Results 29,861-29,880 of 33,115 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Is this a situation in which we had whistleblowers coming forward to indicate there were problems with travel claims?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: It is part of it. A number of whistleblowers came forward in good faith.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: We had this report and the facilitator and nothing has been resolved.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: The whistleblowers have raised issues. Those issues were substantiated. The issues raised were about claims and not the actual money paid out because the money was caught in time. The issues raised in terms of claims being made for travel were substantiated.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Where are those whistleblowers now? Are they still in the system? Were they rewarded or punished? Did they leave?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Two of the whistleblowers have been suspended.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I will come back to that. The witness might not know this because it refers to the consolidated report and financial statements for Limerick on page 6. The university paid a former service provider €209,000 in connection with the termination of its appointment to the university. Are the witnesses aware of that or will I leave the question for witnesses from Limerick?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I will leave it for Limerick.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: What publication or published report?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: My question was on published recommendations or a published report.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: First, educational procurement services, EPSs, are part of the research grants. What are educational procurement services?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Second, capital investment is extremely low at approximately 4%, which is a point I meant to make. On capital, we have an extraordinary situation in Galway where a hotel remained derelict for a very long time. It would have been ideal accommodation for the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT. It was never bought. It has been bought now. That was an absolute scandal. A building...

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: No. My question is what the witnesses have carried out as a result of what the Waterford case taught them? Have they looked at all the other third level colleges in the country?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Is Dr. Love happy that this is not happening in Mayo, Galway, Dundalk, Limerick or Cork?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: No. I am asking about two issues. I am asking about what the Deputy raised in regard to Waterford separately from the other issue. There are issues of conflict of interest.

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I am specifically asking Dr. Love what he has learned or is he saying that this just arose in this area and it is not in any of the other third level institutions?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Has Dr. Love checked that? That is my question. We have many protocols, in fairness-----

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Has Dr. Love checked? I am sorry but I will be stopped shortly. Has Dr. Love checked the other third level institutions in regard to conflicts of interest or other matters arising similar to what has arisen in Waterford?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Have the presidents of the various colleges signed off that there is no conflict of interest among any of their staff and that there are no issues arising in companies? Has Dr. Love got that confirmation?

Public Accounts Committee: HEA - Financial Statement 2015 (29 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Would Dr. Love not think that would be his top priority in view of what has emerged from Waterford?