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Friday 31 March 2023 Dublin: 9°C

# Public Accounts Committee

All time
# Graphic
This is why some TDs have to watch a video of thousands of pigs being slaughtered
Farmers have made claims against the Department of Agriculture.
# Pay Day
Are RTÉ presenters taking too big a bite out of TV licence fees?
The government’s communications chief was quizzed on the broadcaster’s salaries today.
# Public Accounts Committee
It would be 'astounding' to expect TDs to pay damages to Angela Kerins - barrister
Kerins claims she was treated unfairly by TDs serving on the committee at the time in their questioning on Rehab accounts.
# PAC
Whistleblower report: HSE consultancy contracts 'awarded to former employees'
The issue is set to be discussed at the Public Accounts Committee.
# financial mystery tour
Two thirds of the money diverted to Irish Water came from your motor tax
Representatives from the Environment Department were questioned by the committee today.
# The High Table Interview
What toilet tissue do you use and 5 other questions we had for this Fianna Fáil TD
John McGuinness came in for a chat this week and everything from toilet paper to walking dogs came up…
# publicity seeker
Shane Ross: I don't jump at every microphone that comes my way
He’s faced accusations of self-promotion and self-interest, but the independent TD has hit back in an interview with TheJournal.ie
# Bad Bank
'It saddens me to be part of a parliament that brings about this grief' - Nama told
But the bad bank’s boss came out swinging against claims it was being a bully.
# Bad Bank
NAMA's court bid to seize dead farmer's land from widow and son
The Public Accounts Committee is to seek a hearing with the widow of a farmer who took his own life two years ago.
# Keep your friends close...
One of Enda Kenny's biggest critics in Fine Gael has just got a promotion
John Deasy is the new vice chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
# ansbacher allegations
'Political interference' stopped Revenue probe into Ansbacher 'black briefcase': Whistleblower
Allegations of a major cover-up are spreading from politicians to government officials.
# tax evasion claims
Mary Lou told: 'You've been doing it for a while and you need to stop'
A number the Sinn Féin TD’s colleagues have criticised her decision to name former politicians accused of tax evasion.
# dossier
Can the PAC interview a whistleblower who says former politicians dodged tax?
The Public Accounts Committee is to seek further legal advice.
# dodgy dossier
Dossier of politician 'tax-dodging' claims handed to PAC
A senior civil servant has come forward with information relating to incidents that occurred over a 30-year period.
# Committee wars
Simon Harris: Politicians love being in the news - but that's a good thing
Simon Harris has defended the role of the Public Accounts Committee following criticism yesterday.
# Committee wars
Who should investigate the Positive Action controversy? These two TDs can't agree
Two Oireachtas Committees are at odds over which one should probe spending at the Hepatitis C support group.
# Dáil talk
State of the Nation: Watchdog or ambulance chaser? The PAC is under scrutiny again...
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…
# Irish Water
These politicians want to know why they got legal advice they didn't ask for
The Public Accounts Committee was told it can’t question Irish Water boss John Tierney
# the sweetest deal
Bono in the Dáil? TDs to probe 'inappropriate' property deal with U2
“In that area, €450,000 wouldn’t be worth a semi-detached residence.”
# Committee wars
John McGuinness has 'no response' to being told to step down as PAC chair
But Mary Lou McDonald has been quick to come to his defence.
# PAC
Garda whistleblower: The way I was treated destroyed me, my career, and my family
The Public Accounts Committee has published its report into the penalty points system today.
# Rehab
PAC grilling of Angela Kerins was fair, says PAC chairman
The former Rehab Group CEO has taken High Court action against the PAC.
# Rehab Group
Flannery 'holding options open' on proceedings over PAC's Rehab inquiry
Angela Kerins has launched legal action against ‘deeply distressing’ inquiry into her involvement with Rehab.
# Rehab Group
PAC told they can't force Flannery and Kerins to come before it
The former Rehab Group CEOs refused to appear before the committee in April.
# not perfect
'We knew we’d overstepped the mark' - former CRC Chair admits ignoring HSE
TD Simon Harris said that the Clinic’s board showed “blatant disregard” for the HSE when it hired Brian Conlan.
# salary top-ups
The CRC hasn't asked for Paul Kiely to repay part of his €742K pay-out... yet
During today’s PAC meeting, Shane Ross questioned how the HSE could not know about the CRC’s charitable wing. He said it took him just 20 minutes to discover its existence.
# one out of four aint bad
PAC will be discussing the CRC today, but who is going to turn up?
Former CRC chair Hamilton Goulding will attend, as will his successor Kieran Timmins.
# Small mercies
It turns out the Mahon Tribunal is going to cost less than was previously thought*
*Though it’s still a whopping €159 million.
# PAC
Ex-CRC chief "extremely ill", unable to answer questions about €742k pay-off
The Public Accounts Committee is due to hold further hearings on the scandal hit disability clinic next week.
# Rehab
PAC told to give more info about why it wants to quiz Frank Flannery and Angela Kerins
The Public Accounts Committee will now seek talks with another Dáil committee overs its efforts to compel the former Rehab CEOs.
# It Wasn't Me
'Ignoring' the system gives speeders an 86% chance of avoiding punishment
John O’Brien, the former head of the Garda Traffic Corps, told the PAC that GSOC failed to act on foot of a report he carried out on the penalty points system in 2008.
# Road Safety Authority
Driver deaths are down, but "more vulnerable" road users are being killed
The Public Accounts Committee was also told that about 130,000 more cars were taxed this year following an end to the practice where vehicles could be declared as “off-road” after the fact.
# Oireachtas agenda
PAC will be examining penalty points and speed cameras today
What else will the folks on Kildare Street be discussing?
# PAC
'Should I go in and sit on my hands?': PAC chair defends call for health bosses to quit
John McGuinness said it wasn’t an attempt to grab headlines.
# promises
Down Syndrome Ireland worried discretionary medical cards won't be returned as promised
It was outlined in the Dáil yesterday that discretionary medical cards won’t be returned until Cabinet comes up with a ‘legal formula’.
# Awkward
'Publicity seeking' McGuinness criticised by his own committee over resignation call
John McGuinness’s call for two senior health officials to resign during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee yesterday has been criticised by some of his colleagues.
# Medical Cards
PAC Chair says HSE is 'not fit for purpose'
John McGuinness called on the HSE’s Director General and the Secretary General of the Department of Health to resign.
# Rehab
PAC's attempts to question Frank Flannery and Angela Kerins 'nobbled'
The Public Accounts Committee will now seek outside legal advice as it continues efforts to compel former Rehab executives to come before it.
# Oireachtas agenda
What makes someone eligible for a medical card?
Tony O’Brien, Director General of the HSE, will give the lowdown to the PAC this morning.
# Committee wars
'Totally unacceptable': Concern that PAC has monopoly on probe into spending of €3.25bn
The Oireachtas Health Committee is seeking to change the rules that currently prevent any other Oireachtas committee from investigating matters that are already being probed by the powerful Public Accounts Committee.