Results 9,221-9,240 of 21,499 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is what the record states. I am sure Mr. O'Driscoll is not presuming to second guess the judgment.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: If you do not mind, one of the reasons you are before us, and why I am raising these issues with you, is that we have heard from a range of people, against a backdrop of more general criticism of the investigation unit, some things that are very troubling, some of it corroborated and other parts not. In the case of this gentleman, Mr. Douglas Fannin, it has been through the courts, he has...

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is it not also important to note, for the purposes of this discussion and for your job, that the judge noted heavy-handed conduct and that your official, the witness, was not alone difficult but caused the judge some concerns over the accuracy of his testimony?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Are they not important matters?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am sure they have.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am struggling with the basic logic of what has occurred and the decision taken by the Minister. The understanding was not that it would involve incorporation but a brand new dawn for investigations. The Minister was moved to that action for some reason. I have already cited the IFA who, I think we both acknowledge, are experts in the field of agriculture and the experiences of farmers....

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: The unit made a couple of mistakes but it was grand. Do you think the Minister made a mistake?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Who is in charge of the new set-up?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Who was in charge of the old regime?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: You indicated earlier on that there has not been a change in staff.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: So the old unit has been incorporated into a new regime with the same staff.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: We have heard about the heavy-handed behaviour of officials and what was described by some people as a very ignorant approach towards different individuals, including pregnant women. We have heard of a very aggressive approach, with complaints being made about the ill-treatment of animals in the aggressive way in which those animals were tested. Allegations were made of entry into premises...

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Mr. O'Driscoll accepts that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Would Mr. O'Driscoll like to take the opportunity to acknowledge that in the case of Mr. Fannin, the unit was wrong and that this gentleman is due an apology from it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Nonetheless, without second guessing her, that is the conclusion she arrived at.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: As we heard, Mr. Fannin and his wider family suffered incredible personal distress and stress. He reported feelings of exclusion even within his broader community. He told us that his physical health has suffered. Without Mr. O'Driscoll second guessing the judge given that it is a finding of the court, I invite him to at least make an apology to Mr. Douglas Fannin.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I would prefer if Mr. O'Driscoll did not qualify it.

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: So Mr. O'Driscoll is not apologising for it. I will remain with this particular case. I understand that in the course of the case, it came to light that a senior vet associated with the special investigations unit seized animals on 24 March 2009 and that these animals were put into the food chain. The same vet subsequently made a sworn statement under oath at Bailieboro Garda Station on 7...

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: Could Mr. O'Driscoll explain this to me?

Public Accounts Committee: 2013 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (18 Jun 2015)

Mary Lou McDonald: I appreciate that but I presume that when Mr. O'Driscoll gives us the point-by-point rebuttal, he can show us paperwork that demonstrates the point he is making.