asked the Minister for Finance the amounts owed by and owing to the various Departments of State as at the end of the financial year 1969-70.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Accounts.
30.
As Government accounts are kept on a cash basis and not on the basis of income and expenditure, the information requested is not readily available.
I may add that each March a special effort is made to secure that, before the end of the month, all accounts due will have been paid and all debts due collected.
Will the Minister agree that it would be good accountancy to have at the end of each year accounts of moneys due to and by each Department, particularly in view of the requirements of the Budget?
Would it not be better to show all accounts, including professional fees?
All accounts, either moneys due by us or to us——
There are a lot of people better known to the Minister who would not agree with that.
Surely there are enough accountants in the Department to get out the figures I have asked for?
We do not keep our books on that system. The information would not be of any particular value to the Deputy.
It would be highly significant if any Minister for Finance were holding up payments of grants, for instance, and there would be a large balance outstanding which the people might be led to believe was not there.
The Comptroller and Auditor General would certainly draw the attention of the Dáil to any such matter.