Results 1,521-1,540 of 26,392 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: I hear them calling him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: I ask for clarification on two issues. One relates to a question asked by Deputy Doherty about the computer hacking and being out of reach for five days. Mr. Wright, I think, was going to give a response at one stage to Deputy Doherty. I would like to hear that response and to know if that particular hacking incident was reported to the cybersecurity agency.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: Okay. I think when he was here the Secretary General said he would give us a copy of the email he was attempting to send and we are waiting for that. On the Minister's comments, he mentioned that the Civil Service and the public service must make decisions at the various levels within both organisations and I accept that. Those who are making decisions are being paid accordingly. If a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: Yes. I am very concerned now about statements about 1,600 claims amounting to €670 million, with the Department putting a value of €12 million on them. I can see a major row here with a heavyweight like BAM Ireland . That is taxpayers' money. There are these layers in between, with the board and the different oversight groups that are there. I do not know who has the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: But not through the committees. That is my point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: I do not expect the Civil Service or public service to be perfect. I accept that risks will have to be taken to achieve something and that if something goes wrong, we as public representatives have to understand that but when we are not being told and when what happened is being hidden from clear sight, that is what annoys people. My background is business and I have no doubt I made many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: I go back to the point of good men like Brendan Lenihan and the others who resigned, with their statements having been made afterwards. That does not do the system any good. It raises questions and I would very much love to see Ministers acknowledging the good that some people do and the reasons they left. There is also this thing about the learnings, and God bless everyone with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: The Minister should be allowed to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: The Minister should be allowed to answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: We have to conclude. We have been here for two and a half hours.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: As some of these questions have already been put and answered in a way, I suggest that perhaps the Minister might take the questions that have been asked by Deputy Doherty and gives us a written response. That is the only way we are going to resolve this today. We have been here for two and a half hours and I am obliged to take a break, which all participants know, or conclude the meeting....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: The Minister might just conclude and please provide the information.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: In conclusion to all of this, if the board or anyone else associated with this project, because they have been named here, wants to come before the committee and give further explanations, then the invitation is there for them to come, be it the company, be it the different agencies that we spoke about or whoever has been named.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: If you are both going to insult each other, this is going to go on all night. I am calling a halt to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: I thank the Minister and his officials for coming in. I ask him to please provide the answers to the questions. As I said, there is a standing invitation for anyone involved in this to contact the clerk and they are invited to attend and address the issues that were raised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Public Sector Secondment: Minister for Health (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: We will send the blacks. I assume that is what the clerk will do.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Engagement with An Taoiseach (22 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: The topic of committee resourcing may be a matter for the Oireachtas but it brings into focus the rights of Members of the Houses and the activities of committees. It is time the balance was tilted in favour of Members because, in the current Dáil, it seems they are a secondary consideration. If we are to do our parliamentary duties in the way we should, then we need the resources, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Investment Funds (Resumed): Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (21 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: Apologies have been received from Senator Higgins. The minutes of our meeting of 14 June 2023 were agreed earlier in private session. Today the committee will meet representatives of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, IMHO. Everyone will be very familiar with Mr. David Hall. We are discussing investment funds or vulture funds and their activity in the Irish property market. On...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Investment Funds (Resumed): Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (21 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: Mr. Byrne may make his opening statement and he can take his time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Investment Funds (Resumed): Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (21 Jun 2023)

John McGuinness: I thank Mr. Byrne. We will go to Ms Irwin, if she is available online.