Vol. 444 No. 3
27 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his response to the recent draft report of the EC Court of Auditors which criticised the lack of effective controls in handling EC agricultural payments; if he intends to review procedures in view of the report's findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Court of Auditors' report to which the Deputy refers was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 16 November 1993. The report deals, inter alia, with the court's programme of financial audit in member states which began in 1989 and covered France and Ireland in 1992. In its conclusions, the court states that all member states and the Commission should ensure that clear, coherent and effective administrative and control systems are in place.
The court's report has been discussed by the EU Budget Committee and by the ECOFIN Council which met on 21 March 1994. Following these discussions, the Council made a recommendation to the European Parliament that, on foot of the court's report, discharge be granted to the Commission in respect of its execution of the 1992 budget.
In the meantime, the detailed conclusions of the court's report in relation to Ireland are being examined by my Department. I can assure the Deputy that my Department will adopt and implement whatever measures are necessary to redress any weaknesses identified.
