Results 11,761-11,780 of 26,448 for speaker:David Cullinane

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: My concern is that RTÉ could accept on a non-prejudice basis that there was an issue and simply move people onto new contracts, sidestepping the fact this was potentially done intentionally and there was a practice within the organisation to have people on bogus self-employment contracts. If that was the case, it was an illegal practice and, second, there are taxation and Revenue...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: However, I understand Revenue undertook a review into the tax affairs of certain consultants.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: To protect the committee, I wish to clarify that we are not saying there was such practice taking place in RTÉ, but there are allegations from several staff members that there was and that it was done deliberately, which is what led to this examination. We want the facts to be established. If it is established that there was intentional practice to that effect, there are consequences...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: Go raibh maith agat. I welcome Mr. Harris and wish him well in his role. Unfortunately, we have had a high turnover of Garda Commissioners and Ministers for Justice and Equality, and much of that was down to cultural and organisational issues we had in an Garda Síochána, as I am sure Mr. Harris is aware. We are hoping the changes that were promised are being delivered, and some...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: I thank Mr. Nugent for that.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: We hope not.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: I welcome that Mr. Harris put a heavy emphasis in his opening statement on his responsibility as the Accounting Officer in relation to financial governance. That would be warmly welcomed by this committee because it is our core function, but I imagine he would also put the same emphasis on his responsibility in relation to transparency, good governance and accountability. In that vein, GSOC...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: Mr. Harris obviously is on the opposite end of the argument if GSOC is saying that it finds it impossible to do its job, which is to hold An Garda Síochána accountable, and there is a difficulty from its perspective. Mr. Harris might have a different perspective, but GSOC is the independent body and it took a lot for it to come out and say in the very clear, stark terms it did that...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: I accept Mr. Harris's response, but while he may see those things as achievable, GSOC obviously has a concern that they are not being achieved or delivered. I would like to move on to the related issue of accountability. Yesterday, Mr. Harris made reference to the setting up of an anti-corruption unit, which on the face of it looks like the Garda investigating the Garda. Did Mr. Harris...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: Is it about gardaí investigating gardaí?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: It is not missing the point to say that in seeking out corruption it is international best practice for the work not to be done by people within the force but by an independent body. As GSOC is the independent body, why did the Garda not use its remit? Why did it set up an internal structure in which gardaí would investigate gardaí?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: Mr. Harris is talking about a co-operative approach.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: Did it consult GSOC in advance of making the statement on the anti-corruption unit? What was the force's level of engagement with GSOC, given that it is the independent body that oversees An Garda Síochána and deals with wrongdoing?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: I understand that, but I am asking if the force consulted GSOC on the establishment of the unit.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: That is a mistake. Consulting GSOC was something the Garda should have done before establishing the unit. The serious issues GSOC has raised in recent days add to my belief. I spoke to the Chairman about a particular case in advance of the meeting. I do not want to name an individual, even though it is a case that was in the public domain and before the courts before being dropped. A...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: How many cases have there been in recent years of civilians or members of An Garda Síochána being arrested for suspected fraud related to sick notes? I believe a small number of sick notes were involved in this case. Is it normal practice or do HR issues come into play?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: I am asking if it is peculiar to arrest someone on the basis of sick notes, rather than go through HR mechanisms. Michael Clifford covered the story in the the Irish Examinerand wrote that disturbing questions arose in the case. The individual in question had made a complaint of bullying within Store Street Garda station and, within three weeks of making the complaint, was arrested because...

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: Does that mean the Garda has conducted an examination of the case? Has Mr. Harris examined the claims made by the individual in question?

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: What is an exit survey? It is something I have heard mentioned a couple of times.

Public Accounts Committee: 2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána
Chapter 7 - Management of Overtime Expenditure in An Garda Síochána (9 May 2019)

David Cullinane: If the witnesses do not have the information to hand on exit surveys by civilians who worked in Store Street Garda station, can it be forwarded to the committee? Can they forward to us the number of cases which involved bullying issues?