Latest news with #JohnBrady
Irish Times
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Watchdog may compel Peter McVerry Trust to come before it amid growing anger over finances
The Dáil's most powerful public spending watchdog will consider compelling the Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT) to appear before it to answer questions about its €15 million State bailout . Sinn Féin TD John Brady, who is chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), expressed 'dissatisfaction and anger' towards the housing charity which has now twice refused to appear before the committee. Mr Brady said the PAC would now consider 'what options are open to us at this point', which could include compelling the trust to appear. At a meeting in public session on Thursday morning, a number of cross-party TDs expressed anger at the PMT for refusing to answer questions about its financial troubles. It came after serious governance failings by the trust came to light in investigations by two State regulators. READ MORE The trust has so far failed to file its company accounts for 2023. In early 2024, it told the PAC it could not appear before it due to ongoing investigations. In a letter to the PAC this week, the trust again refused to make itself available for public questioning, claiming it was not in a position to attend 'at this time'. 'There's a real level of dissatisfaction and anger here by members, and I include myself in that,' Mr Brady said. He added that he was also aware of attempts over the last year by the Oireachtas housing committee to invite PMVT to appear before it. Mr Brady said the trust had received 'huge' sums of public funding and 'there needs to be accountability'. 'I propose that we write immediately to PMVT imploring them to come in at the earliest opportunity,' Mr Brady said. He said PAC will be seeking guidance from the Oireachtas standing orders committee to see what options it had to expand its remit and bring PMVT before it. 'It is deeply unsatisfactory and disheartening, as members said, when an organisation such as PMVT does not actually take cognisance of the last word in that – trust,' he said. 'Public trust is foremost here and people cannot have trust in how public money is being spent and the governance around that. I think that is deeply concerning.' PMVT said in a statement: 'At this time, PMVT is not in a position to take part in the committee's meeting. We are currently awaiting the completion of our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31st, 2023. 'Once these audited accounts are available, they will be published and we will share relevant information with our stakeholders and the public as appropriate, including making representatives available for the appropriate Oireachtas committee in due course.'
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Hiqa to be quizzed by PAC about its oversight of nursing homes
Hiqa is set to face questioning from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on failures of oversight in nursing homes. The HSE and senior health officials have also been called before the committee as a matter of urgency in an effort to uncover how the failures observed in a recent RTÉ exposé were allowed to persist and whether warning signs were ignored, overlooked or inadequately responded to. Hundreds of millions of euro of the public's money is provided to the nursing home sector through multiple channels and taxpayers have the right to know that this money is used to provide the highest standards of care, chairman John Brady said. "The PAC is committed to ensuring that this is not just another brief moment of outrage followed by inaction," Mr Brady said as the committee took the unanimous decision to call the bodies to appear. Labour's Martin Wall told the Dáil that Hiqa has failed in its duty and is not fit for purpose. Families who have contacted him over the last week have been failed by Hiqa reports which "painted a picture that was far from the reality" and led to families "unwittingly putting their relatives in harm's way". Minister of state for older people Kieran O'Donnell said there has been continued "intensive engagement" regarding the two Emeis Ireland-run nursing homes featured in the RTÉ programme. Mr O'Donnell said: It was identified, the issues in Portlaoise, in the two Hiqa reports. The Beneavin report did not highlight that fact. These are questions I have put to Hiqa. He said an interim report on Emeis Ireland overall is expected by the end of the week with a final report due next week. The over-reliance on private providers came under fire from backbench and Opposition TDs alike with the Government accused of a "specific, determined and protracted policy of privatisation of nursing home care" by Matt Carthy. Mr Carthy said older people are being treated like a commodity in a "race to the bottom" in a largely privatised nursing home sector. His party colleague Louise O'Reilly said a small number of private providers are cutting corners in the name of chasing a profit with the Government facilitating them in this pursuit. Ms O'Reilly said: You are making millionaires on the back of human misery and indignity and poor treatment of our older people and vulnerable people. Fianna Fáil TD and GP Martin Daly said there needs to be a move away from large, corporate congregated settings in favour of smaller, community-based homes. "I am told it takes a congregation of 70 in a nursing home to make it profitable for private operators," Mr Daly said, noting the large number of small nursing homes that have closed in recent years. Mr O'Donnell acknowledged that the sector has moved from predominantly State-led services to almost 80% being provided by the private sector but said there is continued investment into the community nursing unit programme including €4m to staff and the opening of 615 public community beds this year. The Dáil also heard that an adult safeguarding policy is to be brought to Government before the summer recess next month.
