Results 8,261-8,280 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yesterday and again today, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar, expressed continued confidence in the Garda Commissioner. The Tánaiste does so in the wake of damning documentation presented by the head of Garda human resources, Mr. John Barrett, to the Committee of Public Accounts. This documentation substantiates Mr. Barrett's contradiction of...

Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste talks a great deal about reform.

Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: She talks about raising morale but she does not mean it.

Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: She is bluffing. When will the Tánaiste stop bluffing? When will she remove the Commssioner and begin that process of reform? That is what she must do. Will she do it?

Leaders' Questions (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Tánaiste's response is ironic. She talks of accountability but she resolutely refuses to take the first action of accountability, which is to hold the boss - the Commissioner - to account. She will not do that. Let me say, as a member of the Committee of Public Accounts, that we are well conversant with our role and our responsibilities. Let me reiterate: we will get to the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Before we proceed with the business of the committee, I am sure we all wish to extend our condolences to the Chairman on the loss of his mother. We convey to him our sympathy and solidarity at this time.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is very welcome news. At the hearing in question we referred to the need for a fresh inquiry. I wonder if the Department proposes to provide us with the terms of reference. It would be appropriate to do so, all things considered. The Department might also allow us the facility to offer some reflections on the terms of reference. The issue has been ongoing for some time and the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am a bit puzzled about the legal advice, although maybe it is no harm. A precedent for hearing directly from a whistleblower has been set. The person voluntarily came before the committee at his or her own request. The person to whom I refer is Sergeant Maurice McCabe. The session was in private because there were big concerns at the time about Sergeant McCabe's own legal protections,...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----in accordance with her request.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: My understanding is that they can be available to members.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: On that point of order, I agree with the Deputy that we should not use inflammatory or judgmental language.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: There is a reason documents are dated, and it is to verify the facts as presented on that date. It is as a matter of fact misleading to present the facts in that way, not least as I understood from last week's hearing that it was very late in the day when the Comptroller and Auditor General was alerted to the facts of what was happening in Templemore. I do not say that with the view that we...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: -----but dates must mean something.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I remind the committee that the issues around the public domain and the matters of public concern were unearthed in this committee room. This is clearly not a court of law, but it clearly is the Committee of Public Accounts of the Oireachtas and is regularly cited as the most influential and powerful committee of the Oireachtas. Vested in us is the responsibility to follow the money from a...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Was that after a request from the Comptroller and Auditor General?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriations Account (Resumed)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Resumed)
Chapter 6 - Procurement and Management of Contracts for Direct Provision (Resumed) (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: And beat you at football.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriations Account (Resumed)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Resumed)
Chapter 6 - Procurement and Management of Contracts for Direct Provision (Resumed) (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank the witnesses for their forbearance and will keep it as tight as possible. Therefore, I would appreciate clear, concise, non-rambling answers. I wish to return to the issue of bank accounts and the clearance required under the 2005 Act. Will Mr. Waters tell me what the procedure is or who the go-to person is in his Department to seek that sanction?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriations Account (Resumed)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Resumed)
Chapter 6 - Procurement and Management of Contracts for Direct Provision (Resumed) (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: I think the gentlemen and ladies are perhaps being a little disingenuous with us or else their recollections are not great. They have not been in a position to shed any light on the business of sanctioning accounts, of which there were approximately 50, some of which go back, which I accept. However, they were in receipt of the interim audit report. Which of them read it on behalf of the rest?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriations Account (Resumed)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Resumed)
Chapter 6 - Procurement and Management of Contracts for Direct Provision (Resumed) (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: Has Mr. Waters also read it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriations Account (Resumed)
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality (Resumed)
Chapter 6 - Procurement and Management of Contracts for Direct Provision (Resumed) (11 May 2017)

Mary Lou McDonald: They will have noticed that on page 23 it cites the 2005 legislation and the necessity to seek the consent of the Minister. It states: "In 2015 a bank account (Garda Student Sport BOI) was opened without such consent being obtained". Will the witnesses, please, explain that to me? They have read the report and I am sure they did not miss that section of it. Whatever about other accounts,...