Results 28,821-28,840 of 34,780 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Is that just in the context of issuing bills and collecting money?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I will conclude my questions to the Commission for Energy Regulation and then focus on Irish Water. I am intrigued by the fact that Irish Water already has 200,000 paying customers and that an official regulator has not yet been appointed. A system is up and running and charges are being levied on businesses throughout Ireland. In the past there were instances of regulators being asleep on...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: So it is not the commission's fault. Rather, it is the fault of the Oireachtas. I accept that. As we are all aware, the charges levied by local authorities for water services vary. Will there be a uniform charge - similar to those levied by the ESB or Eircom for the services they provide - for water services or will there be different charges for every county?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: So Mr. McGowan cannot indicate at this stage whether people in Dublin will be paying the same amount as their counterparts in Cork.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: There will not be universal pricing.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Okay. What we are hearing is very worrying. As matters stand, the local authorities levy different charges. Irish Water inherited some 200,000 commercial customers on 1 January and the Commission for Energy Regulation cannot even state whether it agrees with the system of different charges that applies among the local authorities. I will be blunt. Do our guests from the Commission for...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: But not in respect of regulation.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I have a final question for Mr. McGowan. He said that there would be a public consultation. He said that a decision on water charges would be issued in or around August. I am not tying him to the date.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I thank the delegates for attending the meeting at short notice. In regard to the issue of underperformance, will Mr. Tierney indicate whether staff recruited by Irish Water have a probationary period specified in their contracts?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Most people would be of the view that being made permanent after a period of probation is sufficient reward without also receiving a financial bonus. Is there a mechanism at the end of the probationary period whereby staff whose performance is unsatisfactory can be let go?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Is Mr. Tierney satisfied that the bonus scheme is in line with the public service pay requirements initiated by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, which apply to public sector and semi-state organisations?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: The Department is happy, then, in Mr. Tierney's view, that this system is in place?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Which Departments?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Was the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform involved in that?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Irish Water is a State monopoly. Does Mr. Tierney have a problem with its being subject to the freedom of information regime from its initiation?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Would Mr. Tierney have any difficulty if the legislation were changed to allow the Comptroller and Auditor General, as opposed to one of the major consultancy companies, to carry out Irish Water's annual audit?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: In her opening statement Ms Tallon indicated that the Department had set down classes of activities to be reported on during 2013, but this did not identify spending on external or consultancy resources. Why was this element not included in the classes of activities on which reports are required this year?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: Is Ms Tallon saying the Department did not ask the question about whether money was being spent on consultants or otherwise?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 11 - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 41 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Fleming: I have some brief supplementary questions. I thank the Minister for the specifics. With regard to the ESRI and the IPA, I have no basis for suggesting there are any top-ups or something out of order but I just want confirmation. It is interesting that the Minister said the Committee of Public Accounts has asked him to engage on this matter. We should not be asked to vote in the Dáil...