Mr. Ruairí de Búrca:

There is an element of comparing apples and oranges because people fund in very different ways. Some countries publish information and we are looking to do so. Our network's audit and evaluation team meets the auditors and evaluators to discuss dynamic relationships with organisations which we fund. This information exchange is intended to avoid getting into a situation where one ends up with suspected fraud. It is about sharing information on organisational management systems and early information on where we suspect there may be weaknesses. This allows us to get ahead of any fraud. The meetings take place on a regular basis. Often there are only allegations and suspicions rather than proven facts, but actions may be taken on what turn out to be proven facts. Our work is often prophylactic. In at least one instance there was theft from a warehouse and no fraud within the system. We are waiting to see if there will be a insurance payout in this case. There is a difference between fraud in an accountancy sense and in the sense fraud is understood by the man on the street. The latter includes trucks which are robbed or warehouses which are burgled. It does not mean that there is systemic fraud, although even in cases of robbery there may be some insider dealing.