Results 2,021-2,040 of 3,777 for speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: 594. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any geographical data is held on the current vaccinated microchipped badgers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24327/23]

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: It has been an extraordinary meeting, and we started by talking about culture change and transparency. I am not sure I have seen that reflected in the some of the language which we have been using. I have some very quick questions regarding the Opera site. Was that proposed site acquisition discussed at the physical development review committee? This is the normal process, as I understand...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Was it discussed at the physical development review committee? As I understand it, there is a three-stage process. It is discussed at the physical development review committee, then it goes on to be presented to the finance resource asset management committee for consideration and then finally to the governing authority for approval. Was this followed in the case of the Opera site?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Three days before the Dunnes Stores acquisition, was a 58-page application made to the HEA?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Professor Mey said earlier that she has no figure for sunk costs with respect to the application for the Opera site. Even with the preparation of a 58-page application, I would imagine the hours put into that would be quite considerable but Professor Mey has no figure to give us this morning on the sunk costs?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Okay. Are these two processes happening, more or less, in parallel? That is what we are given to understand. In one case, regarding the Opera site, we have these three committee structures that have been followed through, followed by a 58-page application. In the case of the Dunnes Stores site, we have a proposal document which is some two pages long in terms of writing, if I am right,...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Okay. Well, we should be clear about that. Were I a member of the governing board on that evening, when would have been the first indication that an acquisition of some €8 million was going to be discussed at the meeting that evening?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I would imagine so, and particularly for an acquisition of this size and nature. My question is, if I was a member of the governing authority on that evening, when would I have learned that this was going to be an item for decision?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: As a member of the governing authority, as I was sat in that meeting on that evening or day - I am not sure which - when would I have become aware that this was a matter for decision?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Would I have been aware prior to the meeting?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: A day has 24 hours in it. At what time would I have been made aware of that? Before I arrived at the meeting, at the start of the meeting or would the first that I heard of it have been when it was raised under any other business?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Okay. How often does the governing authority make decisions of this size, that is, of an €8 million investment? How often would the governing authority be asked to make a decision of this kind?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Would it be usual for it just to arise during the course of a meeting?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Members of the governing authority were told that this was a decision which had to be made immediately. What is the language that was used? We had valuations tabled. The only concrete figure I have heard is the €3 million, which has been disparaged. There is a contrary figure of Dunnes Stores asking for €11 million. At least the figure of €3 million is underpinned by...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Sorry, I am against the clock here. How long does a governing body meeting normally take? Would it be an hour, an hour and a half?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: This was raised at the end of a three-hour meeting. We are three hours in the room, I am a member of the governing body and someone suddenly says "By the way, we want to buy a site for 8 million quid". Am I understanding the scenario correctly?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: I know there was unanimous support for the decision. Did no one question the wisdom of making such a serious decision right there and then because of fears that someone else would swoop in and pay €5 million over and above the last valuation of the site? Did no one raise concerns about the speed and alacrity with which this decision was being made?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: This is extraordinary. We have not even got to the issue of the student centre yet. We have not had time to get into it. We have not gone after the student records yet because we have not had the time. It is quite extraordinary. Regarding the engineering reports, Mr. O'Connor used the phrases "some engineering reports" and "early engineering assessments". I presume he cannot tell me...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Who made these assessments? Were they done internally or externally?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh: In these early engineering reports, assessments or whatever they are - prepared by whomever - was the issue of asbestos identified?