Results 1-20 of 1,020,960 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Seán Crowe OR speaker:Paul McAuliffe) in 'Committee meetings'

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: I thank all the witnesses for being with us this morning. The previous Committee of Public Accounts hearing probably did not add to the overall public confidence in the organisation. That is probably an understatement. Dr. Gallagher does not have any board members with him today. Was that a decision made? Given the obviously very frequent interaction that has taken place and the...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: I have no doubt that it is hard enough to get people to serve on boards as it is without bringing them before the Committee of Public Accounts. The organisation does great work. It is very valuable and it is very needed. Those are matters the organisation can discuss at the joint Oireachtas committee that covers that work. I suppose our job is to be in the nitty-gritty of the governance...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Let me put it a different way. It seemed unusual that a large number of the issues that we dealt with were all being responded to on the day by the head of HR even though some of those issues were not specific to the HR function. Was that an imbalance in the way the executive was structured?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: And the staff conflict of interest relating to Aasleagh House as well.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: One of the references made on the uninsured drivers issue was that there was the issue of overworking and a huge volume of work and that that had been one of the reasons that led to it. The concern is that that has not changed, but Ms Campion is suggesting that the restructuring of responsibilities has changed that.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: What measures are in place within field services to alert decision-makers to a potential issue such as that arising again?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: It is now not vehicle-specific.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: What was the total cost of the issue of uninsured vehicles to the organisation?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: There is a claims issue. Has there been any interaction with the Garda in respect of criminal prosecution? Having uninsured vehicles on the road is a criminal matter.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Regarding setting aside potential resources for future claims and so on, has IFI set aside a contingency for that cost?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Of course, Ms Campion will not tell me what it is. Given that the matter will be decided by the courts, she must be able to give the committee some indication of what the total cost will be.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Once that is decided, IFI will be able to comment on those claims.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: That is not the question I am asking. I am asking what contingency has been set aside for it.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: What are the accruals?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: That is a tricky position. Let us come back to the issue of Aasleagh House, the contract to the staff member and all that. What steps have been put in place in respect of that potential conflict of interest? I ask Ms Campion to speak not about the specifics too much but about the general policy.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Has there been any discussion with, for example, the Land Development Agency, LDA, about the disposal of those properties or that land?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: In this case, the LDA did not express an interest in the property.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: Given the remit of the Land Development Agency with regard to providing social and affordable housing, I ask the IFI to undertake to contact the agency again, given it is now in existence. Every opportunity to provide those types of properties from State agencies is important. Public housing is a priority of the Government. I ask Ms Campion to undertake to engage on that again to see-----

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: At the moment, it is intended to sell the cottagers privately on the open market.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

Paul McAuliffe: The IFI is a State body with two homes in its possession. Given the number of people who are in need of home, at the very least, either through the local authority, an approved housing body or the LDA, I ask Ms Campion to ensure that everything that needs-----