Results 21,161-21,180 of 26,624 for speaker:John McGuinness
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I have always acted in a way and conducted the business of this committees so that the Committee of Public Accounts is above and beyond politics or reproach. Deputy Nash is asking again and again about the party leader's confidence in me as Chairman. That is for the Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party to express and he has made a number of statements about this leading into this week.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: In terms of?
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: Deputy Micheál Martin had an opinion, which he expressed to an official and it is contained in that e-mail. This was a philosophical discussion about travel. He had his views and I had mine. I am not saying that Deputy Martin was right and I was wrong. I am not saying that I was right and he was wrong. I am simply saying that we should have been discussing those views, as we do in...
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I am just wondering myself.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: Deputy Nash is referring to the final paragraph in the e-mail. The concern that I had in writing this e-mail was that in my previous life in business, if somebody asked me a question such as "Can I do X or Y?", I would probably answer them directly. "No, you cannot," or "Tell me why I should let you do X or Y." In this instance the simple question was posed and it resulted in all of these...
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: Deputy Ross does not have to ask me that. He has been a member of this committee since 2011. He could easily establish from my contributions to the committee that the opinions I hold do not cause me any difficulty in undertaking my task as Chairman. I want to take up the Deputy on one point. He stated that the McGuinness family did well. I reject that comment completely. He has no...
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I have said publicly on radio when I was interviewed on this subject that I have no difficulty with the media, whether television, radio or newspapers, using FOI provisions to get information. I never complained about such practices and do not know where the Deputy got that from.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: That is not a criticism.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I want to correct Deputy Ross because he cannot be allowed to get away with remarks either. He might write about them on Sunday. To be clear, that was not a criticism. I have said that to the journalist, who is sitting in the Gallery. I told him he has to do his job. Let us not speak about him as if he was a shadow behind Deputy Ross. He submitted the FOI requests and he knows whether...
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: That would not be the journalist.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I will do my best.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: The question he is putting is in relation to the pattern -----
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: Sorry, I will answer the question if the Vice Chairman allows me to do so.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I know it does and that is what I will try to do if I am permitted. I said that I was wondering where it all came from. I was referring to the information that came out after the FOI request. The FOI request was submitted and the information came out. I do not know why he submitted that particular FOI request. I think Deputy Ross is asking me whether he was prompted to do so by somebody.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: That is the area he is encouraging me to enter. Perhaps he was. I do not know. The Deputy is asking me to develop conspiracy theories. I am here to answer questions on the information these FOI requests brought into the public domain. I am not here to answer the Deputy's questions about conspiracy theories.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: There is a pattern in putting this information into the public domain which, in the minds of some members, leads to damaging the Committee of Public Accounts. I can surmise as to where that may be coming from but I would be entering into the conspiracy theory.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I am offering nothing but facts to this committee.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I am not going to offer any blame because I am not here to do that. I am here to answer questions on the specific issues raised and what has been said about me in respect of the information revealed under FOI. I have no difficulty in doing that. I am not going into conspiracy theories. Deputy Nash used the expression "more sinned against than sinning". I do not consider anything I did to...
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I was not sinning.
- Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)
John McGuinness: I want to answer the question. I would have to go back and ask those questions of the Department. I am sure somebody will, arising out of this meeting.