Results 1,601-1,620 of 5,601 for speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: The next point relates to the signature and the finalisation of contracts. There were wholly unacceptable practices here where contracts were agreed and then signatures were only applied much later. Were procedures in place that related to following up on signatures of contracts or completion of contractual arrangements? Who within RTÉ would have been responsible for that?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: My question was as follows: was that a breach of existing procedures or an absence of procedure?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I take it that RTÉ has put in place measures relating to the barter account such that more than one person or division must sign off on spending and so on and that there will not be-----

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I am running out of time so I want to rush on to the following issue. There has been a genuine attempt to protect more junior members of staff from having their names released and so on, yet there are times and occasions when more junior members of staff were aware of key facts and that information may not have been scaled up and so on. The legal note and the preparation of same at that...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I previously asked Mr. Kelly about his knowledge of the assets account. He consistently said in his evidence that he was not aware of the assets account at the time. The witnesses have provided us with evidence about an additional invoice from CMS for the Chernobyl lunch. It should be noted that the invoice was made in January 2023, whereas the "at the time" reference of Mr. Kelly was in...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Geraldine O'Leary was invited to attend today and chose not to attend.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: The note we have been discussing has become a bigger issue than it should be. In essence, I see RTÉ protecting an internal Chinese wall. It looks like a ring fence or brick wall is being put around RTÉ. That is the difficulty here. I asked how the legal office was advising "Prime Time" about a Government measure that was taken. I can understand why the witnesses would defend...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: When is that guidance expected?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: As a politician, it might arise that I am asked questions by an RTÉ presenter about vulture funds, REITs and so on and it subsequently turns out that the presenter has a relationship with somebody in that sector. I am not saying anybody has such a relationship but it is a good example of how it is really important for the public to know what is involved in external contracts.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ (Resumed): Discussion (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I have no doubt that 99% of people in RTÉ have that integrity. I would like a response on the issue of foreign travel. The witnesses will have seen the story about Donie O'Sullivan and the decision to cancel his appearance. While that involved a tiny amount of money, it would seem to contest their idea that there are cost savings happening within RTÉ. Will one of the witnesses...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: After the session this morning, there are many people wondering to where the Committee of Public Accounts goes next. We have been focused in our contributions to date in terms of chronicling what happened, putting together a report and making recommendations. We still have a significant amount of work to do on those elements and the evidence given today will allow us to complete significant...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: My view is that we should move to compel in any case.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: We should also explore all possible options with the director general to try to avoid that scenario.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: That was the unanimous view of the committee when we met yesterday.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: If we take RTÉ on face value that, to use an American phrase, there is no there there, and there is nothing in this note, that could be the outcome, whether by compellability or otherwise. Either way, we are in a strong position to start to draw together the key strands of the report-----

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: -----in order that we do not run out of time. The secretariat has done a significant job on our behalf in puling all that together. The committee may require a number of meetings in private session to start drafting and amending that report.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (12 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 191. To ask the Minister for Health to carry out a review of the decision not to award a medical card to a person (details supplied). [44594/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (11 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has cooperated with investigations into historical allegations of abuse in an organisation (details supplied) and alleged cross over with probation service employees. [43965/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (11 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 38. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to address historical allegations of abuse in the Probation Service by a deceased individual and whether an investigation to determine whether abuse was more widespread or should have been detected will take place. [43963/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Credits (10 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 136. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of increasing the home carer tax credit to €2000 per annum. [44050/23]