COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS debate -
Wednesday, 24 Oct 2012

Business of Committee

Chairman

Today's meeting is a special meeting which will deal solely with the 2011 appropriation accounts, Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills, review of allowances. We have received correspondence relating to today's meeting from the Department of Education and Skills. We asked the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to establish whether the teachers' unions wanted to participate in today's examination. It did not accept our invitation and its views will be encompassed in the presentation to be made by the congress at our meeting on Thursday, 1 November 2012. Documents relating to today's meeting comprise correspondence from Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú regarding the payments of allowances, correspondence from 22 October 2012 from Mr. Ó Foghlú regarding his opening statement, and further correspondence from him.

In respect of the work programme next week, I understand the Dáil will not be sitting next week, although that decision must be made tomorrow. The main speakers on Wednesday are Deputies Connaughton and McCarthy, while the main speakers on Thursday are Deputies Nash and Donohoe. Are those two sittings agreed?

Deputy Paul J. Connaughton

I am happy to agree to that.

Chairman

Agreed.

Deputy Sean Fleming

We will meet here at 12 p.m. on Thursday.

Chairman

Is the timing acceptable in terms of meeting at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.? We must remember not to change the times now that the Dáil is not sitting.

Deputy Paul J. Connaughton

Could we meet earlier?

Clerk to the Committee

I think there was a problem with the Garda in terms of coming in but I will check and see if we can put it on earlier.

Chairman

What is the view of members?

Deputy Paul J. Connaughton

No, it is not a huge deal.

Chairman

If that is agreed, we will proceed with the arrangement for next week. In respect of drawing together the information for the report, I was asked to remind members that someone is employed to pull it together so he is taking notes at the various meetings. When will the report be available?

Clerk to the Committee

He is working on it tomorrow but he is looking in on the system.

Chairman

When will that report be available?

Clerk to the Committee

We are meeting the HSE on Tuesday, 6 November 2012 and we will work on it that week with a view to having it the week afterwards.

Chairman

I ask members wishing to have an input into the report to bring any recommendations they have to the attention of the clerk as they go through the proceedings because it will add to the value of the content.

Deputy Eoghan Murphy

Will we will get an opportunity to look at the draft form before it goes out?

Clerk to the Committee

Yes, it will be a committee report.

Deputy John Deasy

What is the process if one has a recommendation? Having gone through the document a few times, I might have one. Do we put it to the clerk to the committee in open session within the meeting?

Clerk to the Committee

Either way, it is important we have a discussion on the document in private session.

Deputy John Deasy

That is okay.

Chairman

We will have a private session in respect of the document to make sure everyone is clear on its content and agrees to it. If members have recommendations they would like considered, they can flag it for the clerk either at that meeting in private session or earlier and we can include it in the document as it is presented. If that is agreed, we will bring in the witnesses.