Results 12,221-12,240 of 26,804 for speaker:John McGuinness

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: We set that out and we put it on record last week. The incoming committee can decide whether to pursue the matter, but there is a substantial body of information that would lead me to believe that any incoming committee would at least take an interest in it at the very beginning and determine what they are going to do.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: We can. We did pursue it up to now and I see no reason, pushing out the boundaries a little again, that the new committee would not be able to deal with it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: No. 3B.1 relates to correspondence from Deputy Costello regarding Regent Catering Services. We will note that and forward it to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Revenue Commissioners for an investigation into the matters raised by Mr. Brown. Is that agreed?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: No. 3B.2 relates to correspondence, dated 21 January 2016, from the HSE regarding the myGP.iewebsite, to be noted and forwarded to Deputy Sean Fleming, who raised the issue. No. 3B.3 relates to correspondence, dated 21 January 2016, received from Mr. Brian Cullen regarding land owned by Fingal County Council. This is to be noted and, as local authorities do not fall within the remit of the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: These accounts are to be noted. Is there any other business?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: There was a reply from the Department. It is holding its position, which is effectively that it is not prepared to provide for the loss. I know the Deputy has raised this matter on numerous occasions at this committee since his appointment and the members have discussed it in detail, but the response from the Department is that it is holding its line in this context.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: The committee can discuss whatever the Deputy might suggest and we can make the recommendation. I recall the debate in the House and, previous to that, at committee and so on, at the very beginning of this issue. I support the Deputy in what he is attempting to achieve, which is to have the case recognised and payment made by the Department. The committee could support that and add weight...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: The special report is dated 14 December 2009, and since then Members of the House have been pretty supportive of the report and of the compensation being paid. If the Deputy wants to propose that we support the Ombudsman's report and request that compensation be paid, we can take that action today and make that recommendation.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: We will ask the members.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: I support the proposition on the basis of the Ombudsman's report dating back to 2009 and also on the fact that, in its report of 20 October 2010, the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food decided that it was not in a position to recommend an acceptance of the Ombudsman's special report on the Houses of the Oireachtas. I hold that there was political interference in that...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: I take it that the committee is in full support of the Ombudsman's recommendation and that it should disregard any consideration of the decision taken on 20 October 2010 by that committee. We will ask the clerk to forward that view to that Government, and that is the direct line to take. If there is no other business, we will now deal with today's business.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: Yes. We will ask that the appropriate officials in the HSE who dealt with this case and those at the level responsible for making the apology come before us, to make everything clear, with whoever represents the HSE and Mr. Tony O'Brien.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: He is being invited. He is the Accounting Officer.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: Exactly.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: Under any other business, while we are waiting for the witnesses, we asked for a report from both the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on the funding of the Central Access Scheme, CAS, for Kilkenny, which is in my constituency. I suggest that we ask them for a review of that in light of the application being made...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: We asked for that last week as well.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: We have not had a response to that yet so we have asked again.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Chapter 13 - The Development of Eircode, the National Postcode System (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: I welcome the witnesses. Before we begin, I ask members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to please turn off their mobile phones, because they interfere with the sound quality of the transmission of the meeting. I advise witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease...

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Chapter 13 - The Development of Eircode, the National Postcode System (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: I welcome Ms Austin from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I ask Mr. McCarthy to make his opening statement.

Public Accounts Committee: 2014 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Chapter 13 - The Development of Eircode, the National Postcode System (28 Jan 2016)

John McGuinness: Thank you, Mr. Griffin. May we publish your statement, please?