Results 5,441-5,460 of 34,616 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: If it is on a Thursday, the quorum will already be established. If there are ten of us or three of us, the meeting can proceed. That is why I am suggesting a Thursday. I thank Mr. Morgan for his continued communication with the committee on this issue. Obviously, he has a lot of experience. The next correspondence is No. 2178 C, from the European Lotto Betting Association, which is...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: It does.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: It is stated the Department of Education and Skills has the final decision regarding the acquisition of the property in any event. This is only at the end of the process. The price might have been pushed up excessively by the time it gets there. The Department takes the point but states that legally it cannot prevent bodies from bidding. We have made the point very clearly.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: It looks weird.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: We have the ability to write back on this. The Deputy is saying that-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: A capital projects division in the Department should know what is going on.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: We are talking about the Department of Education and Skills at the moment.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: It could happen elsewhere as well. We will deal with education for now. We will write back on that basis, asking the Department to have some liaison or monitoring ability in respect of capital acquisitions above a certain figure, be it €5 million or €10 million. We are not talking about small acquisitions.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: Bidding against each other.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: We will write back on foot of this. Part of this process is that we do not necessarily accept or agree with every response we get from the Minister. That is his response and it is not as strong as we would have liked. He says he is captured by the legislation and cannot prevent them, but we are saying some mechanism is required in the Department for a level of liaison. It is about...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: We are dealing with the education area now. The HEA has a role as well. We will write back to the Department. The point is well made. What we have suggested might be complicated but is very reasonable. All of us could probably find a myriad of cases.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: I can give a simpler, practical example that we all will understand. In every town and city in Ireland there are various approved housing bodies funded by the State competing with each other to buy sites so they can build their houses and units. They are driving up the prices. It is happening everywhere now. Approved housing bodies and local authorities are often competing against each...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: We have done our bit for the moment. I ask the Members of the Oireachtas to follow up on this matter through mechanisms other than this committee because we will be told it is not the business of the Committee of Public Accounts. It is, because it affects costs. I outlined it to put it on the record. That was the value for money report. We also spoke about a separate report. The...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: I apologise for being distracted.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: At our last meeting, we had a note from the National Treatment Purchase Fund stating the review of the system of pricing under the nursing home support scheme was being finalised to be submitted to the Minister two weeks ago. I understand that is done. That is the pricing report which is separate from the bigger report.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: I may have missed the Deputy mentioning a part of the Department of Health's reply to the value for money review. The Department says that, as part of this work, it is proposed that there will be between 600 and 900 hours of direct contact with residents during the course of this study. I think that is what the Deputy is referring to.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: Okay. The Department needs to be careful and approach that in the appropriate manner.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: It is on page 12 of correspondence 2151. It starts on page 11.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: Yes, 2151. We will say that is moving. Many people are inquiring about that value for money report and it is useful to put out information when we have it. The next recommendation was that the HSE take steps to develop a protocol to ensure that all residents of nursing homes can avail of medical services when residing in nursing homes. That recommendation is noted. This is about the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (30 May 2019)

Seán Fleming: Maybe I will put it in myself. I will think about it, seeing as I raised it. Ireland's national debt stood at approximately €198.7 billion at the end of 2017. The committee had said that this remains at a very high level. The NTMA has noted this. It does not agree with the committee's conclusion but has noted it. That debate goes on.