Results 13,661-13,680 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: What is the logic or reasoning behind examining this in the first place? I have no difficulty with scrutinising any set of accounts and if a proposal is made, I will support it. We have the letter from the Accounting Officer. However, the accounts are audited by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and I might put a number of questions to him before we proceed. If his office...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: With respect, the proposal came from the Chairman. We have a great deal to do but let us not rush things either. We have a responsibility to ask questions before we proceed to bring people in, especially if an Accounting Officer has raised concerns himself and written to us. I am, therefore, asking the Comptroller and Auditor General about the work his office has done. Second, my...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: Who does?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: What body scrutinises those?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: That is the Comptroller and Auditor General's audit.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: Is the issue then that the Accounting Officer, or accountable officer, is saying he cannot answer questions because it would be unconstitutional? That seems to be what he is saying. Mr. McCarthy says he audits the accounts in exactly the same way, signs off on them and gives an opinion. I imagine if there were an issue, there would be exchanges between management in Áras an...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: The Comptroller and Auditor General does that in the course of all of the audits of all Departments and we have an opportunity to scrutinise them. The problem here is that we are being told we do not have an opportunity to scrutinise these accounts in the same way due to legal or constitutional issues. Is that not what Mr. Fraser is suggesting?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: That is a suggestion but he is the person saying it and he is the person coming in. We may need to get some clarity on that. Do we have legal advice as to what we can or cannot do and what we can or cannot ask?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: However, he does not have a duty to explain how the money is spent. I imagine he will say he has allocated the money.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: The breakdown.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: That makes perfect sense.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: I am okay with that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: My concern is that this could turn into a sideshow and become an issue between the accountable person, Mr. Fraser and members of this committee, which is of Mr. Fraser's making because his letter was over the top and defensive. He could have approached the matter differently. That said, if we are going to do this, we have to frame it in the right context. The context for me is that it is...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: It is nearly 10 o'clock and we have not got on to CervicalCheck or any of the other issues.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: The reason I do not think the committee needs legal advice at this point is because, if it is going to stick with the controls, I see no reason that is not under our remit.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: I am happy with that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: No.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: I do. It is unfortunate that the committee spent 15 minutes on the first issue, although it had to be done, when this issue is much more important.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: That is my point and I do not want to hog this, but we cannot have 15 minutes of discussion on the first issue when a more important issue, and one that requires a deep dive, is only given a couple of minutes. My issue is that I have read Dr. Scally's report several times and it shows failures in system, processes, procurement and audit, all of which come under the remit of the Committee...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Sep 2018)

David Cullinane: Non-disclosure.