Results 4,941-4,960 of 26,433 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: They would come back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: Mr. Watt gave a very positive opening statement about the work of the Civil Service. The other side of that is when it fails. In his opening statement he said that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform manages the Government's eTenders platform, that it delivers procurement solutions for public bodies and so on. In the context of what he stated, he must reflect on the enormous...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: I did not say that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: When you-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: I wish to go beyond the emotion and get into the factual remedy. We learn from all our mistakes. For me the children's hospital was just handled wrongly from start to finish. We have our views on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: I am not saying that every contract is wrong. When they go wrong, my God do they go wrong. We can look at the electronic voting machines and all the stuff that happened in the past. Under a different presentation they happen again. The children's hospital and the Oireachtas printer are examples. I acknowledge that the Department is not responsible for the printer. Who in the name of God...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: -----the SME sector. That Mr. Watt, as a senior civil servant, would give such direct advice to those concerned on broadband is to be admired but their continuing to ignore that advice must surely be disappointing for him and his officials. I am not trying to draw him into a conflict, I am trying to understand how anyone could put €3 billion, or whatever the sum is, into a project...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: This has gone on for ten or 15 years. Mr. Watt is the paymaster. I would say to the HSE that it should get it together or not get its money. Someone has to take charge. Mr. Watt spoke about leadership. There is no leadership. The public system is almost in a collapsed state right now. In the private system, services operate like clockwork. The most basic thing that makes that happen...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: Mr. Watt should not mind that. I am just saying it cannot go on the way it is going. What is the Department doing to wake up the political system or change its system? The Department is part of the permanent government. Mr. Watt can dress it up whatever way he likes but he is here for good or for as long as his contract lasts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: We can do whatever we want in here and feel great about huffing and puffing in the Chamber but Mr. Watt is the guy with the pen and the power to insist that someone do something about this. What is his view on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: Deputy Paul Murphy asked Mr. Watt about the fob-in system here and about transparency. Mr. Watt said this is not the responsibility of his Department because the commission is independent. Then Deputy Paul Murphy asked about civil servants fobbing in. Does Mr. Watt fob in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: It is amazing, is it not? I fob in. I do not mind doing it; I am just thinking of the next generation of politicians. I am gauged for three days per week but not on the other four when I fob in at my constituency office or when I do this, that or the other. I am not talking about me but about everybody. Given that the money Mr. Watt talks about goes to the commission, it is wrong that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: I understand that but I am saying that the Department should since it is taxpayers' money and since the Department is responsible for its administration. That there is no role shows how wrong the whole process is. I was an employer and know how staff must be managed and how things must be dealt with. The systems in here are geared for failure but nobody wants to change them. I heard on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: I never fobbed in my life and still managed to do a 70-hour week. I am sure there are many like me in this place. I do believe the Department should have some sort of input.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: I am conscious that Mr. Watt has another meeting to attend. Senators Paddy Burke and Rose Conway-Walsh have questions. Does Mr. Watt have the time to take their questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: We are due to finish at 4 p.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: The witnesses can take the point and come back to us with some detail. Senator Horkan raised the matter of civil or public servants being fired or disciplined. Could Mr. Watt send data on that to the committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: It would give us an idea.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion (3 Dec 2019)

John McGuinness: I have another point of clarification and I ask Mr. Watt to come back to us on it. When I asked him whether he fobbed in, I should not have personalised it. In the tier of civil servants, I want to know who does and who does not.