Results 20,141-20,160 of 32,978 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: My colleague asked something about the various accounts, including the restaurant or mess accounts. I understand a review is taking place. When I look at the accounts, I see a note that a review is under way. Is that correct? I refer to internal financial control issues on page 5 of the appropriation accounts. It states that arising from recent audit reports, a review of administrative,...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I understand that. I heard that. Who is doing it, when did it start, when will it be completed and what is the cost of it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: What date in 2017? Who started it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: That is okay.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I heard all that. At this point, I am asking factual questions. When did it start, who is doing it and when will it be completed? At this point, it is an internal team comprising Prison Service staff and departmental officials. That is fine.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: How many people are on this team?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Is that in total?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: As such, no one from the Department is on it.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Okay. Some resources are coming from the Department and the service has employed someone from outside.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: When will it complete its work?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: When this work started, it arose from problems identified in audits. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: What problems were identified in the audits that led to this review?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: What problems led to this being done? What issues were identified from the audits?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Bail money is an official matter. Are staff assigned?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: As such, this is not a prisoner issue but a staff issue.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: We have cash handling and bail money. What other issues were identified?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: That is very good and it is welcome. What is being carried out is a review of a mix of matters, not just matters which concern prisoners on the level where they are running shops or voluntary mess committees. There are also issues relating to staff.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: It would be helpful to get a note on this. We might do it at the end of the meeting.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Is the public purse liable in respect of these matters? Was there a worry the public purse would have to pick up the tab for mistakes made or a lack of governance?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 21 - Prisons (17 Jan 2019)

Catherine Connolly: What about voluntary mess committees? I presume staff eat as well as a result of the prisoners' cooking. As such, there is a mix here. Is that correct?