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THE FACT THAT Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Robert Watt won’t appear before an Oireachtas committee “is an affront to democracy”.
That is the view held by the chairperson of the Oireachtas Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Committee John McGuinness, who said members wanted to discuss matters relating to the department, including the cost of the Public Services Card (PSC) to date.
Watt has written to the committee stating that he cannot appear for a number of weeks due to the Budget being the busiest time for him.
“It is an affront to democracy, and this House, and that is not a throwaway remark. He was the one who spent that amount of money [on the PSC] on a project that does not fly,” McGuinness told TheJournal.ie.
The Secretary General stating that he cannot attend comes alongside Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe’s refusal to appear before the committee.
Donohoe was due to appear before the Oireachtas Finance Committee on Thursday.
Cost of the card to the State
McGuinness said the focus of the hearings is to discuss expenditure of the department, not government policy. He said he wanted to discuss the cost of the roll out of the card to the State to date.
He pointed out that using potential court proceedings as an excuse not to appear before the finance committee is not acceptable as the Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon is due to appear before the Public Accounts Committee next week.
During Leader’s Questions this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the government has yet to receive an enforcement action from the commissioner’s office.
He also told TheJournal.ie last week that no court documents have been filed by the government on the matter as of yet.
“If the Data Protection commissioner is due to appear in committee, then why can’t the minister and his officials,” questioned McGuinness.
“The issue here is we cannot hold that department accountable if the minister and now the secretary general refuse to appear,” he said.
He said Watt is “not fulfilling his duty as a secretary general if he does not come in to the committee in which is he responsible to”.
McGuinness said Donohoe not appearing on the issue is “political” but he added that “when civil servants are going to play that game” it is not acceptable.
In a letter to the committee chairperson, the finance minister declined to appear before the committee stating that he had hoped court action could be avoided over the PSC.
In his letter, he states that he had hoped a meeting between the Data Commissioner and Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty would take place.
“I did so in the sincere hope that Minister Doherty’s response to the Data Protection Commissioner’s (DPC) report and covering letter and the Minister’s request for a meeting, might have led to a round of positive discussions without any need to defer to the Courts for a definitive decision.
“However, the DPC replied to Minister Doherty on Thursday evening (5th September) advising that it was declining to engage in any discussions and intended to institute enforcement proceedings, which are subject to an appeals process in the Courts.”
It was confirmed this week that Doherty asked to meet with the commissioner, Helen Dixon, in relation to the PSC, however she declined.
Under the circumstances, Donohoe said it would “be inappropriate” for him to appear before the committee this week, adding that “it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment that might be seen to be, or be characterised as being, prejudicial to the consideration of the matters in the court”.
Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon has ordered the government to immediately stop processing the data of citizens contained on the card for services outside of the Department of Social Protection’s remit.
The long-awaited report about the PSC was made public this week.
In a statement to TheJournal.ie, a spokesman for the commission confirmed that it is preparing to issue a so-called enforcement notice to the department, which would order it to comply with data protection laws and to protect the rights of citizens.
After refusing to appear before committee, Donohoe went on in the letter to defend the social protection minister and the card.
“While Minister Doherty is by law the Minister responsible for issuing the Public Services Card and as such is the subject of the DPC investigation, it is worth highlighting my interest in the PSC project.
“First, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, my interests lie in the judicious use of public finances. I believe it is a public service obligation to carry out the administration of services not only effectively, but also as efficiently as possible.
“This enables the Government to ensure that the highest proportion possible of the money we allocate to services goes to the point of service; for example welfare, health, teaching etc,” he said.
‘Wrong’ to abandon project
Donohoe said the government has invested heavily in the card, and said it would be “wrong” to pull the plug on the card now.
“The Public Services Card Project continues to provide a legal means by which the public can access government services in the most efficient, effective and secure means possible, either in person or online.”
While Donohoe said he had “the greatest respect” for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the work it does, while he also “holds the advice of the Attorney General’s Office in the highest regard”.
He concluded by stating that he supports the Department of Social Protection minister’s view that she cannot withdraw or modify the use of the PSC or the data processes that underpin it, as has been requested by the DPC.
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, who is a member of the Finance Committee said:
“We regret the decision by Minister Donohoe to avoid scrutiny at the Finance Committee this week. The minister has been a champion of the Public Services Card since its creation, and has been instrumental in its roll out across several public services.”
He added:
In his letter the minister also states that it would be inappropriate for him to ‘make any comment that might be seen, or be characterised as being, prejudicial to the consideration of matters in the court’. Firstly, no court proceeding have yet been filed. And secondly, such considerations didn’t stop Minister Doherty from undermining the office of DPC on live radio.
The minister claims that his interests line in ‘the judicious use of the public finances’. This rings hollow when government now plans to use the public’s taxes to fund the Department’s challenge, and the regulator’s defence, in the courts. And all for a botched scheme that has cost the taxpayer €60 million to date.
We would call on the minister to come before the committee, whose interests lie in the judicious scrutiny of government.
It was confirmed by the Tánaiste this week that the PSC is no longer required for applicants seeking a passport.
Simon Coveney said this does not in any way undermine the government’s position, which is “rock solid” on this issue “and, if legally tested, will be strongly defended”.
The Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon is due to appear before the Public Accounts Committee next Thursday. It is understood the invite was extended to her officer prior to the release of her report on the PSC.
The meeting will focus on the office’s responsibility for EU-wide data protection in respect of Facebook, Google, Twitter, and whether her office has adequate resources to do so. Chairperson of the PAC Sean Fleming has said the matter of the PSC report findings will also be discussed.
