Results 6,521-6,540 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: We are still making a loss.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I appreciate that, but I have limited time. My final question relates to the external consultants employed by the OPW to negotiate the terms of the lease. Was that the case?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Did they conclude that a rent-free period and a lease-break option could be traded for a lower rent? Was that the advice of the external consultants?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: The difficulty I have is that we are also being told there was no economic appraisal carried out.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: How did the OPW know at that time, therefore, or did those involved just take the word of the external consultants? Was documentation provided by the consultants? Did they outline what could happen if the OPW required a rent-free period? Did they provide information on the other options? Was an economic appraisal done and presented to the OPW?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Would the Committee of Public Accounts be allowed to have a copy of those reports?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Perhaps I am getting the consultants mixed up but if I am sure Mr. Buckley will be quick to correct me. Are they the same consultants the OPW employed on a previous project and then it was decided to give them this project as well? I think they were doing work on the Hawkins House project.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is it correct that they were not initially employed to look at the Miesian Plaza project? Is it not correct that they were looking at Hawkins House? Is it also not correct that the OPW then decided to extend it and give them the additional space and it did not look for any expertise but just decided to go with this particular consultant?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Would the OPW do that differently now given the figure of €325 million over five years which is under discussion here?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: On the procurement issues, can the Comptroller and Auditor General confirm whether it is okay in terms of procurement rules to hire an external consultant for one job and then tack on an additional one?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Chair. I will come back in on the second round.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: The payments started in December.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: It crept or slipped in.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: How do we know that?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Staff (16 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: 175. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of employees working in the large cases division in the Revenue Commissioners. [42482/18]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Revenue Commissioners Staff (16 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: 176. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of employees tasked with auditing tax compliance of high wealth individuals in the large cases division. [42483/18]

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Before I address the legislation, I point out that I have listened to most of the contributions. Even those who were opposed to the referendum taking place or opposed to the legislation, have all, bar one, in my opinion, recognised the will of the people on 25 May. It is very unfortunate that there are still some within this Chamber who use terms during the debate on this legislation to...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: -----and no guillotine will be put on this legislation. While we all, perhaps not all of us but the vast majority of us, want to pass it as quickly as possible, we want to do so responsibly, debate what is contained in the legislation and be able to look at the amendments and have enough time to debate them. However, for some Deputies to try to give an impression that there is not enough...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Oct 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: If I am wrong, I would like to know who has prevented any Deputy in this Chamber from taking a full 20-minute slot. The Minister has confirmed there is no guillotine.