Results 10,961-10,980 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: It is very important that we get this right. We all recognise that the previous national planning framework and national spatial strategy did not get it right. We had many hubs and gateways. If one looks at the south east, where I am from, Waterford was designated as a gateway. From all of the economic indicators, right across investment in public services, investment in infrastructure,...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: I apologise for being a few minutes late. I was delayed in traffic. I missed the first part where we discussed the Thorn report.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: It is correspondence that was noted. It was agreed to publish it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: Sorry, it was agreed not to publish it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: Can we discuss the cover letter Dr. Graham Love sent?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: It is linked to this issue.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: I know that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: A number of items concern me in the cover letter. Dr. Love has indicated that no further action is required because this report has been given to us. We are not going to circulate it, but it has been given to us. The difficulty is that we will have a report from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. We do not know what that report will contain. Therefore, it is not right to...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: I propose we write back to Dr. Love, thank him for his letter, but point out to him that we are awaiting a report from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. We also need to ask what recommendations the HEA is making. This goes back to what we collectively have been saying for some time, namely, that the HEA is the body that should be setting down what changes should be made,...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: Will the Chairman or the secretariat set out the process?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: We have a report compiled by Dr. Thorn. The HEA appointed Dr. Thorn to examine this matter and compile a report, which we have received but will not publish. We also have the Deloitte report. Is it an internal audit report? Was Deloitte commissioned to do some work? Is Deloitte the internal auditor?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: Yes. I have no difficulty with Deloitte being employed to do a job, but this matter goes back to what I have said for some time. Again, Deloitte has compiled a report for a third level institute. Deloitte has been paid by the third level institute to analyse the difficulties within the institute. I would have preferred a different process. I would have preferred if the HEA based its...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: Was he aware of them?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: The HEA should be do its own work and make its own decisions. It can have the recommendations from Deloitte and it will have a report from Dr. Thorn. The authority should set out what it believes should happen and not simply say that it will accept the recommendations made by Deloitte, which is a body that was employed and paid specifically by the institute. That is my personal view of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: We have a report from Deloitte that includes recommendations. I have no difficulty with Deloitte conducting an examination that identifies problems. In my view, it is up to the HEA to make recommendations and not Deloitte. Obviously it is up to the governing body of any university to employ independent organisations to carry out an analysis and make recommendations and they will be guided...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: Please highlight the fact that we are not finished with the matter because we have not done our work and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has not completed its special report.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: Agreed.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: This is the correspondence we received from Mr. O'Sullivan. I have met some of the workers and unions involved on this outside of my work on this committee. I am sure other members have as well. This is something the unions raised with me. The Pensions Authority was informed on 4 September 2009 that the scheme was no longer in compliance with the statutory funding standard as set out in...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: To both CIÉ and the Pensions Authority.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (22 Feb 2018)

David Cullinane: I am certainly not looking to intervene in a decision made by the Pensions Authority but I am asking whether it has the authority to intervene in this case. Has it overstepped its mark? It may not have. There is a statutory instrument here which is clear. It seems from the correspondence the extra time was allowed. Perhaps it does have that authority. I think would should certainly try...