Results 1,421-1,440 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: I wish to express caution in regard to a final account for 2014. It could be along time before that would come before us.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Chairman, I have seen the letter as well like everyone else which has appeared very suddenly. It is quite clear in its assertion in that the author states, “I note that it is envisaged that officials of Irish Water are to be invited to attend the public meeting [of the Committee of Public Accounts]”. That is a very clear statement. I would propose that the way to resolve that...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Can that proposal be agreed?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (23 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: A matter I raised with the Irish Sports Council was the fact that 50% of all the grant funding went to the big three organisations - the Football Association of Ireland, FAI, the Gaelic Athletic Association, GAA, and the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU. Considering the other mechanisms they have for accessing funding, sponsorship and so forth, I asked that it review that and also include a...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: The annual return for 2012 amounted only to €11,000, whereas the projected income was €580,000. It was in light of the latter figure that such a large amount - some €340,000 - was spent on upgrading the car park. Surely, some of the difficulties that would arise could have been foreseen before this vast expenditure was made. Where did the €340,000 for the...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: When was the work done?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Is the car park being used at present? Are fees being charged there?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Is it breaking even?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Will our guests include information on this matter in the report to be supplied to the committee?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: To follow on from the points made, the changeover took place in 2007 and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine took over responsibility. Rossaveal provides an example of an area where there was no transition period and where the previous administration was not in charge. It was entirely within the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. No parking fees...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: The Department upgraded its parking facilities in Rossaveal specifically so it could charge and receive an income from parking. A considerable amount of money was spent in doing so. Did this money come from the Department or was it from other resources? Why is it not realising the funds from parking which were envisaged? Does the Department have different visions for parking at different...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: A total of €340,000 was spent on upgrading the car parking facilities.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Was a business plan produced on this upgrade?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Was the parallel car park already in place or was it developed subsequently? How did the Department envisage spending so much money, €340,000, upgrading the car park which has produced little or nothing and is in competition with another car park which seems to be getting all the business?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: The question is, though, if there is a statutory charge, how can one not impose it? Who has the discretion to impose an informal and non-statutory charge? Surely the law has to be implemented in this matter, even with the difficulties that have been outlined. So much more money would have been collected if the statutory charge was imposed. How can a decision be made - no matter what the...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: Yes. The flat rate charge was a non-statutory charge that was actually used, but there is a statutory charge which was not applied.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: That would be in the region of at least 700 or 800 vessels, maybe 1,000 vessels. We are not talking about a small number of vessels, and generally they would be larger vessels.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: A figure of 5% is not landed into Ireland.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: To be clear about Dingle, are we relegating the problem to there?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report 82 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Oct 2014)

Joe Costello: I understand that but it is the problem I am interested in.