The Journal
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Children's Health Ireland to be called back before Public Accounts Committee
THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Committee is to recall Children's Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE to appear before it. The PAC has also called for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to appear before it. CHI last appeared before the committee last week alongside the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to give an update on progress on the construction of the National Children's Hospital. Sinn Féin TD John Brady, who chairs the PAC, said the recall comes following reports that a CHI consultant allegedly referred patients he was seeing in his public practice to weekend clinics that he was operating separately. The Sunday Times reported last week on unpublished findings that the consultant breached HSE guidelines with these referrals. The consultant was paid €35,800 via the National Treatment Purchase Fund, which aims to cut waiting times by paying private practices to treat patients on public waiting lists. However, a 2021 inquiry found the patients selected had not waited longest, and so did not qualify for the consultant's appointments. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she received the report at 3.30pm on Monday, and that it is very serious. Speaking on radio earlier this week, she said she is working out the 'legal parameters around publishing the report', adding that she does feel it is important that it is published. Advertisement Sinn Féin TD John Brady, who chairs the committee, said it has asked CHI and the HSE to appear before it. In a statement this afternoon, Brady said the public 'has a right to expect accountability at every level of our health system, especially where public money and patient care are concerned'. 'This is not just about one consultant – it is about the systems and oversight mechanisms that allowed this to happen,' the PAC chair said. Children's Health Ireland has been in charge of children's health services in Ireland since 2019. It has been scandal hit over the last year, over the use of unauthorised implants in children's spinal surgeries, and unwarranted hip surgeries being carried out on children, which was initially reported by The Ditch. An independent review published last Friday established that in Temple Street, roughly 40% of the surgeries the audit reviewed were indicated to have met the criteria; in Cappagh, 21% were indicated, and in Crumlin, virtually all surgeries fell under the criteria. Following its findings, CHI CEO Lucy Nugent apologised to impacted families who were not offered a 'consistent and excellent standard of care'. Three members of the CHI board resigned from their positions following the release of the review into hip surgeries. This evening, the Health Minister announced that she has appointed Dr Yvonne Traynor and Anne Carrigy to the CHI board. 'The strengthening of governance and oversight at CHI will further support the extensive transformation programme, led by CHI CEO Lucy Nugent and her team, as we move to open the state-of-art Children's Hospital which will be Ireland's first digital public hospital,' Carroll MacNeill said. She said that further appointments relating to vacancies on the board will be made in due course. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Anger as west Wicklow hotel earmarked for asylum seekers when Ukrainians leave
The news was relayed to Wicklow TD John Brady, who has called for a halt to plans for an IPAS centre at the site. He said that he understands the hotel has been offered to provide accommodation to asylum seekers under a lease agreement of up to two years. Reacting, he said: 'Any decision to use the Avon hotel in Blessington as IPAS centre when it ceases to be used for Ukrainians is deeply concerning and any decision must be reversed as a matter of urgency. 'I have been informed that due to the reduced demand to provide accommodation to Ukrainians and that the owners have expressed an interest in providing ongoing services to IPAS.' 'The Avon is the only hotel in Blessington and is a vital piece of local tourism infrastructure, supporting jobs, local businesses, and the wider economy across west Wicklow. 'The loss of The Avon to the tourism industry in 2023 has had a huge negative impact on the already fragile tourism sector in west Wicklow, which has also been hit by the loss of Germaine's Hotel in Baltinglass, now also being used to provide accommodation services. This is a double blow to the region, stripping it of two key tourism facilities and further eroding the capacity to attract visitors, events, and investment.' He added: 'Only last month, the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan gave a clear commitment that hotels currently housing Ukrainian refugees would return to tourism use once vacated. This decision now flies in the face of that commitment, leaving the government's word in tatters. 