Results 12,381-12,400 of 20,094 for speaker:Brian Stanley

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: I think we were all surprised that the board's legal fees ran to more than one third of its budget, in excess of €8 million. In fairness, the board seems to have been on the losing side most of the time in the more recent court cases. No. 733B, from the Department of Health, dated 9 July 2021, is a response to our invitation to attend a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: I thank the Deputy. Committee members appreciate there are matters that are commercially sensitive. We all understand that. However, I fail to understand why we cannot be informed on key issues such as estimated dates to set out a timeline for this project. We should also be informed of an estimated cost. I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime. If you were building a back...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: The Deputy's point on construction inflation costs is valid.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: There is a proposal that we request information and that we ask members of the hospital board and representatives from the Department of Health before the committee. The information we are requesting relates to a timeline for progressing work and details on construction inflation. It really worries me that the hospital board and Department of Health do not know at this time - on 21...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: I have just noticed that at the very end of Eamonn Quinn's letter he says, "The Department is aware that the ... [National Paediatric Hospital Development Board] is preparing briefing material for the Committee and, considering that, will defer to that submission by the NPHDB [which is the board], rather than providing a separate briefing." Notwithstanding that, I think we will look for the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: Mr. McCarthy might have information on that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: When we have that audit report, we should have the Department and the hospital board before the committee. Meanwhile, we will look for that information the committee has requested. Is everyone happy with that? No. 736B, from Ms Katherine Licken, Secretary General of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, dated 14 July 2021, provides information requested by...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: The Deputy is referring to correspondence No. 741. We will come to that because we need to discuss a number of issues in that, including the one the Deputy referred to. Does anyone else wish to speak on No. 736?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: This one specifically deals with the engagement of contractors and the Secretary General's response. No. 741 contains substantial pieces of information.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: It is agreed that we note and publish that. Nos. 737 to 740, inclusive, concern Dundalk ice rink, a matter which was brought to the attention of the committee by Deputy Andrews. I propose that we take these items together. Is that agreed? Agreed. This is an important issue as we do not have a permanent ice rink facility in this State and Dundalk ice rink has been unused and falling...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: Will Deputy Munster outline what she is proposing?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: If it is agreed by the committee, we will forward the correspondence to the Department and DkIT to see what they have to say about what the Irish Ice Hockey Association has outlined in its letter. I propose also to publish the correspondence we received from the bodies that are accountable to the committee and write to Sport Ireland for an update on the feasibility of the development of a...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: If it is agreed by the members, we can forward it to the sports committee. No. 741B, dated 12 July 2021, is from Ms Vivienne Flood, head of public affairs, RTÉ, and provides information requested by the committee on a range of issues. No. 754B, dated 30 July 2021, is also from RTÉ. I propose we take the two together. Part of the information requested by the committee on a...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: We will look for that information. We will also notify RTE that we wish to have it before the committee. Hopefully, the information regarding the Department of Social Protection and any information that comes to light as a result of that will be available by that time. Is that agreed? Agreed. No. 744 is correspondence from Mr. Niall Burgess, Secretary General of the Department of...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: In terms of what has been provided to the consortium in the West Bank and the funds, if it is agreed by the committee, we will look for an update on the current situation. Is that agreed? Agreed. No. 745B is from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, dated 21 July 2021, providing information requested by the committee on the national strategy...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: Does Deputy Munster wish to comment?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: In terms of information, the Deputy has asked a relevant question. The Minister has come out in recent days, and, as I understand it, has said that there is nothing to worry about and there will not be blackouts. However, we know that on those frosty, dark nights, the wind does not blow, so there are no wind turbines moving. We also know that there is no sun on those nights, so the solar...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: As elective representatives on the Committee of Public Accounts, it would be remiss of us to not ask a question about the cost of temporary generation of electricity with these interim solutions that will be implemented. We are concerned about continuity of supply. I take on board Deputy Catherine Murphy’s point that this is an issue for energy committee. Perhaps we should forward...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: I suggest that we notify the energy committee of our concerns and forward our correspondence to it. I also suggest we bring to the attention of the Minister our concerns about the costs, ask what the cost is and raise our concerns about the continuity of supply. The next correspondence is No. 747B from Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú, Secretary General of the Department of Education,...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (21 Sep 2021)

Brian Stanley: My understanding from the correspondence is that Caranua is now within Department of Education. The Department has taken over its function. It is awaiting legislation on the wind-up of Caranua, which all of us here have a responsibility to get through the House. Members of this committee were hoping to see that legislation earlier this year. We need to start looking for that legislation...