Results 17,001-17,020 of 33,115 for speaker:Catherine Connolly
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: This is certainly one project where there should have been a post-project review from within the Department, particularly because of the history of involved. When looking at the conclusions and recommendations to give us a flavour-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I am referring to page 23, where it is stated:Overall, it is the assessment of this review that the Department complied with the project management framework in place at the time. [That is of concern to me, regardless of whether the Department complied with it ] The final assessment of this review considers that the main problem with the project was the fact that the original project...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: It is dealt with in that one sentence, which states that Element Pictures, not the city council, was the biggest contributor.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I wish to make a final comment. The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht did carry out reviews, which were very welcome. Those reviews highlighted problems. Those involved did try to do this. There is a bigger issue here. This took place in a political atmosphere in which the project had to go ahead. We need to look at that element, as in the case of the national children's...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Yes.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Can we ask about the four empty houses?
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: The issue needs to be teased out. I am struck by how all of the financial arrangements and payments in respect of the Legal Aid Board, including criminal legal aid, are published. The names of the barristers and solicitors involved are set out, as are the moneys they receive. I am unsure as to how that has been the practice-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Will that no longer be the practice because of GDPR?
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: This issue needs to be teased out. In my experience, all of that information was public every single year and still is.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I have no issue with any of this and I support it, but comments should not be made generally about a profession.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: This is a letter in reply from the Department of Finance.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: Where any group is concerned, we should be careful in what we say. The issue is extremely important. I fully support the issue. We are dealing with a letter from the Department of Finance rather than maligning a whole profession.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: It is difficult-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: But I-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: On that, it is difficult for me. I am an ex-barrister, so I am inclined to keep my mouth closed. Generally speaking, this committee commented before but the issue in question is much more important than the comment. It is extremely important, and we should be going right to the core of issues. I support this issue completely.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I agree with everything that has been said and our role is to keep an eye on the costs. To go back to the Pálás Cinema, we had the exact same issue. The project started at a certain price and there were cost overruns. All of this was set out in the report. Costs arose in parallel with it, which the architect for the Department subsequently said were justified. I forget which...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Nov 2019)
Catherine Connolly: I had this marked and the Chairman has addressed it. The proceedings are held in camerafor a reason. Children are being asked to get a copy of the order and bring it in. What is being asked beggars belief. It is important to show something, however. Therefore, there is an issue, but it should not be addressed in this way. Where are we going with it?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Chapter 12 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 13 - Timeliness of Income Support Claim Processing
Chapter 14 - Customer Service - Development of Income Support Application Forms (7 Nov 2019) Catherine Connolly: Could Mr. McKeon repeat that?
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Chapter 12 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 13 - Timeliness of Income Support Claim Processing
Chapter 14 - Customer Service - Development of Income Support Application Forms (7 Nov 2019) Catherine Connolly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe. I ndeireadh na dála, tá an chothromaíocht inscne ceart. At long last we have proper gender equality, on which the witnesses are to be congratulated.
- Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Chapter 12 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 13 - Timeliness of Income Support Claim Processing
Chapter 14 - Customer Service - Development of Income Support Application Forms (7 Nov 2019) Catherine Connolly: Looking at the witnesses it is looking good. I thank the witnesses for their comprehensive report. I am not sure whether there is a double message as we are being smothered by an amount of paper, but certainly the report is welcome as it includes an overall view. I thank the witnesses for their positive statements on the social welfare system, including that it covers a lot more than...