Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Can we agree to note the accounts and statements? Agreed. As usual, the listing of accounts and financial statements will be published as part of our minutes.

We will move on to correspondence. As previously agreed, items that have not been flagged for discussion for the meeting will continue to be dealt with in accordance with the proposed actions that have been circulated and decisions taken by the committee in relation to correspondence are recorded in the minutes of the committee meetings and published on the committee's web page. Five items of correspondence have been flagged in this category.

I will move to consider correspondence from Accounting Officers, Ministers, or both, and relating to follow-up to meetings of the Committee of Public Accounts. No. 872B was received from Mr. Niall Cody, chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, dated 5 November 2021. It provides information requested by the committee arising from the fact that the Revenue did not accept certain recommendations in the committee's most recent report on its engagement with Revenue. The committee asked Revenue to clarify to what extent it can investigate the financial and sectoral implications of a voluntary PAYE system agreed by Revenue and courier firms in March 1997, as well as a copy of the 2019 European Commission inspection report on the control strategy for customs values and repayments. I have flagged this item for discussion, as have Deputies Carthy and Stanley. I suggest we hold it over until next week as I know it is of interest to Deputy Stanley. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 873B is correspondence from Ms Marie-Claire Maney, chairperson of the Tax Appeals Commission, dated 8 November 2021. It responds to the committee's request for information relating to tax settlements between the Revenue Commissioners and Perrigo. The chairperson states that due to its statutory obligations around the confidentiality of appellants, rather than any reluctance to respond to oversight, the commission cannot provide such information. The chairperson goes on to detail the relevant statutory provisions, stating that if a settlement is agreed at any stage before the commission makes a determination, the appeal is treated as having been withdrawn and the parties need only notify the commission of the settlement. As such, the commission has no role in the tax settlement agreed between Perrigo and the Revenue Commissioners.

The chairperson also provides an update on the current status of the top ten appeals by quantum. The most recent update was provided for our meeting with the commission on 8 July. It is worth noting that the aggregate quantum of tax under appeal has reduced from €4.5 billion in January 2021 to €1.55 billion on 8 November 2021. We have also requested detailed information from Revenue relating to this settlement, which is due today. It is proposed to note and publish the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. Deputy Carthy and I have flagged it.

No. 874B is correspondence from Ms Cliodhna Guy, interim chief executive officer of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, dated 8 November 2021. It provides further information requested by the committee about the installation of CCTV cameras at racecourses.

The interim CEO states that it has concluded the evaluation of the tenders for the installation of CCTV systems in racecourse stable yards, and that the board continues to work to the previously stated timeframe for installation to be completed at each racecourse prior to the commencement of the 2022 season. The interim CEO also notes that the cost of the system is considerably higher than what had been allocated by Horse Racing Ireland previously and on that basis the matter is currently with the Horse Racing Ireland board for approval. It is proposed to note and publish the item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Deputy Imelda Munster and I flagged this item, but I do not think she is present. It would be useful to get a breakdown of the cost of the new system to include the installation costs and an update pack when the sanction to the purchase is granted. I presume it will do that, but it would be no harm for us to request it.

No. 875B is correspondence from Mr. Ronnie Downes, assistant secretary at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, dated 8 November 2021 in which he provides information on updated arrangements for public bodies presenting their accounts to the Comptroller and Auditor General and, following their audit, the arrangements for laying them before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It arises from a 2018 report of the last Committee of Public Accounts, which highlighted the inconsistency in the obligations of when public bodies must present their financial accounts to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit.

The new arrangements, as set out in Circular 24 of 2021, require that, unless otherwise specified in legislation, annual accounts should be presented to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit no later than three months after the close of the financial year. As the accounts are laid before the Houses and brought to the attention of this committee by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the circular also removes the need for audited bodies to arrange for copies of audited accounts to be submitted to the committee. This requirement was not being complied with in the majority of cases in any event. In most cases, once the Comptroller and Auditor General has certified accounts, the accounts must be laid before the Houses within three months. Members will be aware that this committee has a standing agreement to write to any bodies that are late in laying their audited accounts before the Houses. However, this circular, as was the case with the one it replaces, includes a requirement, at paragraph 9, that the clerk to this committee be notified where there is an unavoidable delay beyond these time limits. In practice, this is not being done. If it were, it would remove the need for us to write to bodies to request explanations for late laying of accounts.

It is proposed to note and publish the item, to thank the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for providing the updated circular and to request that it remind Departments of the requirement to inform the clerk if statutory accounts are being presented later than the specified time limits and to explain the delay. Is that agreed? Agreed. I hope our consistent following up where accounts were late had a role in putting that onto a more formal footing.