Results 11,521-11,540 of 26,610 for speaker:David Cullinane

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: That is not the question. The conclusion that Mr. Toland came to was not that things could be done better. It was quite a hard hitting report and it spoke of "a closed, secretive and silo driven culture." I am concerned that the acting Secretary General cannot agree with the findings of the independent report. If we do not accept the failures, how do we implement changes? The next...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: What about the findings of undue deference given to An Garda Síochána? Has Ms McPhillips read that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: I know that Ms McPhillips has, but that is not what I am asking. I am asking if, in her 29 years of working in the Department, Ms McPhillips found undue deference was given to An Garda Síochána by the Department at the highest level?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: It says this in the report. I will read directly from it. It reads: "This oversight role demands a delicate balance between accountability and respecting the independence of An Garda Síochána. In the view of the Review Group there is a deferential relationship with An Garda Síochána with a lack of proper strategic accountability being brought to bear upon them by the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: I do not want to know what has been done since 2014. I am asking if that was Ms McPhillips's experience. With respect, Ms McPhillips is the acting Secretary General. I am reading a report, which was very hard hitting and which looked at the Department of Justice and Equality going back over an awfully long time. Ms McPhillips worked in the Department for most of that time period, although...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: I can provide an example that might help.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: I am not the Accounting Officer, but I am someone who can put himself in the shoes of the review group and try to understand why it would come to the view that there was a deferential relationship. Does Ms McPhillips consider it acceptable that an Accounting Officer, one of her colleagues, would send a text message to the Garda Commissioner following the Garda Commissioner's appearance...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: It is a matter of public record. The entire workings of the Department might be subject to-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: As a separate question, would it be considered deferential if a Garda Commissioner - not a particular Garda Commissioner but any Garda Commissioner - effectively was writing press releases for a Minister?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: We are not. With respect, it is a general question. It is outside the scope of the tribunal because it does not relate to a particular Garda Commissioner. To put it in other words, is it current practice for the acting Garda Commissioner to write drafts of press releases for the Minister? Is that a practice used by the Department?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: Profound changes are required in the Department. I hope the person who will lead it will be someone who, in the first instance, will accept its failings in the past, accept all of the recommendations made in the Toland report which are very clear and serious and raise profound questions for the Department and will be in a position to drive the changes. Whoever is in the position should...

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: We will see. I am a little concerned about it. What did the Collins report deal with specifically?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: What did it find?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: If we leave aside the good faith aspect which is important, it also noted that there were systemic failures in how the Department categorised and filed emails. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: It also found that the weaknesses and failures had led to non-disclosure of relevant emails. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: I am citing the report to Ms McPhillips. I am reading from the report. It showed, "Systemic failures which resulted in the non-disclosure of relevant emails".

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: What changes have been made since to make sure it will not happen again?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: Ms McPhillips might send a note to the committee outlining the work that has been done and what will be done and perhaps the timeframes within which we might have some closure on some of these issues and see real, tangible changes that will make a difference.

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: Teachta Alan Kelly asked about what had and had not been disclosed. I understand Ms McPhillips told him that emails within the Department relevant to the issues that had been sought by the commission had been sent but not private phone records or private emails. Is that the reply she gave?

Public Accounts Committee: 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 13 - Development of ICT Systems by the Department of Justice and Equality
Vote 24: Justice and Equality (26 Apr 2018)

David Cullinane: They are outside Ms McPhillips' control. Only departmental emails were sent.