Results 15,261-15,280 of 21,499 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: We have that.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am sorry for cutting across Ms Tallon. At what stage did she realise that the spend was of the magnitude of €50 million? At what point did that come to her attention?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Excellent.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why not?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Meaning no disrespect, if Ms Tallon's concern was simply that the organisation was staying within the spending allocation or envelope, what was the call for monthly, fortnightly or weekly meetings and briefings? Surely that would have only been a matter of a telephone call. That sounds strange. I find it odd. In looking at these establishment costs and at these monthly, fortnightly or...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Accepting all of that, let me take Ms Tallon back to my original question. When did the Department become aware of the figure of €50 million in respect of expenditure on consultants?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I believe most people following this story are mystified from start to finish and that was the case even before this meeting began. The rationale for making Bord Gáis Éireann the parent company for this new public utility was on the basis of the expertise, standing and so on of that organisation as an established and highly successful utility. Mr. Tierney gave a rationale for the...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have it.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: No, I do not want Mr. Tierney to read out anything, if he does not mind. I want him to explain how anyone could justify the expenditure of €4 million on brand development for an item such as water by a organisation that is in a monopoly position. I also want him to enlighten the committee as to what precisely was or might be the customer engagement. Moreover, given that Irish Water...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do not think anyone present or who is tuned in to these proceedings underestimates for a second the scale of the task Irish Water has taken on. Mr. Barry has now stated this repeatedly at this meeting and I respectfully ask him not to repeat it, as members have heard that message.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: The onus is on Mr. Barry and others to explain the reason in areas such as brand development and customer engagement. I note there is another reference in another lot to talent management and recruitment strategies. These are basic human resources competencies and as of yet, I have not heard an explanation from any of the witnesses that explains to me or the public how it is that those...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have the detail before me, which is on page 8 of the presentation Mr. Tierney made last night to the committee. More than €4 million was proposed and submitted for customer engagement and brand engagement to the Department in respect of his programme budget. I find this to be an astonishing figure.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Right, I appreciate that. In any event, I believe the point stands in respect of the use of expertise. Is this use of consultants purely a phenomenon pertaining to the starting up of this utility? Does Mr. Tierney envisage it as being an ongoing necessity? In other words, is what members see here simply the start of what they can anticipate the practice of Irish Water to be?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: How does the Chairman intend to take the witnesses? Is there an opening statement?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Yes. Thank you.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 11 - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 41 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: How much do they earn weekly for this?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 11 - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 41 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: I do.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 11 - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 41 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Many people who have participated in the scheme do not have the rosy view of it portrayed by the Minister.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 11 - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 41 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Sorry-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 11 - Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - Shared Services (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 41 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised) (15 Jan 2014)

Mary Lou McDonald: Has the Minister? He is the line Minister.