Results 1,661-1,680 of 2,631 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: We know how it works. My concern is that there was awareness that this was potentially an approach. There was awareness that this was a request from the agent, but no one sought to keep checks on it, to enquire, to ask whether the Director General had stuck with that approach or not, and therefore we are in this position. I do not think there can be complete absolution from involvement...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: You were aware.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Did the term "consultancy fees" not jump out at you at that point?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thought you raised the invoices in May 2021 and 2022.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: If your office, that you obviously oversee, knew that invoices pertaining to the payment of Mr. Tubridy containing the phrase "consultancy fees" had been raised, and I am not sure what Mr. Tubridy would be providing consultancy for, would that not have raised flags?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: But you knew the invoices pertained to the payment of Mr. Tubridy.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: You say you did not see the invoices directly yourself. Again, I think it is seriously concerning that there was such a lack of oversight within your office. Clearly, there were not the checks and balances to see that. I think it beggars belief, to be honest, that the term "consultancy fees" on an invoice that pertained to the payment of Mr. Tubridy was not flagged at the time.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Mr. Collins, I certainly would consider €150,000 a lot of money. It is significant. Would you consider that a significant amount?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The reason I picked that amount is that I think that is what the two invoices of May and July we are talking about added up to. As Chief Financial Officer, CFO, that was completely outside your remit and you had no oversight whatsoever of payments of that scale.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: To me, it is a case of laying all the blame at the door of the Director General. I think that clearly what has been demonstrated here is a lack of oversight and a lack of checks and balances, including from the CFO, pertaining to the years that you were there from 2020 to 2022. That is for something that is apparent to me. I will finish because I am out of time. I suppose this is a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I raise the issue of loans being sold on to vulture funds and the hardship it is causing people in Ireland. People and businesses in Ireland take out loans every day. There is also a practice whereby loans are sold on to vulture funds every day. They are restructured and sold on without any communication with the customers. Citizens are left completely exposed to these piranhas of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (4 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I am not sure how familiar the Minister of State is with west Cork.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (4 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: That is very good. I would usually be trying to sell the place to her. I would tell everyone how great the place is and would say that it has everything, yet, unfortunately, the one thing it lacks is an abundance of GPs. That is why I am raising this Topical Issue. The Minister of State is familiar with the area. It is a vast area and it is geographically unique. In many places,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (4 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Minister of State mentioned the extension of GP visit cards to more than 50% of the population. Approximately 500,000 more people will be eligible for GP visit cards. This is fantastic and it is going to mean that those who most need GP care or assistance will have access to it. It goes a long way to addressing what has been a huge issue within our health service for a long time,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 20. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, a statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [32844/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to increase the mandatory retirement age for school bus drivers from 70 to 75 years, to take into account those drivers who wish to continue working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33023/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 116. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funds can be made available to local authorities to deal with Japanese knotweed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33016/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 202. To ask the Minister for Health if he will restore the dispensing fee for pharmacists from 2009 levels of €5.00 for the first 1,667 items up to €6.50, in line with the FEMPI pay restoration increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33025/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 204. To ask the Minister for Health if, given that amounts of €4.3 million and €11.3 million were reimbursed under the Cross Border Directive and the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme, respectively in 2022, similar funding will be found for the establishment of a cataract clinic in the CHO4 area, to avoid patients travelling to the North for surgery; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (5 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 206. To ask the Minister for Health if funding can be made available to provide a shingle vaccination programme to people over the age of 70 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33030/23]