PAC – The Dublin Docklands Development Authority

Today the Department of Environment  were before the PAC. We were examining in particular the special report carried out by the Controller and Auditor General on the Dublin Docklands Development Authority Authority.

The central theme of this week’s meeting was the Department of Environment’s oversight function before, during and after the Irish Glass Bottle site acquisition and in particular the sanction given by the Department to increase the Authority’s borrowing limit and permission to enter a joint venture.

I focused my time on issues regarding the potential conflict of interest that may have arisen at the time of the acquisition of the Glass Bottle site.

To view my contribution please click here.

PAC – The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

On Thursday the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources were before the PAC. We were examining in particular the chapters of their vote concerning the Broadcasting Fund, The Broadcasting of Ireland’s financial statements and the department’s appropriation account. Colleagues took the opportunity to raise the proposed new broadcasting charge and the diversity of programmes awarded grants from the broadcasting fund. I focused on issues regarding the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland: the accounts for the authority, how the authority levy is calculated, the consultancy and legal fees of the authority and the cash flow available to the authority.

To watch my contribution click here.

For a transcript of the proceedings please click here.

PAC- provisions for asylum seekers

Today the Department of Justice & Equality and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor were before the PAC. We were examining in particular the chapters of their vote concerning the lease of accommodation for a probation service project and the asylum process in Ireland. Colleagues took the opportunity to raise uncompleted building projects by the department of justice. I focused on issues regarding the asylum process in Ireland including: the cost of accommodation to the state, the length of the process and the prohibition on asylum seekers  seeking employment or further education while their requests are being processed.

 To watch my contribution click here.

PAC – Retired Teachers Working as Substitutes, Fee Paying Schools and VEC’s

Today the Department of Education was before the PAC. We were examining in particular the chapters of their vote concerning Public-Private Partnerships in the education sector and legacy issues regarding overpayment of teachers. Colleagues also took the opportunity to raise school transport issues, SUSI and the Department’s payment system. I raised the following matters: retired teachers acting as substitutes, fee-paying schools and governance irregularities at Cork County VEC; click here to watch a video of my contribution.

Value for Money audit into Poolbeg declared null

This week the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) appeared before the Public Accounts Committee to discuss their role in public private partnerships. In 2007, the NDFA was responsible for conducting a value for money audit (VFM) in relation to the proposed Poolbeg incinerator. I’ve consistently argued on the PAC that this VFM should no longer stand given the number of significant changes that have occurred in relation to the project and to the contract since then. At the PAC this week, the CEO of the NDFA confirmed that this VFM from 2007 is null. If Covanta manage to secure financing for their side of the deal, the project in its entirety will have to once again undergo a value for money audit.

We also learned that the cost benefit analysis for this project is conducted by Dublin City Council and only Dublin City Council. No other state body is responsible for assessing the cost/benefit analysis independently. This is unacceptable in my view given the number of mistakes with this project to date and given the conclusions of the internal audit of the project (which said financial management had been weak and also criticised management of the project), furthermore as partners in the process DCC are, at the very least, objectively conflicted.

To watch proceedings click here.

Audit in to Poolbeg incinerator

To watch video click here

Local audit report available here

This week the PAC received the details of the local government audit in to the Poolbeg incinerator project. The audit came to some serious conclusions regarding the financial management and the governance of the project since its inception – basically, it has been weak to non existent.

The tax payer’s bill for this incinerator to date, which still hasn’t been built, is in excess of €80 million euro.

Today the Secretary General of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government was before the PAC and I took the opportunity to go through the various elements of the report with her in detail. You can watch the video below and the full transcript will be up soon.

PAC – HSE, review of Allowances

Today the Director General Designate of the HSE came before the PAC as we reviewed the current allowances available within the HSE. To view the full list allowances click here to watch the proceeding click here.

PAC – An Garda Síochána, review of allowances

Today the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan appeared before the committee. We examined the business cases of the 108 allowances currently available within the Garda Síochána.

To watch the proceedings click here

PAC – Irish Congress of Trade Unions, review of allowances

Today we met with representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discuss the allowances in the public sector.  The delegation comprised of:

· Shay Cody, General Secretary of IMPACT
· Tom Geraghty, General Secretary of the PSEU
· Patricia King, Deputy General Secretary of SIPTU
· Sheila Nunan, General Secretary of INTO.

To watch the proceedings click here

PAC – Justice and Equality, review of allowances

To watch the proceedings click here