Results 6,601-6,620 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: That is fine.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Banking Sector (27 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: 217. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for selling the State’s interest in AIB; his plans to retain a shareholding in the bank; if so, the extent of the shareholding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3813/15]

Free Trade Agreements between the European Union and Columbia and Peru: Motion (28 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: I am delighted to have an opportunity to discuss this motion. It is good to see an in-depth debate on issues related to business, trade and human rights. From Ireland's viewpoint, it is important for us to engage in such a discussion. In fact, I would like to have seen a longer period for this debate because there is huge interest in the issue. I am very much in favour of good trade,...

Free Trade Agreements between the European Union and Columbia and Peru: Motion (28 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: The Holocaust involved the total denial of all human rights and the murder of millions of people. The European Union first came into existence in order to ensure that such an event involving so-called civilised nations would never happen again. There is a strong argument to the effect that measures that will guarantee that prosperity and peace will be achieved on the basis of human rights...

Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, to the House. I also welcome the opportunity to speak on this extremely important legislation. Yesterday we addressed a further aspect of the institutionalisation of many women and children in this country over decades, namely, the establishment of the mother and baby homes commission. We still have quite a long...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: I, too, would be interested in seeing the facilities in Howth. Have we written to the Department asking it to respond to the serious allegations that any repair work would be undertaken in Kilkeel, County Down? Perhaps in advance we might request a response.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: I understood the indemnification figure agreed to in 2002 when the redress issues arose and the legislation was introduced was well over €100 million. The figure for the 64 properties here worked out at €42 million. There are still 17 properties to be determined, but the figure is unlikely to reach another €42 million. Therefore, the total will be well short of the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: There was, although I am not sure to what extent it was delivered on, but I do not believe it was.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: Could we seek further clarification? There is no approximate value for the 17 properties mentioned, for which there is full title but that have not been properly transferred to the State. The properties that were transferred to the State were transferred with a valuation at the high end of the market which they do not reflect now. It is unclear how the valuations were made. There is no...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: Are there still substantial outstanding matters or is Mr. McCarthy not yet in a position to give a response?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: We are dealing with the first operational year of SUSI, 2012 to 2013. We have nothing to compare before. There were huge operational problems with SUSI. There were major delays. Do we have any indication that they have been ironed out and that what occurred in 2012-13 did not occur in 2013-14?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: When representatives from Bord na gCon appeared before the committee, they had proposals to try to deal with the debt it had incurred. Some concern was expressed particularly over the sale of the Harold's Cross stadium. Perhaps we might get an update as to how it intends to deal with that outstanding debt.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: I welcome Mr. Hamill, Mr. Rainbird and Ms Fahy and their colleagues. I thank them for attending and for making opening statements. I have a number of questions to Mr. Hamill and the Department.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: The Department was in receipt of provision of €251.5 million in 2013. In Mr. Hamill's opening remarks, he referred to considerable pressure on human and financial resources, and that the Department had seen funding across the programme areas reduced by 50% since 2008. That has improved somewhat in the current budget across a number of areas. Last year, there was a surplus of...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: Mr. Hamill is not saying that it has bottomed out and that this is sufficient for all Departments.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: The Department was subject to a considerable amount of decentralisation. It has offices in many places, such as Dublin, Killarney, Wexford, Na Forbacha in County Galway and a number of smaller regional offices. Has that worked?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: It is an extremely rich Department that includes heritage, arts, the Gaeltacht, the Irish language and North-South co-operation. A huge range of activities is involved. In that sense the Department is decentralised given the range of activities in which it is engaged throughout the country. I wish to inquire about a couple of issues raised in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: Was that already in place before 2001?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: Could Mr. Hamill give more information on that? What islands had been serviced before 2001?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 33 - Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Chapter 9 - Accounting for National Gallery of Ireland Expenditure
Financial Statements of the National Library 2012 and 2013 (29 Jan 2015)

Joe Costello: Was that for the construction of both?