Results 15,321-15,340 of 26,653 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: If I could intervene here Senator to allow the Minister of State to respond to some of the Senator's questions. We had agreed earlier that each member would have five minutes. I had let it go to ten minutes. Would the Minister of State like to respond?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Is it a short point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I have a couple of questions. Let me put on record the Minister of State's response to me on the Arts for Peace project and I want to thank him for arranging that meeting between his officials and Arts for Peace. I understand that will take place soon. I sent some proposals in regard to mediation in respect of the project and I hope they will be considered. I am not expecting the Minister...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I accept that, but my concern was about the quality of the reply to the parliamentary question. As a Deputy trying to do his job as a member of Parliament, to be given the reply I received is not acceptable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The cleaning of waterways was discussed earlier. Who is responsible for the cleaning of weirs? Is it the OPW or the local authorities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Where the OPW constructs a weir - I am thinking of the Kilkenny flood relief scheme, which I think is an OPW project - for a lot of the questions asked, and despite the controversy in terms of funding around the project, the Kilkenny flood relief scheme is an excellent example. I think the OPW was cutting its teeth on it as well. It is great to be able to look back on the video and see how...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I apologise, but I also wish to ask about how the OPW measures performance. What are the indicators the OPW has in place for measuring the quality, quantity and timeframes for outputs at strategic levels? What is the methodology used to measure how good a project the Department is funding is performing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The Minister of State might provide us with a note on that and how the Department functions in terms of examining and analysing all these aspects.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I welcome the Minister and his officials. I remind members and witnesses to turn off all mobile phones. I remind members of the longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. The purpose of the meeting is to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I apologise for interrupting the Minister but I ask him to check his mobile phone because there is interference.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Someone has a phone near the desk.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: In his opening statement, the Minister extended an invitation to write in or use this exchange to make suggestions. I tend to use these meetings as best I can to make suggestions. With regard to public service reform, page 31 of the mid-year expenditure report states there is evidence that Ireland has a strong record of efficient use of public funds. This may be the case generally....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: All of what the Minister has said is correct but it does not lead to transparency in the accounts. If money is allocated through the Department, or if the Department oversees the allocation of money through another Department, I expect someone will receive a comprehensive report on how the money is spent. While it is open to the Oireachtas committee to invite in the board, the CEO or the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: With respect, I do not know if the Minister has ever looked at company accounts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: One will never find in the accounts for the school transport system an explanation for costs incurred or information on whether the system is profitable. I have looked at the accounts and could not find that information. On how Government money is spent and accounted for, I refer the Minister to the spending of taxpayers' money on the Galway project which was the subject of a "Prime Time"...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Is the Minister happy with the appointment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I did not say that.