: Do not put them out for one year. Put them all out.

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

John McGuinness: I do not like it when people are singled out for whatever reason. Let us judge everyone if we are going to judge anyone.

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

John McGuinness: None of them was responsible for trade and commerce.

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

John McGuinness: I have to answer this question. None of them was responsible for negotiations on world trade. That was my responsibility. It was my job. I hope Deputy Harris has that job some day. He will see then how much he has to travel and bear the costs.