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Any journalists out there to ask a few hard questions at all. We need Vincent Browne back
@what about pension who paid tax a prsi all there life
@Tony Gleeson: Who is doing anything about the Bonkers Pension System inflicted on people who only get a percentage of the 12 euro introduced in the budget together with living with a reduced contributory pension
Wow MM doesn’t have a fig roll with the 11 o clock coffee, riveting. Strange comments are closed on the fact genocide joey is adamant the world is dragged to the presipice of WW3 & he wants Europe & NATO involved too……… Surely there’s some in the democrats that’ll stop this escalation until 20th Jan when an actual President with a mandate takes control
@Kevvy kerrr: frightening developments for sure!! People talk about the ‘dawn’ of peace but it’s worth remembering it’s always DARKEST just before the dawn
@Frank Mc Carthy: Where is this magic phone call? He said he wouldn’t even have to be in office.. would have it sorted in 24 hrs he said. Why is The President of Peace leaving all this unnecessary death and destruction to happen when he has the power to make it stop with one phone call.. Ohh.. that’s right cause he’s full of siht just like you Ken..
@Brian: brenny, you’re aware the INAUGURATION OF PEACE isn’t until jan20th right?????
@Frank Mc Carthy: wasting time there Frank, thats one of brennys “new” stock
@Brian: The Maga crowd have gone nuts since election day. You’d imagine a dog would calm down once it finally caught it’s tail. But no; they’re rabid.
@Louis Jacob: ” Before I even arrive at the Oval office.. shortly after we win the presidency, I will have the horrible conflict between Russia and Ukraine settled” Poor Ken, Frank, Kevvy, Buster etc… cant even keep up with the B/S his “president of peace” spouts. We have to wait until inuargation now apparently for the magic phone call.. lol
@Brian: His low brow followers will believe anything!
But he’s definitely taking the biscuit
@Nigel Hayden: that developers money was accidentaly lodged into the private bank account of his wife!
Jammie dodgers.
Everyone knows elderly lizards don’t eat biscuits.
@Freda Peeple: who paid the bill today
@Alan Moloney: Expenses I guess
Here we go again another cycle of lies and empty promises to get elected. Also can anyone tell me if an escalated war breaks out in the Ukraine involving does the American election result get canned in favour of an emergency govt seeing as we can’t comment on a man with obvious dementia steering the world towards WW3 The yanks are the best ever at starting wars on other sovereign territories
@Michael McGrath: NO there’s no ‘canning’ the overwhelming victory for republican party…… scary that jan20th is now so far away…. fingers crossed Joe’s last throw of the ‘dice’ doesn’t lead to thousands more unnecessary deaths
@Michael McGrath: Jesus, the well is deep, and the conspiratorial thinking fashionable.
@Louis Jacob: No it’s not it was mentioned by a lot of people a while back maybe in the context that the election might be cancelled if the conflict was escalated to NATO countries, I was just asking the question if it was a possibility that it could happen now considering that’s quite an escalation the US president telling the leader of another country to attack another with weapons “given” to them by the US
Poor lad fair play no diabetes so
Politicians would say mass to get elected… When elected, they reveal they were atheists the whole time.
Lads I’m scared that Joe B…..x is going start Nuclear WW3 as he clearly isn’t thinking straight about the consequences and Kamala must have fell out with him after the post election
RTEs Miriam o callaghans brother with him you couldn’t make it up wonder what way will the RTE debate go!!!!!!!!!!
@Kevin O Brien: my money is on whoever have the 750€ Million windfall to RTE will get an easy ride of it,lol
Porridge is not a healthy breakfast, it’s a sugar rush, bacon is a highly processed food full of chemicals
@Bertie: oats are slow release energy…you know you tube is not a good source of info…I have 2 dieticians in family btw
@Bertie: Porridge is a very healthy breakfast. If you add sugar that is your choice. Honey is better and bacon if lean is also very health. Our meat unlike say the US is not full of chemicals.
That is what I have learned from dieticians!
Wow, that’s one piece of PR Propaganda by this journalist. O Callaghan being given a free ride by the Media. Any journalists have the balls to ask O Callaghan why he turned down a Junior Ministry offered by Micheal & why he is going for election again if he is turning down Ministries. The lies & empty promises are pissing people off at this stage, don’t vote any of these frauds in, use your vote as a protest & for radical change, rather than putting a man who has been at the top table for 17 years, being Taoiseach & Tanaiste, bankrupted the country & denied bailing out banks & has left us with a massive Housing crisis, Rental crisis, Cost of Living crisis, Health crisis, Immigration crisis, a mess & working families barely surviving, the guy should be in jail.
@SV3tN8M4: more of your propaganda nonsense – it is a news report on todays FF election campaign – you know, basic stuff about who was there, where they were, who they met, questions asked, answers given……blah blah blah
@SV3tN8M4: I’ve e mailed Jim O Callaghans personal secretarys numerous times as to how many days Jim has signed into the Dail, and then has left to practice as barrister in the high court? They have refused to answer me. Could any journalist ask him this please?
@Michael o connor: You can get the details from Dail Eireann!
What FF need to do is put money in the working man wallet is that two hard to do after Al the country is a washout with money
Why are FFG not making BOI pass on the ECB interest rate cuts to variable mortgage holders is it because the bank lobbyist is an x fine gael Man
No ! But he’s been taking the biscuit for the last 30 years
Couldn’t afford the jammiest dodgers once all that developers money was taken back out of the personal bank account of his wife?
Me’Hole Martin hasn’t told the truth in 30 years and longer!
Wow these vampires know how to stay in the shade while they suck the citizens dry
How could you trust, let alone vote for, a yoke that doesn’t even ate a bickey?
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