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THE DEPARTMENT OF the Taoiseach will not say whether or not it has changed the way in which records are kept despite Enda Kenny’s repeated claims about the paucity of records in his office related to the bank guarantee five years ago.
Independent TD Stephen Donnelly asked if there had been any changes in the filing and retention of documents in Kenny’s department since the government to came to office recently but his question was not addressed in written answers.
His queries followed the Taoiseach’s repeated comments about the “paucity” of documentation in his Department related to the previous government’s decision to issue a blanket bank guarantee in September 2008.
In answer to a parliamentary question on 16 July, Kenny said that all records and data are held in compliance with Data Protection, Freedom of Information and National Archives legislation.
He added that documents are also held “in compliance with the records management guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform”.
Donnelly complained to the office of the Ceann Comhairle under Dáil standing orders claiming that the answer did not properly address his question.
Donnelly’s had asked “the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 9 July 2013, the changes in the filing and retention of documents in his Department that have been introduced since this Government came into office.”
In a letter to Donnelly, Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett stated: “Having considered the matter, I have to inform you that I do not agree with your opinion and therefore cannot take any further action in the matter.”
Donnelly’s office has said he has since been told by the Ceann Comhairle’s office that he did not specifically ask about what type of changes were made therefore it is not incumbent on the Department of the Taoiseach to provide a specific answer.
The Wicklow TD has now submitted a raft of new questions, asking specifically about new protocols, training for staff, new positions, audits, and new IT systems within the Department in the hope of a more informative response.
But this will not be available until the Dáil returns in September.
TheJournal.ie asked the Department of the Taoiseach if record-keeping methods had changed in the department since Enda Kenny came into office but were given an identifiable answer to that given to deputy Donnelly on 16 July.
A statement said: “All records and data, electronic and paper based, held in the Department are maintained in compliance with the provisions of the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003, the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 and the National Archives Act 1986 and in compliance with the records management guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).”
The record management guidelines set out by the DPER refer to guidance issued by the Centre for Management and Organisation Development in 2005. This has since been renamed the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer which is a division of DPER, a spokesperson said.
The Government’s Chief Information Officer is Bill McCluggage, appointed in June of this year, who is tasked with devising and implementing a new ICT strategy across the public service.
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Which basically means that no, they haven’t changed one iota now pi** off and stop asking.
Is that true Tony?
“Kenny said that all records and data are held in compliance with Data Protection, Freedom of Information and National Archives legislation.” Micheal Noonan asked for information about Paddy McKillen from Alan Dukes in IBRC. Alan Dukes replied that he wouldn’t put anything in writing about Paddy McKillen and IBRC in case there would be a request under Freedom of Information and this information would become public knowledge. He requested a meeting with the Minister instead. It is quite obvious from this that things are not being put in writing on purpose so that we, the people, are left in the dark. The “paucity” of information still goes on under Enda Kenny’s regime.
Tony,
106 green thumbs after 4 hours, not one red thumb… Contrasts with the many green thumbs for comments critical of Enda’s mismanagement. Odd…
You’re odd..
Especially as you didn’t even redthumb it!
If I had Matt, it would have negated my comment…
And after 7 hours it has it’s first red thumb!
Sorry, I done it to ease your pain.
Thanks Matt,
I love a helpful minion…
the cover up goes on
How long is this eejit going to keep blaming the previous government for everything?
About 2 years!
He will keep it up until he’s (was) a member of the previous government,
Unlikely,
Rumours of a bigger job in Europe…
Until he copper fastens his €3000 a week , oh and yes he’ll take it and blame the huge pensions on the previous administration , he is unable to change it and yet he can put his hands into your pay packet and bank account , ah well laws and taxes only for the little people here in the Emerald Isle !
So this is the ” open and transparent Government’ that Mr Kenny promised us, which most of us were naive enough to believe at that time.!!
As Pat Rabbitte said on TV ” sure isn’t that the kind of thing you would say at election time”
The more things change, the more they stay the same!
Somebody tell me there is a heave coming or SOMETHING! He won’t answer questions, won’t debate, never commits, his plans are waffle. He infuriates me. Id give him some credit if he deserved it, but every time he makes a hames of it, guy is a nightmare to watch day in day out. But hey it’s Saturday, right!?
CAPT.
Kenny’s a graduate from the Brian Cowen school for the verbally inept.
Ha! Defo from the same spoofing cloth alright.
Lads he could be waiting for one of the advisors to give him the nod before he opens his gob
I would say so Bill, but a question as straight forward as this and he cant answer it is pathetic. Is there any truth in the rumour he still gets dressed with his 2 hands up in the air waiting for his jumper to go over his head?
They are all being handled that’s why they won’t go out in public and debate they can only work off a script.
Card board cut out c##t of a politician.
60 % of those who vote gave his party their no 1
I wouldn’t trust Enda even if he did say he changed it. The man talks out if the side if his mouth. Dishonest to his very core, of course nothing has changed.!
Maybe we should ask if the legislation under DP act, NA act and FOI act only actually allows for a “paucity” of info to be kept.
Then it is Endas responsibility as chief legislator to change it.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Lying Enda, corrupted little man.
Accountability?From the Government?
Well,Sir I shall challenge you to a duel!
If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
Poor record keeping got his predecessor off the hook. It will in time get Enda off the hook.
Enda Kenny is as bad a Brian Cowen.
At least Brian Cowan had the craic on the drink. Imagine having a pint with dry sh1te inda.
Brian would buy ya a pint and scope for a round or two….inda would do a runner before his turn.
And expense it!
Yeah ger Brian would definitely put it all on the expense tab….Enda though would be paying for every tab in every bar…..even though he didn’t have to.
Worse,
He blames Cowen while repeating the mistakes.
That would be a no then………
This government courageously drew a definite line in the sand under the shady dealings, ineptitude and downright hoodwinking of the Irish population that passed for government before them!!!
Sand was used is because it allows theline to be easily rubbed out and re-drawn or blurred by blustery air if needs be.
Records? These b*****ds whether they keep records or not choose whether to share this information, they are almost above the law at this stage. They have no fear of the electorate, they have no shame and couldn’t care less about their Country. Their only ambition is to milk the system for as much as they can get and walk away smiling to their new jobs and patting themselves on the back for a job well done. They get massive pensions, perks and jobs and screw this Country. They pompously set themselves up as the voice and conscience of the people and then ignore public concerns. They stay in power no matter what we think – Wallace, Perry, O’Rielly etc., etc., who in any other job would be sacked!!! Sorry but sick of them ALL!
geraldine they are not almost above the law they are above the law they are the law while they can appoint the judges ,democracy my ass.
Would it really matter what he said they have all turned out to be liars. It’s like a merry go round of different liars asking for our support .
Paucity my hole.
Well we have him there so basically in my book he should make everything public weather it’s the way records are kept or records dat are kept
What a lovely photograph of the dáil.
Is one of those buildings the shop that closed recently?
Its not the Dail its the oireachtas. Huge difference.
More like he can’t say, there’s no record of the method being changed.
Yet, Matt
Parasitic greedy self serving spineless people they are truely disgusting
have your say