Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 4 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 7

Written Answers. - Prompt Payment of Accounts.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

108 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, which came into force on 1 January 1998, is being implemented by all relevant bodies and authorities under her aegis; if all systems are in place to ensure that the 45 day limit for payments is being met; if not, if interest is being paid; the complaints, if any, she has received regarding non-payment on time; if she has sought an interim report on the way in which the legislation is working during the last six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13234/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

My Department has put in place the necessary systems to ensure that all of the conditions of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, which came into force on 2 January 1998, are complied with. To date only a small number of interest penalty payments have been necessary. No formal complaints have been received by my Department in relation to delay in payments.

At the beginning of the year, all State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department were reminded of the conditions and their responsibilities in relation to the Act. However, the implementation of these conditions is an operational matter for the State bodies concerned and I have no statutory function.

In conformity with the Act, my Department will lodge with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment a review of its payment practice which subsequently will be available in the Oireachtas Library. Each State-sponsored body will include details of its payment practice in its annual report.