Results 11,161-11,180 of 26,512 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I apologise, but I also wish to ask about how the OPW measures performance. What are the indicators the OPW has in place for measuring the quality, quantity and timeframes for outputs at strategic levels? What is the methodology used to measure how good a project the Department is funding is performing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The Minister of State might provide us with a note on that and how the Department functions in terms of examining and analysing all these aspects.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I welcome the Minister and his officials. I remind members and witnesses to turn off all mobile phones. I remind members of the longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. The purpose of the meeting is to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I apologise for interrupting the Minister but I ask him to check his mobile phone because there is interference.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Someone has a phone near the desk.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: In his opening statement, the Minister extended an invitation to write in or use this exchange to make suggestions. I tend to use these meetings as best I can to make suggestions. With regard to public service reform, page 31 of the mid-year expenditure report states there is evidence that Ireland has a strong record of efficient use of public funds. This may be the case generally....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: All of what the Minister has said is correct but it does not lead to transparency in the accounts. If money is allocated through the Department, or if the Department oversees the allocation of money through another Department, I expect someone will receive a comprehensive report on how the money is spent. While it is open to the Oireachtas committee to invite in the board, the CEO or the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: With respect, I do not know if the Minister has ever looked at company accounts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: One will never find in the accounts for the school transport system an explanation for costs incurred or information on whether the system is profitable. I have looked at the accounts and could not find that information. On how Government money is spent and accounted for, I refer the Minister to the spending of taxpayers' money on the Galway project which was the subject of a "Prime Time"...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Is the Minister happy with the appointment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I did not say that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: That is twisting my words.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: The point I am making is that greater accountability is required for how taxpayers' money is spent, down to the point where it is spent. That requires reform of the legislation. I am not pointing a finger at a particular Department. I am saying there is a significant lack of oversight of the spending of taxpayers' money and how it is reported to the parent Department and thereafter the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: I am speaking about accountability through a particular office for the spending of a particular amount of money which is quite large. I use the school transport system as an example, but there are others. I have said privately to the Minister that the provision in the legislation which empowers the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine the spending of taxpayers money,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Will it be made up of officials from Departments or will it comprise persons who are competent in the area? Will there be an input from business and other areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Will the members of the commission be appointed by the Minister or will different sectors appoint individuals to it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (29 Sep 2016)

John McGuinness: Might Michael O'Leary be a member of it?