Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

563. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of internal audit across his Department; internal audit's relationship with external auditors and audit committees, as well as internal audit's adherence to professional standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32544/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to maintaining the highest standards of financial management and controls and to this end it is the policy of the Department to maintain and support a quality internal audit function. The Department’s Internal Audit Unit derives its authority from the Secretary General, in his capacity as Accounting Officer, to whom the Director of Internal Audit reports directly. The Department has seventeen staff assigned to its Internal Audit Unit. The role of the Unit is to give assurance to the Secretary General, the Audit Committee and senior management as to the adequacy of the Department's risk management, control and governance processes. The Unit also carries out an audit programme in accordance with a number of EU Regulations in respect of EU Funds. The Internal Audit Unit does not engage in line functions in order to preserve its independence, which is essential in its provision of impartial advice to management. In addition the Unit provides all necessary support to the Department’s Audit Committee.

The Department is subject to a significant level of external audit from bodies such as the Comptroller and Auditor General, the EU Commission, the Court of Auditors and, in relation to the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Certifying Body, appointed under the relevant EU Regulations. The Internal Audit Unit co-operates fully with these auditors.

The Audit Committee of the Department has been established to independently advise the Secretary General of the Department and the Minister on internal audit policies and the management of risk, appropriate to the functioning of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Audit Committee’s main roles are to advise on the suitability and robustness of the Department’s internal control systems, to advise on the operation of the internal audit function within the Department, and to examine and monitor the implementation of the Department’s risk management strategy. The Audit Committee is independent of the Department and is objective in its considerations. The Committee has an advisory role and accordingly is not responsible for any executive functions. It meets at least 4 times per year.

Internal audit work is carried out in accordance with the standards and guidelines issued by the Department of Finance and best practice of organisations such as the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.