Results 901-920 of 2,564 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: You were aware.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Did the term "consultancy fees" not jump out at you at that point?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thought you raised the invoices in May 2021 and 2022.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: If your office, that you obviously oversee, knew that invoices pertaining to the payment of Mr. Tubridy containing the phrase "consultancy fees" had been raised, and I am not sure what Mr. Tubridy would be providing consultancy for, would that not have raised flags?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: But you knew the invoices pertained to the payment of Mr. Tubridy.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: You say you did not see the invoices directly yourself. Again, I think it is seriously concerning that there was such a lack of oversight within your office. Clearly, there were not the checks and balances to see that. I think it beggars belief, to be honest, that the term "consultancy fees" on an invoice that pertained to the payment of Mr. Tubridy was not flagged at the time.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Mr. Collins, I certainly would consider €150,000 a lot of money. It is significant. Would you consider that a significant amount?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The reason I picked that amount is that I think that is what the two invoices of May and July we are talking about added up to. As Chief Financial Officer, CFO, that was completely outside your remit and you had no oversight whatsoever of payments of that scale.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: Discussion (28 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: To me, it is a case of laying all the blame at the door of the Director General. I think that clearly what has been demonstrated here is a lack of oversight and a lack of checks and balances, including from the CFO, pertaining to the years that you were there from 2020 to 2022. That is for something that is apparent to me. I will finish because I am out of time. I suppose this is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 39. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under national strategic outcome 8 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30880/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I ask the Minister to provide an overview on the progress to date under national strategic outcome 8 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030 and to make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: One of the areas included under that heading is the roll-out of smart meters. The Minister may not have the figures in front of him and if he does not, that is understandable. It is a big part of transitioning to more sustainable energy in particular. The target is for 2.2 million or 2.25 million smart meters to be rolled out. We are at approximately 1.2 million of them, which is slightly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: The Minister and I will turn on our washing machines as soon as we go home. We will be able to avail of the night rate. To clarify the point I am making, of the 1.5 million-odd meters that have been rolled out so far, only 80,000, or 6%, of them are being used to avail of that cheaper rate. The smart meters are not being used to their capacity and that is because the night rate kicks in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: To be fair to the Minister, the first piece is to put the strategy in place in terms of what outdoor activities we focus on and that we become leaders in. Is it hiking, mountain biking, sailing, kayaking or whale watching? There is obviously an overlap then in Departments because for something like whale watching or sailing, we need pier and harbour infrastructure, which is improving, but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 37. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an overview of the progress made to date under national strategic outcome, NSO, 7 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30879/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Will the Minister provide an overview of the progress made to date under NSO 7 of the National Development Plan 2021-2030 and will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: NSO 7 is a broad area and the Minister tried to focus on various areas of expenditure. Great work is being done in terms of investments. The Minister probably has no idea which area I will focus on, so I will tell him: tourism. There is supposed to be strategic investment in tourism under NSO 7. This overlaps with investment in sports. I firmly believe that Ireland can put itself in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Development Plan (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I was very interested in the Minister's response to Deputy Stanton's question. There seems to be a theme of underspend within the Department of Transport. I understand that part of that probably relates to the fact that a lot of these projects must be shovel-ready. On that note, there is a project that could have a massive benefit nationally, namely the EuroVelo routes. This is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (27 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how many micro-generators are exporting to the grid. [30899/23]