Results 11,521-11,540 of 32,978 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: Are we getting the report? The Chairman mentioned four issues. There is a problem with correspondence and I understand that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: The 2017 report.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: That is great if it is there.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: I am actually under pressure because of the storm and the situation in Galway. I have a few practical queries. During this morning's discussion reference was made to the Galway building but I am a little confused about that. To which building in Galway was Mr. Bourke referring?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: That is okay. The committee has already agreed to obtain a list showing a chronology of what happened regarding the extra rent being paid.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: Will Mr. Buckley clarify who is investigating?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: When did the investigation start?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: I ask the Chairman that we come back to this. There is an internal review being carried out. When did it start? When will it be completed? Who is doing it? Is that clear? I do this through the Chair.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: I have not read the report. This is why it is difficult.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: Our guests will come back to the committee on that issue.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: Okay. I have already touched on building and renting. Deputy Catherine Murphy also commented on this to some extent. It will cost more than €300 million - besides any mistakes made and the implications of those mistakes in the context of the new health building.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: At what level has this matter been discussed in the context of purchasing buildings and value for money?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: So the OPW just follows Government policy, if it is Government policy.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: If the OPW has no say, that is fine.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: It is heavily driven by the market. We are heavily driven by the market and there is no evidence of value for money in the context of this policy. I am not blaming the OPW for this policy-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: -----but there is no evidence. The OPW spending review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform looked at spending by the OPW on State rents. The report says that consideration should be given to "analysis of the effectiveness of the current model in meeting accommodation requirements, and, assessing if value for money is being obtained". An analysis of the effectiveness has not...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: No. The report, Analysis of OPW Spending on State Rents, is from July 2018. It was produced under pressure in response to the frequency with which the issue of rent paid for buildings is raised at this committee and, possibly, others. We are actively colluding with the market to make the rents higher. The OPW thinks that €300 million is good value for money. We have been through...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: Does Mr. Bourke believe it would be better value for money?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: What is happening with the building that has been vacated?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works
Chapter 6: Lease of Offices at Miesian Plaza (11 Oct 2018)

Catherine Connolly: Yes.