Results 861-880 of 2,211 for speaker:Paul Connaughton

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (15 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: 320. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a penalty imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Galway will result in a reduction in agri-environment option scheme payments in future years; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such a recoupment in future years would be a cause of severe financial hardship on the person; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Eligibility (16 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: 63. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was deemed ineligible for the turf cutting and compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43865/13]

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: I welcome Mr. Bray. The Comptroller and Auditor General noted that OSi's 2012 accounts were certified in the last several days. Was there any reason for the length of time it took to certify them? Given that we are now discussing the 2011 accounts, why were the 2012 accounts only certified within the last week?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: On that point, will it be possible to have Ordnance Survey Ireland back before the committee in respect of the 2012 accounts? It is quite unusual to be discussing the 2011 accounts in October 2013.

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: That is okay, it is just that most people who appear before the committee would have accounts for 2012. Mr. Bray stated, in the third paragraph of his statement, "OSi, operates and is funded differently to other public sector bodies." Can he explain briefly how it is that much different?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Okay. I wish to concentrate on one matter that arose in the report, that is, on bonuses paid to certain employees. I understand this was in 2009 and 2010. Were they not in contravention of the financial measures legislation that was in effect at the time? If this is the case, why were they paid out?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Who made that decision?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Following on from that, what of the €10,000 that was paid to three OSi staff members?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: However, this happened in 2010.

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: The financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation of the time already was in place.

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Was the OSi not covered by that?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Should those bonuses have been paid?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: However, that is since 2010.

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: As it now is October 2013, what has happened since?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Why has it taken so long? As it is October 2013, why has that money not been recouped?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: No, with all due respect, that is not a good enough answer on the basis that this took place in 2010. While I do not doubt for one second the work they did, a great many workers across the public sector probably did a great deal of work that also deserved bonuses but did not get them. I am trying to find out the reason the FEMPI legislation was not adhered to at that time and, second, the...

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Was the Minister informed at the time?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Would he have expected to have been informed?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: Was the board aware at the time that it was going against the legislation in place in 2010?

Public Accounts Committee: Ordnance Survey Ireland Annual Accounts 2011 (17 Oct 2013)

Paul Connaughton: I am sorry but I find it hard to believe the board simply decided that it understood the organisation's staff had done a great job and deserved a bonus and that although national legislation was in place that applied right across the country, it should pay the bonuses anyway.