John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a dedicated auditing unit in his Department assessing and monitoring the day-to-day spend of his Department with particular reference to major projects; if so, the number of staff involved; if the staff have accountancy qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26849/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department has had an internal audit unit in place since 1994. All areas of expenditure in the Department come under the remit of internal audit. The internal audit unit works to an annual audit plan in order to offer the secretary general, as Accounting Officer, reasonable assurance that transactions are authorised and properly recorded and that material errors are either prevented or would be detected in a timely manner.

In line with the recommendations of the report of the working group on the accountability of Secretaries General and Accounting Officers, an audit committee was established in my Department in January 2004. It consists of three external and two internal members with one of the external members serving as chairperson. The committee has met six times since its establishment.

Internal audit unit staff have many years of experience working in audit. Four of the unit's five staff are currently completing the Chartered Institute of Public Financial Accountants accredited certificate in audit skills. Moreover, the internal audit unit has direct access at all times to two professionally qualified accountants who are staff members of the Department.