Results 781-800 of 1,053,167 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:John McGuinness OR speaker:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: He had the commission, made up of very senior people. He had this working group that was made up of really professional people who knew their stuff and were meeting once a month. Presumably, when he got the costings, he said, "Well, you know, it seems to be okay". All of these people are above his pay grade so he would make certain presumptions from that. Anyway, the project then went...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: Mr. Conlon is not happy. Let us not mince words here. He is not happy with that process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: I wonder whether Mr. Conlon's predecessor happy with the process because what is happening now is that the waters are getting muddier and muddier. We do not know who to blame. We do not know who is responsible for it - the nameless PO, the working group or the commission. For me, it is the commission. They are the OPW's client, and it is delivering for them but they could not give a rat's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: We will resume. Deputies Matthews and Tóibín wish to contribute during the second round of questions. Deputy Conway-Walsh will ask questions first, followed by Deputies Fitzmaurice, Matthews, Tóibín, Durkan and Boyd Barrett.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: Check the legislation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: It is 4.50 p.m. now and we were supposed to be out of this room by 5 p.m. We will therefore have to set another date with the OPW to continue that broader discussion on that particular issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: If that letter were to be given to Mr. Conlon and if he were to provide answers to those questions with a detailed note, we would be informed when we have the meeting. I ask the clerk to speak with Mr. Conlon to set an early date for that meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: We need a quick answer now, but we can follow up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: The committee, yes. We can follow up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: I am sure that we can seek this information through the committee and the OPW can provide it that way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: I call Senator Sherlock.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: The Deputy should reconsider.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: The Deputy will be a loss to this House.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: The OPW is going to undertake all of that in respect of the bicycle shed. Is that right? How much is that going to cost?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: It will cost €25,000.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: Would Mr. Conlon not use the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: Surely the way to do it is to ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to see if he can give the OPW a quick turnaround for an overview. I have always found it to be a meticulous office. Surely the Comptroller and Auditor General would point out the OPW's shortcomings sharply and make suggestions, recommendations and so on. If the OPW has €25,000 to carry out that type of report,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: That is not answering the question. If a report or information is coming quickly to the OPW, the bigger question as to whether it is fit for purpose in its structures might suggest a need for someone with management expertise and expertise in change management to look at how its business is done. Its portfolio is quite wide.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Engagement with Office of Public Works (25 Sep 2024)

John McGuinness: We will come back to that point in the context of Estimates and everything else. The OPW was asked to provide this bicycle shelter. I advise anyone with a bicycle in that shelter to be careful because the bicycles are all wet. The shed offers no coverage. After the rain today, I advise anyone with a bicycle in the shed not to jump straight onto their saddle. The improvement of existing...