Results 1,261-1,280 of 2,988 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: My time is limited and, therefore, in conclusion, it is exceptionally important that organisations such as the CTTC in arenas such as this committee provide the information we need to tackle this with the NTA and it should not hold back in any way. I have found the authority quite frustrating to deal with as an organisation. I will hand over to Mr. Lynch.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: By way of conclusion, while the guideline is eight weeks, will Mr. Lynch tell us how many months it is taking?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Chairperson, if any fact has come away from today's discussions so far, that one particularly is hugely concerning. We need to work on that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I welcome the officials before the Committee of Public Accounts. I want to open with expenditure for foster care in Ireland. In this current budget, we saw a failure from the Department's side to negotiate an additional allocation of funding. I want to get an overall profile of how much has been spent on the foster care allowance and the individual breakdown, essentially just to develop an...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: How many people does that support? I just want to get a sense of the information.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: In terms of the payment support that goes to foster parents in this country, I understand the issue is that this has not been changed since the mid-2000s.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Yes. It is a concern that has not been addressed when we are looking at the situation around inflation,

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I am curious about this. It is one of those few payments that really has been untouched over such a long space of time. Is there a rationale behind that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We hear that loud and clear. I thank Mr. Gloster for the information; it is very helpful. The next issue I wish to raise is much more serious. The State is under enormous pressure around dealing with the war in Ukraine and also around the current ongoing situation with inbound migration. It is something that is extremely difficult for the Government to manage. Of course, it falls under...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We are obviously having an in-depth look at 2021 in addition to the ongoing circumstances at the moment. In 2021, prior to the war in Ukraine, was there a projected increase in this area from the Department? Was it expecting a huge increase in the amount of inbound migration when it came to people who would be accessing the direct provision system in Ireland?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: There has been considerable discussion about targets or putting caps and limits in place. I am not expressing a view but I am trying to get a better insight for the public in this area. Is the Department reaching a tipping point when it comes to what it will be able to handle? I hear, off the record, from people who are working with local authorities that they are at breaking point when it...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We would want to be very careful because I have very limited time. I am sure he can see the clock behind me winding down. I asked a very clear question. Does Mr. McCarthy have concerns about the rate the numbers are growing? I know we have international obligations. I do not think any of us in elected office, to be fair to us, is trying to step away from those obligations but...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Mr. McCarthy is not answering my question. He is either concerned or he is not. I would prefer to get an answer from him.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Okay. This is going-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I do not think-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I am very sorry-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I am conscious of the time and I have to ask other questions. I wish to develop an understanding of the acquisition of property. I am from Youghal and I am sure the Deputy is aware that the former Quality Hotel in Redbarn was acquired by a private company which is now providing one of the largest centres in the country, outside of Citywest in Dublin, if not the largest. I wish to...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I have a final question.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Feeding into what Deputy Carthy has just raised, this is all about the public's confidence in this system, which involves extremely large sums of public money. The idea that the owners of centres that are hosting refugees and operating direct provision services are not required to provide a tax clearance certificate when in some cases they are in receipt of millions of euros of taxpayers'...