Recently my Department appointed an audit committee. It operates under a written charter and has met. The committee is required to furnish a report on its activities during the year to the accounting officer within three months following the end of each calendar year. The members are: Mr. Jerry Killeen, chairman, former financial controller and company secretary, Dublin Port Company; Mr. Michael Canny, assistant secretary, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Mr. Eric Embleton former assistant secretary, CMOD, Department of Finance; Mr. Noel O'Connell, director of audit, Local Government Audit Service; and Mr. Donal O'Donoghue, former county manager, Galway County Council.