Results 1,581-1,600 of 4,350 for speaker:Bobby Aylward

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: We all have.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: It would not be a problem if there was something we could write off in half an hour or an hour but both these topics need to be investigated. Taxpayers' money is involved and they are serious issues in the media and everywhere.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: That is my point.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I welcome the board. This is the first time since becoming a member of the Committee of Public Accounts that I have been contacted by so many people with disquiet over the management of the Irish Greyhound Board. In recent days, I have taken more phone calls, from my own constituency and beyond, from ordinary people within the industry - breeders, owners and trainers - to convey how...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: My understanding of the Public Appointments Service is that it gets so many names and then it makes a recommendation to the Minister who then appoints from the recommendations. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Are they experienced people with knowledge of greyhound breeding and racing? Has that been looked at? Would Mr. Meaney say that the board comprises experienced people with the capability to run the greyhound business and who have the professionalism to run it?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Are we talking about the business of running the greyhound industry or the survival of the greyhound business?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: What is the term of service?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Mr. Meaney was making the point ----

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Was anyone appointed for a period more than two terms, in breach of guidelines, that is, more than the two three-year periods, which would be six years?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I thought that Mr. Meaney said a moment ago that it was.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: In that case, are there members there longer than six years continuously?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: How many?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: That is not normal practice for someone to stay that length of time, is it?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Does Mr. Meaney think that it is good practice? I mean no disrespect to the person involved because I do not know who it is.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Are they political appointments?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: I wanted to clarify that. Modern day boards do not allow people to stay for that length of time and they move on to allow fresh blood and fresh people. Again, I mean no disrespect to the person involved. Who appoints the executive?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: So the CEO is appointed by the board and CEO appoints the rest down the line through the normal process of interviews, experience and so on.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: Why are the 2015 accounts only coming before the Comptroller and Auditor General now, a year and five months behind? Why are they not up to date and why did it take that length of time? Will 2016 not become available for another two years again?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Bobby Aylward: It was raised here with the Comptroller and Auditor General and he said he was waiting on Bord na gCon to present them and it looked as though Bord na gCon had been pushed to present them rather than presenting them voluntarily. I am only asking these questions.