Results 2,661-2,680 of 4,168 for speaker:Susan O'Keeffe

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: We know a little about the way some public representatives were paid. They literally received money. Is Mr. McDonald aware of any other rewards people were given or offered? Were they offered houses or shares in companies? Will Mr. McDonald tell us a little about what he knows?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Is it still going on?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Good morning, Professor Farrell. How can Parliament be an equal player with Government when the latter has a majority? That is always the crux of the matter.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: I would like to tease out Professor Farrell's comments on the election of Ceann Comhairle. If a party has a majority in the Dáil, is it likely to agree to such arrangements? On paper I understand the argument about secret ballots as a means of aiming for an independent Ceann Comhairle, but if a party is in the majority are Members not going to vote for the person they want?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: If one takes that to the corridors of power or the Galway tent, how do political scientists account for the impact those realities have on better governance structures? It will always be the reality in any organisation in any country that conversations take place or influence is peddled in such places.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: In his testimony to the committee, Mr. Rob Wright referred to the cooling effect of freedom of information, whereby civil servants and others are reluctant to commit to writing. I accept this is a dilemma but how does one reconcile this practice with making processes more transparent and open?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Is Professor Farrell saying that the culture at the time of the banking crisis could not have responded in any other way? The changes he outlined had not happened. Would a different outcome have been possible?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: He noted in his opening remarks that the reports do not mention the role of the Oireachtas. That probably reflects the terms of reference laid down for them. Does he wish to make an observation on the fact that the terms of reference did not include the Oireachtas?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Can Professor Farrell comment on the idea that the Oireachtas would not have been included in the terms of reference? When I read the first report I remarked on the absence of mention of the Oireachtas but when I checked the terms of reference I realised the producers of the report were not asked about it. Was that a deliberate decision or was the Oireachtas sidelined?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Professor Farrell spoke about restrictions on civil servants giving evidence. Section 93 of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 removes the restriction on civil servants giving evidence to committees. Is that a mark of progress and does he expect to see civil servants coming before committees like this one?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: The question I really want to ask pertains to the role and importance of the Civil Service. We discussed the Oireachtas and the Government, and then there is the Civil Service. How important is it in this great arrangement? Perhaps Professor Farrell would like to compare the role of the Civil Service, or perhaps its powers, with its counterparts in other countries. The public often...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: I understand the premise of the visibility and I accept that. I am asking about the power of the Civil Service in this. If a group in a piece is invisible how much power did it wield, if any, in the debate that was undoubtedly had at the time of the banking crisis up to the point at which we all became very aware of it?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Since the Government took office the Oireachtas has had an oversight and petitions committee, of which I am a member. It has oversight of all the ombudsmen and takes petitions from members of the public and pursues those where it feels it is able to do so. Is this the type of reform Professor Farrell thinks would be good? How would he qualify it?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: To go back to the budgetary process and the secrecy about which Professor Farrell spoke, some changes have been made, such as the comprehensive expenditure report, and some alterations have been made. How in particular did the secrecy of budgets at the time we are speaking about, between 2000 and 2008, contribute to the disaster in which we found ourselves? Did it do so specifically or was...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Various observations have been made by people giving testimony here about reports being watered down, diluted or changed before being published. Is this something on which Professor Farrell has observations to make?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Some people may remember in the run up to the banking crisis the unfortunate remarks of the then Taoiseach, referring to the whole idea of the green jersey. I do not want to talk about that in particular. I just want to ask about the Office of the Taoiseach and the atmosphere or a pervading view that can be created by any Taoiseach. In all the talk we have had about Cabinet, Government and...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: So it is like trying to move to a position where there is more accountability at Oireachtas level, there is a pushback with the presidential role of a leader. Are they-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: Page 236 of evidence given by Professor Edward Kane, who appeared before the committee, stated:In particular, a firm’s access to political elites grows with its interconnectedness, geographic footprint, and the number of employees and creditors that can be persuaded to contribute on its behalf to re-election campaigns.While we are talking about reform, greater accountability and so on,...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: I welcome Professor Hardiman. On page 6 she refers to the culture of independence needing to be maintained in the public service so it can function as a guardian of the public interest. To be clear, is she saying, therefore, there is a culture of independence already? Is that the implication of the word "maintained"? Does she mean there needs to be one because there is not one?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

Susan O'Keeffe: They are permitted to do so under the new legislation.