Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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451. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will, in respect of his Department's audit committee, provide details of its current membership; the date of appointment of each member; the fees paid to each member; if members of the committee are required to hold certain professional qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4211/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Details in relation to the membership of my Department's Audit Committee are set out in the following table:

Each member was appointed for a three year term in September 2011. Members serve pro bono, with the Chair receiving a fee in line with central guidance (a total of some €1,900 was paid in 2013) in recognition of the additional duties and responsibilities attaching to that position. While Audit Committee members are not required to hold specific professional qualifications per se, I think it is evident that the depth and breadth of the skill mix of my Department's Audit Committee as a whole is considerable. The Committee also includes significant external and private sector representation.

In line with the guidance issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Committee works closely with the Secretary General of my Department, who is the Accounting Officer for the Vote, and with my Department's Internal Audit Unit. The Committee meets, generally on a quarterly basis, to review the Internal Audit Unit's audit programmes; examine audit reports completed and assess the actions taken; examine and monitor the implementation of my Department's risk management strategy; and meet officials from my Department to review issues, as appropriate.