Results 1,441-1,460 of 4,350 for speaker:Bobby Aylward

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I have two more questions. On the scope for research, innovation and development, there is potential for private companies that want research done to be involved. What percentage of funding for universities or institutes would come from research and development? Would it be big? Would it be part of the overall consideration? Is there room for more improvement on that and to do more research?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: It is 25%.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: How do we compare with Great Britain, Germany and other countries in terms of attracting big industries into research?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: My last question is a general one on pensions. Universities are responsible for their own pension funds and their future pension funds but the Department is responsible for the institutes of technology. What is the reason for that variation? Universities must build that into their future costs yet the institutes of technology are the responsibility of the Department? Why is that?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: They are funded by the taxpayer.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: That is something somebody should examine.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: We are talking about proper governance and oversight. That is another topic.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: And oversight.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Is it being adhered to? That is the problem

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Station Closures (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: 19. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any of the Garda Stations closed in counties Carlow and Kilkenny in 2012 and 2013 are included in the six stations being examined for reopening under the pilot programme. [15771/17]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: 59. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of the new Garda recruits assigned to the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division in each year since Garda recruitment resumed in 2014; and the attested personnel strength of the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division in September 2014 and at the end of February 2017. [15770/17]

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I thank the Chairman. We are all dealing with persons A, B and C and I will go back to that matter again. It was stated that it was amicable and by agreement when Person A retired on sick leave. Did this person leave on good terms with the university? Was there any ill will over this? I suppose that these three people could be called whistleblowers. In the modern language of the...

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: My understanding is that the first complaint from Person A was in 2009. In 2010, Person A went on sick leave and retired from the university in 2012. She was on sick leave for two years before she retired.

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: On the complaints made to the university, there were seven specific allegations. That was in May 2011 while she was on sick leave.

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I read in Mazars report that some of those specific allegations included allegations of irregular practices and misconduct in a higher education institution, irregular payments and victimisation and bullying. These are serious things. These were mentioned in the Dáil in reply to a parliamentary question that had been tabled by Deputy English.

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Did UL take them seriously at that stage?

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I want to move on. There was an allegation of a culture of inappropriate expenses claims. Person A outlined her work environment in which it was alleged that it was difficult to sign off on individual expenses claims and there was a lack of clarity on whether certain items being claimed were allowable. Those are also serious allegations.

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: With regard to proper governance and procedures and oversight, how was it allowed to happen that this would come to head in 2011 following allegations by a staff member? Why was that system allowed to be in place in such a large university?

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I will go through the claims individually. I refer to expenses claimed by an employee while on sabbatical. How can a person claim expenses while on sabbatical? A person cannot claim expenses when he or she is on leave in his or house or wherever and not working.

Public Accounts Committee: University of Limerick: Financial Statements 2014-2015 (30 Mar 2017)

Bobby Aylward: When the person went to Australia, was the person still representing UL? The person was not on sabbatical then. My understanding of a sabbatical is when a person takes time off and do another job. A staff member is still not employed by the university when on sabbatical.