Results 10,701-10,720 of 20,765 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: Will the Chairman also have a word with the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine because I think it is ridiculous that the latter is not dealing with this issue?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: If we finish early we could start early.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: My first question was on the special reports. I am glad to hear the response on school transport. We have committed to bringing CIE back very soon after the summer recess.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: It may not take a full day but it is fresh in our minds. Can we do it as early as possible?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: We need to plough on today.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: I have three points. I agree with the ruling of the Chair. It is extraordinary to be handed this letter with this request. It is no secret that this report will be published in the coming days or week. Second, the letter makes reference to the media. I have not seen anything in the media relating to any extracts from this report. We have been very clear in how we have done our work on...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: Also the breath tests.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: I do not think that will work for the simple reason that the middle session will be one of the longer sessions. We have the following options: first, in the overlap area, the Chairman might allow us to question each organisation as part of the normal round of questioning.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: Otherwise, the two organisations would have to remain for the whole day, and we are not going to do that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: If the Deputy drops-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: If the Deputy drops eight years off, it she will be there.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: I thank the witnesses. I will do a quick-fire round here and will jump from issue to issue because the Chairman is cracking the whip. On the issue of the Dräger machines, I understand that every machine has to be reassessed and recalibrated after six months. Does that always happen?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: Are there any machines that do not end up going back after six months?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: I understand that. These are really quick-fire questions because I have many things to get through. Does it ever happen that even after Mr. Finn's office sends out these notes, some areas do not recalibrate their machines?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: If a machine has be recalibrated after six months, and if Mr. Finn's office sends out notes to this effect, what guarantees do we have that every machine in every individual case was in fact recalibrated? What guarantee do we have that the accuracy of an individual breath test is not jeopardised, given that the machine in question may not have been recalibrated? Does the witness get that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: It keeps a date and knows when six months have passed?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: Can we be absolutely certain from An Garda Síochána that every single device used in every single case in this country in the last few years had been recalibrated after six months?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: The fact that Mr Finn cannot tell us makes me very nervous. Does this not jeopardise the prosecution of a whole range of cases? As we sit here at the Committee of Public Accounts, we cannot guarantee that every device used to find out if people are over the alcohol limit has been calibrated.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: I know that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (13 Jul 2017)

Alan Kelly: Fair enough. What happens, however, if somebody is over the limit and an uncalibrated machine reports that he or she is under the limit? An Garda Síochána will not proceed to the next stage.