Results 14,261-14,280 of 26,396 for speaker:David Cullinane
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Did it pay for any of them?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Why did it pay for that person's party? Why was the person so special that €13,000 had to be spent? If 100 people have retired from the organisation, why was one person singled out in paying the cost of a retirement party of €13,000?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: I am not asking about the standard. Facts are facts. A total of 100 people left the organisation. If there were retirement parties, 99 paid for their own retirement gig. A collection might have been made by staff members, as happens in any organisation, and there might have been a token gesture. However, of all those who retired, one person was singled out in holding a reception that cost...
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Why was it a good use of taxpayers' money in doing it for one person?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Mr. Gallagher was there at the time, was he not?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: That is an understatement. We can accept that. I am accepting that Dr. Love has examined the matter and produced a report. I accept fully that he should be given time to bring it to the board which will make a decision on what will happen then. Dr. Love has said €13,000 was spent, of which the HEA felt about €6,000 was outside the rules. Without pre-empting what the board...
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: It would have no consequence whatsoever for the institute, given its budget. The bottom line is that the taxpayer paid for this €13,000 event, €6,000 of which was outside the rules. It does not matter. The money can be moved around from the HEA to an institute or a university, but the fact remains that €6,000 was spent in an inappropriate way. Is there any avenue open...
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: But not from the institute. Is there any way to ensure neither the taxpayer nor any public body will be liable for the €6,000?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: That is my point. At the end of the day, it does not matter whether the HEA or the institute pays for it; a public body is still going to foot the bill, irrespective of what the board does. Is that correct?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Dr. Love is missing my point entirely. I think he understands what I am saying. It does not matter whether the HEA or the university pay for it. If a public body pays for it-----
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: It really is no sanction whatsoever. That is part of the problem in dealing with all of these issues. It might seem a little frivolous because in this case the amount is only €13,000. A report was produced and an examination carried out. It was found that €6,000 was outside the spending guidelines, but the taxpayer has to foot the bill anyway. There is no sanction for...
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: One of the things in the letter we have just received leads me on to my next set of questions. I approve of point 5, that in May 2018 potential cost savings in hosting events in-house are being reviewed. Doing more in-house and saving money is a good idea. We know from our own work that €150 million of taxpayers' money was spent on private consultant and legal fees over six years by...
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: We found that to be an astounding figure. I will use Cork Institute of Technology as an example because we have a year by year breakdown of how that money was spent. In the spirit of doing more in-house, will Dr. O'Connor tell me what PR section, unit or body the institute has?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Is it just one person?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Is it a private company?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Therefore, there is nobody directly employed. The work is outsourced.
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: What type of HR unit does the institute have? How is it structured and how many people are in it?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Therefore, there is a head.
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: How many others are employed in the unit?
- Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2016: Higher Education Authority, University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology (24 May 2018)
David Cullinane: Is there an IT section?