Results 7,241-7,260 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is okay. That is why I am asking. No recommendation was presented in legal advice to the board that anyone be suspended.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I believe Mr. Merrick said no motion or proposal was brought to the board for anyone to be suspended, pending the outcome of an investigation.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: While I know that the witnesses are trying to get the information on lease contracts for which I asked previously, are they aware of any contract entered into without board approval in respect of property or land?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is to anyone who was on the board at the time.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is Bray Civic Centre.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: When was it signed?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Who signed it?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Can I ask who or is it limited to titles?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Who was?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Who was Mr. Seán Nash.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is that the only case of which the witnesses are aware in which a lease was signed without board approval?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: That piece of work is ongoing.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Does the Secretary General want to come in? I am trying to get to the legal difficulties that may present where a contract is signed on behalf of the education and training board which has not been approved by the board. Did the lease receive board approval subsequently? Was it presented to the board?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: What is the amount of the lease?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: For how much?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is that sum being paid?

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: We have €286,000, plus VAT, being paid under a contract which has not received board approval.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: I ask the Comptroller and Auditor General whether that is good practice.

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: How is it being allowed to happen? I note to the Accounting Officer for the Department that we have just been told that we are paying out €286,000, plus VAT. I do not know how much that comes to, but it is approximately €350,000 a year under a contract which did not receive prior approval from the board and which has still not received approval. Nevertheless, we are paying...

Public Accounts Committee: Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board: Financial Statements 2015 (21 Feb 2019)

Jonathan O'Brien: We could pay out approximately €7 million under a contract which the board has not even approved. That is nuts. My difficulty with it is-----