Results 1,281-1,300 of 3,336 for speaker:Kate O'Connell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: We have spent a great deal of time today asking questions, but I am not sure any of us is the wiser apart from being told that, yet again, there was a change of governance structure. I believe the same happened with CervicalCheck, in that people moved the chairs around the table. Due to a change in governance structure, it is difficult to find out who is to blame. We have received an...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Why not?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Deputy Cullinane might finish his train of thought.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I thank the witnesses for coming in. Following on from Deputy Cullinane, with regard to the €1.6 million that came back, was the outstanding debt that went to the banks all carried by the university or did anyone else carry it?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: After listening today, whether it is Professor Donnelly's personality or not, he has referred to members being confused or lacking understanding on numerous occasions. I am sure we can count them. I have not seen any evidence of a lack of understanding and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General is clear. As somebody who has many businesses, I agree that there can be conflicts,...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I apologise, through the institute and his subsequent disposal of shares in other companies just was not a clean way to go about business. I have a significant issue with the vice president of an institute of technology standing to personally gain from shareholding. If one is employed by the State and getting a salary, one's focus should be on that job, not on making money out of the seed...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Professor Donnelly cannot have been that foolish with that significant return on an investment.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: It was Professor Donnelly's choice but it would have been good housekeeping to have seen this coming down the tracks. I do not think it is acceptable. I understand the standard practice relating to spin-off companies is done everywhere. Is it common practice and ethical in other institutes in other jurisdictions for somebody in a position such as Professor Donnelly's to invest personally...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Entitled and ethical are two totally different things.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I am questioning whether it was ethical. I am not saying the professor was unethical.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I understand that it was all in the public domain. I understand Professor Donnelly’s name was on the letters and all that. It is so clear, however, that it is just not appropriate that it goes to-----

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Is Professor Donnelly saying that it is not unusual for somebody in a position like his to be investing in seedling companies?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Have we any examples of-----

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: I would appreciate if Professor Donnelly would not interrupt me.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Have we any other examples of people in decision-making roles in other institutes, such as Athlone, getting shareholding windfalls?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Is this standard practice?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Is this widespread?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: Is it the case that people are not precluded from this?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: The issue is the governance of such shareholdings.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 104 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Waterford Institute of Technology - Development and Disposal of Intellectual Property in FeedHenry (24 Jan 2019)

Kate O'Connell: One would imagine there would be a substantial paper trail attached to everything with no missing letters.