Results 10,681-10,700 of 26,430 for speaker:David Cullinane

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: That is extraordinary.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: So a third do not appear.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: I will stop the witness there-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: Let us say an individual is appearing before the court. I accept the Department's comment that a balance must be struck between imposing a custodial sentence, with the associated cost to the Exchequer and the fairness involved, and a fine along with community service or other options. A fine notice is given as a consequence of a court appearance and the person would be obliged to pay the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: What is the timeframe?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: Okay. On the day the judge would say the person would have to be back before court by a certain date.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: Yes. Is it the case that if the person does not come back on the day-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: The judge would have no remedy.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: How many times has that happened?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: Yes. Does that happen?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: I imagine it does not happen very often. Would it be fair to say that in most of those cases, the person just gets off scot free?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: I understand that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: Is it the reason the collection is down from €10 million to €7 million?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: What other reasons are there?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: It is primarily the reason so it is a big problem.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: If the Courts Service has highlighted this as an issue, as the witnesses have indicated, to whom has it highlighted the matter? Was it the Department?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: I came in late and I apologise for that but Mr. Fallon said a high-level group is in place. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: When is it expected to report on this or make some decisions?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: We are not looking to assign blame today but we want to get a resolution. There is a high-level group in place. People glaze over in general when they hear of a high-level group having multiple meetings. We want a resolution and the lacunae in the law need to be filled or corrected. I hope that will happen. It is something on which the committee should keep an eye.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 22: Courts Service (14 Nov 2019)

David Cullinane: To be fair there are very senior representatives of the State on the high-level group. I accept that. The witnesses have been fair and a number of meetings have taken place, with one more due. I imagine there is an acceptance in the group that there must be urgency in this.