Results 5,261-5,280 of 34,616 for speaker:Seán Fleming
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: We will ask the Comptroller and Auditor General.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: On that point, there is in the health sector provision for the Minister to issue a direction. Several of the health bodies that are audited in the health sector are subject to presenting their accounts in the format directed by the Minister. The Minister has the legal authority to make a direction. Normally, it is not to include the costs of pensions and pension provision. That is not...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: Yes, we will write to the Secretary General of the Department of Health, who is the Accounting Officer, for a copy of the directive and the legislation underpinning this directive. What I found very unusual was that this was done on the last working day before the accounts were sent. It was obviously known that the accounts would present figures showing a deficit of €283 million and...
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: We have already arranged to have representatives of the HSE before us on 11 July to discuss its annual financial statements. I consider this matter so serious that we may have to have an urgent meeting with the Accounting Officer of the Department of Health. This is a new departure and, as Deputy Catherine Murphy stated, if we cannot trust the accounts of the HSE as presented, we have a problem.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: I am speaking now from recollection as I do not have the papers in front of me. My understanding is that hospital consultants had taken a case regarding their remuneration under the 2008 contracts.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: That case was adjudicated on in the High Court on 15 or 16 June 2018.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: That adjudication resulted in the court obliging the HSE to make payments to the hospital consultants. The cost of these payments has been put at €198 million.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: The payment of that sum is being deferred to 2020 or 2021.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: The liability determined by the court in its final decision was incurred in 2018 and should have been in the accounts for 2018. It could have been paid last year and would have been in the accounts, but it has been deferred. It is a liability.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: I did not state that the cashflow was not correct. The payment has not yet been made. I say that so that people understand the position.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: It concerns consultant pay.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: No, it would not. We operate on an accruals basis and that there is a balance sheet showing an organisation's liability.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: The point is that it should have been accrued because the court determined that it should be accrued. That cash flows when it is paid out-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: It has not been paid yet.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: What page is that on?
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: The HSE in previous years made a provision not knowing the outcome.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: No, this committee does not deal with Ministers. That is a matter for the health committee. We only deal with the Accounting Officers and we must try to keep within our remit.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: I am trying to protect the Deputy.
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: Have we teased out this particular topic sufficiently?
- Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jun 2019)
Seán Fleming: The law provides for that.