Results 15,961-15,980 of 27,087 for speaker:David Cullinane

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: I commend an Teachta Mary Lou McDonald for her work on the committee. She was also a member during the last Dáil. She was a formidable and very constructive member of the committee. Perhaps we might write to the two Deputies who served as members of the committee to thank them for their contributions.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: I have three issues and I propose to deal with them all, rather than coming in separately on each. I understand the point Deputy Kelly is making on the legal advice given to the then Commissioner. Can the Committee of Public Accounts get legal advice on whether privilege still exists when the then Commissioner is no longer in office? I presume that the legal adviser to the acting Garda...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: That is fine; that is reporting. What I am talking about is holding the Garda authorities to account. Recommendations were made. I am asking whether the recommendations were implemented? Are the changes that were promised being made? We need to give that some consideration. One could argue that we have to wait until the Garda Síochána come back before us again in the normal...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: On foot of the seriousness of the issues and the fact that have we invested so much of our time, we need to find out what progress has been made.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: My third point relates to something that has not happened very often in the history of the Committee of Public Accounts. I refer to the fact that efforts are being made by other politicians to undermine the work of the committee. We see it both inside and outside the Dáil Chamber. It happened in respect of this issue as well. There was correspondence from some Government Deputies...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: I totally agree with that. We are big boys and girls and are well able for the cut and thrust of politics. I have no difficulty with people making political charges about this committee or its members. However, a pattern has emerged in recent times. At times we obviously have to raise issues that are sensitive in our constituencies and the Chairman has given an example of such. I imagine...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: Yes, or myself and Waterford or Deputy Catherine Murphy and the Kildare Education and Training Board.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: There are lots of examples of that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: Has the Comptroller and Auditor General ever examined whether payments to the court poor box under category A are subject to auditing?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: On category B, where payments are made to charities and receipts are provided, can the Comptroller and Auditor General exercise control? How can he do so?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: Has the Comptroller and Auditor General made any comment on options B and C?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: I will come back to those ones in the work programme when we get to that. On the Higher Education Authority, may I just make a point about a different issue, if I can,-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: -----because the correspondence was raised previously? I wish to raise the issue of Waterford IT. I was informed by the head of the Higher Education Authority that, in December, the report commissioned by the authority into the funding of intellectual property and the activities relating to commercialising intellectual property in Waterford was complete, with the authority and being...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: It is very frustrating. It would be better for the institute if this were published as soon as possible. I just cannot understand why we still have not seen it although it is March.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: Carlow.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: Forgive my ignorance here, but I understand the technological university process as I pay close attention to it, having regard to what is happening in the south east. My understanding of this is that the merger process was in place without being underpinned by legislation. The legislation was on hold for a long time; it was pretty much suspended because there were political differences....

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: They had further advances to spend €4,000 in one case. Those engaged in the proposed Connacht-Ulster alliance spent €5,000 and those engaged in the proposed merger of Waterford IT and IT Carlow spent just short of €100,000, but more than €571,000 has been spent on the proposed Munster merger. The fees are also striking when we consider what the smaller companies...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: As the Chairman is aware, I have raised this issue consistently. It is wise for sectoral committees to observe the work of the Committee of Public Accounts. If these committees feel that we are encroaching on their work in any way, they have an absolute entitlement to inform us about that and write to us so I have no difficulty with that whatsoever. We have consistently said that we do not...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

David Cullinane: No.