Results 13,341-13,360 of 26,685 for speaker:David Cullinane

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: For example, representatives of private nursing home providers and RTÉ have done so.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: We have just dealt with RTÉ issues. The non-attendance is an act of bad faith and it is not good enough to just furnish us with information. We want to examine the issue of housing and one of the biggest issues is the relationship between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and local authorities. That is one of the obvious links, and especially in an environment...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: As the Chairman has said, these people are not just anybody. They are CEOs and representatives of local authorities across the State. I do not think that we, as a committee, should just accept their correspondence and note it. We need to contact them again and say we have a job of work to do in terms of our evaluation of housing and processes. They have a valuable role to play. It is...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: We cannot compel them, or, rather, we can, but we cannot force them. We have to point out to them they have to come before us.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: We could have gone directly to a number of the bigger local authorities-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: -----and asked the CEOs to come. However, we went through the proper channels. That point should be made. We did the right thing. This is the body that represents all the CEOs of local authorities. It has a clear function. I imagine one of its functions is to help policymakers and help the Oireachtas. Why is it there in the first place if it is not prepared to come before the committee?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: This relates to sick days.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: We need to be careful how we respond to this letter. It relates to people who have applied for sick leave. I do not want to cast aspersions on any individuals. The figures may point to issues in the work environment in some State bodies. The average number of sick days across the public service is 10.1. I look at those organisations with above average numbers. The Department of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: It could be and there might be issues.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: Three weeks is still high. Revenue at 11.4 represents two weeks. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is at 11.2. I ask the secretariat to take a note of those that are above average and we can put them to officials from those Departments when they appear before the committee. We need a response from them when they appear. There are significant variations. For example, the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: I wish to be clear. I am not saying anything is wrong with the public servants who claim sick leave. I am just looking at the variations. The Chairman made the point that the number for the Prison Service is high for very obvious reasons. That highlights the need to look at the environment in which these people work. These are public servants who deserve our support and protection. The...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: The problem was not with the response rate, which is high. I have an issue with the nature of the survey which is a self-assessment survey. Was it the CEO who signed the letter?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: The CEO states that these are accurate figures. It is an assessment, an estimate. It cannot be said it is accurate because it is self-assessment. What controls are in place? What follow-up inspections take place to ensure the figures are accurate? We were never given any information to reassure us that is the case. I do not accept that these are accurate figures. While it is great that...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: Exactly. My understanding is that there was none, or it was not to my satisfaction anyway.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: We have the education sector reports the Comptroller and Auditor General has prepared, namely the Limerick-Sligo report and the Waterford report. I propose that we deal with both on the same day if possible. I read the Limerick-Sligo report several times and found it shocking. I want to be careful how I put this to the Comptroller and Auditor General, but is it the case that the University...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: If we have a university that has misled the Comptroller and Auditor General-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: -----and the Department and, possibly-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: -----this committee as well, it is incredible. It chimes with what we were saying when its representatives were here. We were getting push-back from these universities as to what we were asking questions for and they said we were being too tough. It goes back to this public perception, or rather the perception of some in the commentariat, that the Committee of Public Accounts is...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: If the Comptroller and Auditor General prepares special reports, we have a responsibility to follow up.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Chapter 11 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 12 - JobPath Employment Activation Service
Chapter 13 - Actuarial Review of Social Insurance Fund
Chapter 14 - Overpayments of Age-Related Jobseeker's Allowance
Chapter 20 - PRSI Contributions by the Self-Employed
2017 Social Insurance Fund (29 Nov 2018)

David Cullinane: I welcome Mr. McKeon and his colleagues. I accept that the Secretary General and Accounting Officer is dealing with four chapters from the Comptroller and Auditor General's report and the appropriation accounts but the reason we seek supporting documentation in advance of an Accounting Officer coming in is to avoid lengthy opening statements. We have a voting block at 12.50 p.m. I do not...