Results 7,481-7,500 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification on the strengthening of the role of the docklands consultative forum and to reviewing its title. Hopefully it will not just be given an advisory and consultative role, but will also have oversight of it. This is important to ensure targets are reached. I agree with Deputy O'Sullivan that there is a lack of clarity in regard to the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive way in which he responded to all the amendments. He is agreeable to coming back to see how we can tighten up on some aspects of the legislation on Report Stage.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I believe that Deputy Deasy's point is important but I am not sure that what actually did transpire is quite as clear as that. Rather than suggesting that there was interference at any level, a better approach might be to seek clarification on the remarks made in this committee and clarification on the statement that subsequently emanated from the Department.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: That requires clarification; was it a general criticism right across the board? There is a serious issue about criticism by one arm of the State of the Judiciary and how it conducts its business. We need to be delicate about how we approach the issue of criticism of the Judiciary, and clarification is required before any further action is taken by this committee.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Is there not a centralised body that co-ordinates procurement with the various Departments?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: They are appearing before us. The office liaises with all the Departments and all the procurement agencies. It is surely the body that should be insisting on best practice. If the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sets a procurement threshold of €25,000 according to best practice, surely the Office of Government Procurement has a major role to play to ensure all the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Is some of the procurement flawed because those concerned did not adhere to the threshold of €60,000, or is it all in line with the threshold of €25,000?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: It did not comply with the threshold of €60,000.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: That makes it even worse.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: We could put that on the agenda for the Office of Government Procurement.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I presume everybody has received a copy of the letter from Mary Farrell on behalf of the families of the wards of court. I received it on 10 November. She brings to our attention the recommendations that we made as a committee in terms of the depletion of that fund. Her letter addresses the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill that is before the Seanad and suggests the recommendations...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Perhaps we should check on the legislation because the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 is reaching its final Stages. It is to be completed before the end of the year because that would be the appropriate mechanism to use.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I will give this letter to the clerk to circulate.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I welcome the deputations. I will start with a question relating to the general operation of the three agencies, the Attorney General's office, the Chief State Solicitor's office and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. They are engaged in the overall package of the production of law and its administration in this country. I presume they all have mission statements. Do all...

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Is there any mechanism for the citizen to be aware of the customer service charter of the office?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: There is no real or proactive mechanism for bringing it to the attention of the people who are the recipients of the decisions of the offices. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I appreciate that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Part of the reason I am asking the question is that only now, in a belated fashion and following a European Union directive, is the DPP prepared to provide any reasons for not prosecuting particular cases or engaging with families of victims or people who are affected by a given decision. I gather that is still not up and running, but it is the first direct interface with people affected by...

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: The office has done it on an informal basis. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 3: Office of the Attorney General
Vote 5: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Vote 6: Office of the Chief State Solicitor (12 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: How long has that been going on?