Results 11,501-11,520 of 16,369 for speaker:Peadar Tóibín
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: Gabhaim míle buíochas le Mr. Fraser for appearing before the committee; it is appreciated. There are a number of major questions relating to this issue. Those questions are as follows. Who makes the decisions within the State? For whom are the decisions made in the State? There is a strong feeling among the general public that there is an inversion of the democratic authority...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: This is an unprecedented role, details of which have appeared on his desk and on the desk of another Secretary General. In an unprecedented situation, is there no process where alarm bells ring and somebody suggests that we need democratic oversight here?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: I am also speaking about the Taoiseach. Was the Taoiseach informed?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: When did Mr. Fraser know that it was an open-ended secondment, meaning that there would be two CMOs in the State, and that €2 million per year would be provided over ten years?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: People are concerned about the notion of plausible deniability. Perhaps Ministers do not want to see everything that happens. See no evil, hear no evil is a tactic that a Minister might employ to ensure that he or she does not get caught, for example. What is the process whereby in an unprecedented unique situation such as this it is brought to the attention of Mr. Fraser's boss, the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: However, Mr. Fraser did not tell the Taoiseach about it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: I understand, but Mr. Fraser had the information.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: I do not want to split hairs here, but the Taoiseach obviously has responsibility across all Departments. As a result, when something unique like this happens, is there no process for Mr. Fraser to tell the Taoiseach about things happening in other Departments if he feels they are unique and unprecedented?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: Given that a Minister appeared on radio defending something without knowing what he is talking about and after the Zappone affair, etc., does Mr. Fraser think that there should be a process whereby democratic oversight is drawn to an unprecedented situation? Would that be a good idea in the future?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: I am just asking for a specific process. The problem is that we always hear that lessons have been learned every time something like this happens. It is such a mantra at this stage. I am asking what lessons have been learned? What processes have been put in place to ensure that this does not happen again? That is a very serious question which needs to be answered.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: There have been a number of examples where a Secretary General has investigated what has happened in his or her Department. Obviously, in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary General investigated what happened with the Zappone affair. On this occasion, Robert Watt carried out the initial investigation into the actions he was involved in. Does Mr. Fraser believe that practice...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: I suppose Mr. Fraser is pointing out that it is not the Secretary General's fault and that perhaps it is the Minister's fault for proceeding along those lines. Does he believe that Secretaries General should be subject to any performance standards our reviews? Should there be processes in which they can be removed from their jobs? The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, said he...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: Yes, and perhaps to penalise a Secretary General for performance issues.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: Therefore, it is a Minister's responsibility.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: At collective-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: I ask Mr. Fraser to provide a note to the committee to indicate exactly what the rule of authority is there. I also ask him to provide information as to what precisely the power of a circular is. What does a circular determine? Can a circular be ignored?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: However, it was ignored on this occasion.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: Basically, there are two conflicting truths in existence at the same time in that answer.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: Is the circular explicit in what it not does entail?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Proposed Appointment to University Research Post: Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2022)
Peadar Tóibín: Will Mr. Fraser provide the committee with exactly how the circular is not inclusive of the particular case that we are discussing?