Results 30,521-30,540 of 33,581 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I have no difficulty with that, but the answer has been given. We have been told it was given to the Garda when it was completed. That is what we were told. We were told this report was given to the Garda when it was completed. It has been confirmed that this was in July. Now Mr. O'Brien is asking for more time. I am asking factual questions.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: It is only the process, Chair.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: All right.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: That is okay. It is difficult to remain focused. I am asking very specific questions that are factual. Was the report changed in any way as a result of the legal challenges?

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: All right. I would like to ask about the disciplinary procedure. Mr. O'Brien has given us two letters and an opening statement. He has said that there "may" be a disciplinary process. Is that right?

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: There "may" be such a process. When Mr. O'Brien gave evidence subsequently, he said that it has started. He can correct me if I am wrong.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: When did it start?

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: In February.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Okay. Why could the disciplinary procedure not have started earlier than this?

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: All right. Does that not invite a judgment on my part? I am not attributing fault when I speak about the process being delayed. I am simply talking about a delayed process here now. Grace was removed in 2009. We had our first report, separate from an internal review, in 2012. We are now in 2017 and the disciplinary process "may" start. Is there not an inbuilt self-serving idea that if...

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I would like to raise two more items. Deputy Kelly mentioned the whistleblowers. I can tell him what page this is on. Mr. O'Brien is quoted on page 44 of the transcript. I think it is important for us to do this publicly. I am quoting Mr. O'Brien's words:It is clear that the whistleblowers have done a significant service through their protected disclosure in 2009, which has led to the...

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I think it is very important that we say that. Would there have been any inquiry without the whistleblowers?

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: The comments I have quoted from the transcript were made after the involvement of the whistleblowers was raised by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, who said:I shall ask my final question. The whistleblowers have been fairly damning in their description of the HSE. They feel that they were ignored, set aside, undermined and their professional credibility called into question. That was their...

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Correction of Record of Meeting of 2 February 2016 (23 Mar 2017)

Catherine Connolly: We will leave that for another day. I will conclude by going back to what I started with. Deputy Cullinane picked up on this. I asked Mr. O'Brien who was still in the service. We finally got around and Mr. O'Brien identified that they have gone on to Tusla. It has taken quite a process to establish that.