Results 1,901-1,920 of 2,967 for speaker:James O'Connor

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 and very informative. I am not trying to undermine the work Mr. Conlan is doing. It may sound like that, but that is not my intention. It is good to get that type of information. Let us say that we had a very skilled former Cabinet Minister who served in government, which is pretty much the political and democratic equivalent to being a Secretary General, would 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: They need to be.

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: Does Mr. Conlan think that is something that could change in the future?

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: Other countries have an entirely different system.

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 bit ironic because there are some esteemed political representatives who, while I might not agree with their political philosophy, for example, John Bruton and others, have gone on to serve the State in a fantastic capacity in international organisations. However, Mr. Conlan says the person needs to be a civil servant.

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 have one more question to ask in my final minute. I recently travelled to Belfast to see Cork playing against Antrim. On my way home, I said I would drop out to see the facility where passports are printed. That was a Sunday. What struck me is that it was closed that day. At the height of the demand for passports, did Ms Byrne ever consider that passport offices should effectively...

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: Okay.

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: Does Ms Byrne think there would have been merit in opening the public offices as a temporary emergency measure for those three or four months when the pressure came on?

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: Okay.

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: The next phase of my questioning is about the investment we are making in Africa. I was there recently and commend the work done by the Department of Foreign Affairs. It is very much a strategic growth zone in the global economy and it is very interesting to see the interest being taken by China and the European Union in investing in Africa in general. Will the witnesses provide an outline...

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: The Department has a really fascinating development in Japan, which is fantastic. I believe it is called Ireland House. Currently, many State services are being run out of Dubai for quite a large part of the Middle East, even Egypt and other locations. It is crucial for the likes of Bord Bia and other State agencies to have a base on the African continent where they could operate for 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: The Chair raised an interesting point on salary arrangements. As a Deputy, if I were to lose my seat tomorrow and am subsequently elected to the Seanad or, in 2024, to a local authority, I would not continue to receive a Deputy's salary. Yet, if I were the Secretary General of the Department of Health on just shy of €300,000 and I became the ambassador to Germany, I would take 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: Just the structure of it. I am not trying to trap the Comptroller and Auditor General.

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: Am I right in saying that is probably the only career in the Civil Service where such a pay arrangement is in place?

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 am not trying to undermine the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs does. It does enormously positive work on behalf of the State, but that rule irks me a bit. People are not fully aware of this rule and it should not be in place. I appreciate we must get the top people into those roles, particularly where diplomatic relations may be strained or there is a strategic interest.

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. Cleary is here. Does the Department Public Expenditure and Reform have a view on this?

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 get that, and that is to be accepted, but the Taoiseach is Head of the Government and he does not get paid remotely near that amount. I asked Ms Byrne about a printing facility being located somewhere in the south of the country. I understand the building in Cork is reaching the end of its lifespan, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Is there any consideration there? He has...

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: Are there costings available? Has the service done any costings on that for the Minister or for the Department? I am sure there have been, because the question has been asked regularly.

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: Has the service done a costing on locating one in Cork? If Ms Byrne does not have the answer, will she come back to the Committee on Public Accounts with it?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (30 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: 60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports for increased digital supports and teaching in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34985/22]