'This decision has been made without any consultation, local engagement, or consideration for the long-term economic damage it will cause. It is yet another example of a government completely out of touch with communities on the ground." Deputy Brady had warned last week that from his new position as chair of the Public Accounts Committee he intended to investigate what he called 'spiralling costs' of IPAS centres. He reiterated this in light of The Avon news and added that he has objected directly to the Department of Justice, urging members of the public to follow suit. 'I have raised my strong objections directly with the Department of Justice and written to the Minister to demand this decision be reversed immediately,' he said. 'The lease agreement must be scrapped, and The Avon must be returned to its proper and much-needed role as a tourism facility serving Blessington and the wider region. "I urge members of the public to contact Wicklow TD and Tánaiste Simon Harris and Fianna Fáil Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan demanding that any idea of entering a contract to use the Avon for IPAS be immediately scrapped.'
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Public Accounts Committee to examine ‘profiteering' on asylum seeker accommodation, new chairman says
The Dáil 's spending watchdog is to scrutinise expenditure on accommodation for asylum seekers , the new national children's hospital and on the failed IT system for the Arts Council , its new chairman has indicated. Speaking at the first session of the new Dáil Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, John Brady of Sinn Féin said its focus must be on ensuring citizens received the very best services and the best value possible for public money. He said one of the most pressing issues he intended to prioritise on the committee was 'massive profiteering' in the provision of accommodation for those seeking asylum in Ireland. 'People have become millionaires providing sometimes poor quality accommodation in a deeply flawed system while communities have lost vital local facilities including hotels,' said Mr Brady. READ MORE 'The State has paid out billions of euro with, what I believe, is very little transparency. There are increasing reports of some companies with no track record being awarded substantial contracts.' Mr Brady said the cost of the International Protection Accommodation Service last year was €1 billion and was projected to exceed €1.2 billion this year. 'I believe the Public Accounts Committee has a critical role in scrutinising how these contracts are awarded and whether they deliver value for money for the taxpayer.' Mr Brady also said it was critically important that the committee examined costs associated with the new national children's hospital. He said expenditure had on the project had soared to more than €2.4 billion. John Brady has indicated the Public Accounts Committee will examine costs associated with the national children's hospital. Photograph Nick Bradshaw He said that previously the committee had experienced challenges in getting some critical bodies to appear before the Public Accounts Committee. 'There was deep frustration and disappointment on behalf of members of the last Public Accounts Committee when key witnesses from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and Children's Health Ireland were unavailable to come before the committee,' he said. [ Delay to opening of national children's hospital for patients known for some time, Carroll-MacNeill says Opens in new window ] 'I would like to move quickly to invite those bodies into the Public Accounts Committee to get some very important questions answered.' Mr Brady also said the Public Accounts Committee must look closely at spending by the Arts Council, particularly expenditure of €6.7 million on a failed IT system. 'Such a significant outlay with no outcome cannot go unchecked,' he said. Mr Brady also said the committee should give particular scrutiny to 'the extremely serious issue of bogus self-employment'. 'This is a systemic problem in many sectors, not just in the likes of RTÉ or the gig economy. It is now a big issue for postmasters, to name but one other key area,' he said. 'It not only undermines workers' rights but places an unjust financial burden on the State. I believe the Public Accounts Committee has a duty to expose how and why these practices continue and to assess their real cost to the public purse.'
