Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of interest paid by him in respect of the late payments for goods or services contracted by his Department for the past five years to date in 2009; the steps being taken to ensure that money is appropriately spent and that payments are made on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25857/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The amount of interest paid to suppliers by my Department under the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997, since the establishment of the Department in June 2007, is detailed in the following table:

My Department aims, 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 and the supporting documentation necessary to enable the payment has been received by my Department. The vast majority of all payments made by my Department to suppliers for goods and services are made within 30 days. In 2008, over 99% of all payments made were within 30 days.

The Deputy may be aware that the Government recently announced that all Government Departments will reduce the payment period to suppliers from 30 to 15 days and arrangements have been introduced in my Department to ensure compliance with this commitment.