Results 12,001-12,020 of 26,448 for speaker:David Cullinane

Tributes on Retirement of Member of Staff (12 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: I have not had the same level of engagement that party leaders would have had with Patricia but I recognise, and we in this House all know, that she has been a very professional and committed public servant for a long number of years. The Ceann Comhairle and others have outlined the different roles that she has held in the Oireachtas. She has been a very honourable and decent public...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: Our proposal-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: The Tánaiste quite rightly described the joint instrument as a legal instrument which has a legal effect and impact. People outside this Chamber want to know that the legal meaning of the backstop agreed last December and since, on which the Dáil voted and under which the North cannot be unilaterally taken out of the customs union and Single Market unless and until something of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: Since the Brexit referendum result became clear almost three years ago, Sinn Féin has been crystal clear in stating that the approach from the Government and the European Union has to be guided and underpinned by the very obvious fact that people in the North voted to stay in the European Union. That vote has to be recognised and, in our view, respected. My party's approach to Brexit...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: I do not accept that at all. It is very unsatisfactory that Mr. Quinn is not here today. My first comment in response to the Chairman's observation is we need to be careful we do not undermine our own work. The committee, as a committee, decides who to invite and when to invite them. We decided as a committee that we would invite Mr. Quinn to attend today with the Secretary General of the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: Yes, and Mr. Quinn.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: Sorry, it was to Mr. Watt, but we had been in correspondence with Mr. Quinn also. With regard to the invitation to the meeting we specifically asked for Mr. Quinn. That is a matter for the committee. It is not a matter for Mr. Watt. Neither is it a matter for the Chairman to unilaterally decide-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: -----when it is best for Mr. Quinn to appear before the committee. I have no difficulty if he wants to come in on two occasions, if the Department and the board come before the committee again. If Mr. Quinn wants to come before the committee again as a board member that is fine but we were looking for him as the head of the Office of Government Procurement and somebody who also sat on the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: That is very literal.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: It is a very literal interpretation.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: It is progress, in fairness.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: This is quite unusual and I normally would not do this. Given what has been reported, however, this needs to be aired here. A journalist tweeted that he overheard Mr. Watt, following a conversation with the Chair outside of this room, state that the Chair should control the mob, that mob being the Members of this committee. I think that is outrageous, if that is the case. I am stating...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: That is outrageous and unacceptable, if it was said. It sets a bad scene now for this meeting. It has already been sullied by the fact that the person we wanted to appear before the committee is not here. The Chair also has a duty to protect Members of this committee. Did the Chairman meet Mr. Watt?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: Just before this meeting?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: We should all be allowed to make a contribution.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: I do not want to hold the meeting up but I also do not want people to be under any misapprehension that members of this committee do not understand the rules. We perfectly understand the rule that the Accounting Officer is Mr. Watt. He can come on his own but Accounting Officers often bring officials with them to help. We have had Accounting Officers from universities and institutes of...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: I was very careful to note that this comment was reported. Nobody in the committee heard it. We were in here doing our business. It was reported by a very responsible journalist that Mr. Watt was quoted as saying that the Chair, Deputy Fleming, "has to control the mob", the mob being members of this committee. If that was the case it would be deeply unsatisfactory.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: So Mr. Watt did say it.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: That sounds to me like Mr. Watt did say it.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement (7 Mar 2019)

David Cullinane: That is not good enough.