Results 1,881-1,900 of 2,970 for speaker:James O'Connor

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: The response is quite interesting as it does not provide a figure for 2022, which is what I asked for. That is a little frustrating and I wish to underline it. I am sure my constituents in Cork East and every Deputy's constituents want those figures and want certainty. I know the Minister of State shares that view. I thank her for the response and I appreciate it but I ask her to bring...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for being present in the Chamber. I ask for a progress update on the ongoing house building targets for 2022. We have seen some reports in the media during the week and there seems to be a discrepancy between details provided by the Department and what will realistically be produced. I would appreciate the Minister providing an update in that...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: I welcome the officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. At the outset, I acknowledge that the Department of Foreign Affairs provides huge service to the State and, generally, it has been very positive throughout Brexit and Ireland securing a position on the UN Security Council. Off my own bat, I want to say the work that has been...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: We have to analyse the past in this committee and ask questions about it, rather than focusing on the future. That is welcome. In the past, when it came to the recommendation process for special envoys, generally speaking, would the Minister be in charge of designing the list and coming up with the candidates, or would it be the Department that would come up with a recommended list of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Not the UN, but generally.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Cultural ambassadors and so on are appointed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Is it Tourism Ireland that has charge of that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: I will stop Mr. Conlan there. That is very interesting. I do not for one moment question the skills and expertise that we may have in the political sphere and how they can benefit, aid and assist the work the Department does. I am thinking in particular of a former Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I know Eamon Gilmore has done plenty of work with the Department post his life in electoral...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: It does not happen that often. There is not much depth required in it.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Yes, but I want to look at the past for a moment. Mr. Conlan must bear with me for a moment. This is our job. As I asked, did the Government, in the person of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, present Mr. Conlan with a list of potential positions it would like to have created? Was that the process, or did the Department go to the Minister and say it would be important for the Government...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: That is interesting. There could be someone in-house.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: It is interesting that Mr. Conlan mentioned "in-house". In terms of the appointment of ambassadors, for example, are they required to have the language of the country to which they are posted?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Would all of them have fluency in the languages of the countries to which they have been posted?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: That is a "No". Does Mr. Conlan think that should be a basic requirement to be an ambassador?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Something I found interesting is that when it came to the current reshuffle, we saw people shifting from positions in the Civil Service into ambassadorial roles. Surely, when Mr. Conlan defines "in-house" in terms of the Department of Foreign Affairs, that is the point he is making. Is that common?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: It is a different system. If a third secretary goes into the Department of Foreign Affairs, he or she rises through the ranks. As Mr. Conlan identified, it is very specific and specialist work. Does he think it is appropriate that we are pulling people from different Departments that have nothing to do with ambassadorial work?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Would the language not be one of them?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Would it be preferred for the Department to have in-house recommendations for ambassadorial appointments?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: This is the point that strikes me. If someone is Secretary General of a Department outside of the Department of Foreign Affairs, does he or she go to the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and say he or she would like to be an ambassador when his or her term is up? How does it happen?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Mr. Conlan is the chief operating officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs.