Results 7,541-7,560 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (19 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: The committee might receive that response today.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (19 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Have we published the Dublin Docklands Development Authority report? Has it gone out?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I support what Deputy Deasy said. When the commission of inquiry legislation was going through the Houses in 2004 and 2005, that was very much the intent behind it. The legislation was seen as creating a viable alternative to the tribunals, which were perceived as being open-ended and costing the taxpayer an arm and a leg. The purpose of the commissions of investigation was to be specific....

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: They are sane proposals.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: This might be another one for the Chairman's pigeon because the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform might be the relevant body here.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: We should ask that Department to look at this issue with a view to putting some independent structure in place.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: The Department of Finance will not do it but the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform might. It is responsible for reform and this would be a reform.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: On those NAMA properties, the language is somewhat opaque in a reply given to Deputy Broughan. In terms of the explanation given that the properties were unsuitable, there is a suggestion that not only were they unsuitable, but that they were unavailable. We need some further clarification because NAMA told us a number of weeks ago that 6,500 units of accommodation were made available to...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Some 4,048 were----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: There were initially 6,574 units identified.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee. (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: They are a non-governmental organisation that has been campaigning on the issue for a considerable period. I think we should welcome them in if we can manage it.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: The witnesses are all very welcome again. Many of the issues have been dealt with pretty thoroughly, but it is still a very bleak picture that a debt of €21 million was incurred in respect of the Limerick Greyhound Stadium project and that there were net borrowing levels of between €10 million and €11 million from 2006 to 2008, which are now double that sum. Revenue has...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: The entire trend so far has been downwards. There has been a very sharp decline.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: In respect of those three cases, Deputy Fleming asked whether they were in the six-figure bracket. Can Mr. Murnane give me a closer estimation? Is it in excess of €1 million and less than €2 million?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: I know the legal advice. I am talking about a ballpark figure.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: It is in excess of €1 million.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: A six-figure sum that is less than €1 million. Is that for the three cases?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Are there any other cases in the pipeline?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Are these cases related to non-compliance or to issues involving inadequate supervision or drug testing?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon Financial Statements 2014 (26 Nov 2015)

Joe Costello: Why does Bord na gCon have so many cases? Is there a tradition of court cases in respect of the operation of Bord na gCon and its activities? Has there been a constant draw from the board’s funding in respect of these matters or is this a once-off event? It is finalising three cases and there are two in the pipeline. What is the picture looking back?