Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 634: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the average time for payment to be made by his Department and by each agency affiliated to his Department to outside contractors for goods and services employed for each of the years 2004 to 2007 and to date in 2008 in tabular, readable form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17372/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is a key objective of my Department, in its dealings with suppliers of goods and services, to pay all invoices as soon as possible after the goods and services have been satisfactorily delivered. In addition, payments governed by the provisions of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997, are required to be made within the statutory limit of 30 days set out in the Act.

The vast majority of all payments made by my Department to outside contractors for goods and services are made within 30 days. Details of payments incurring penalties under the Prompt Payments of Accounts Act are published in my Department's Annual Report. All payments made by agencies affiliated to my Department are a day-to-day operational matter for those organisations.