Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
436. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to shortcomings and failures within Departments, agencies and bodies to implement auditable systems to accurately record the receipt date of supplier invoices since 2011 in order to comply with the obligations and requirements of the prompt payment of accounts legislation. [4316/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012 - SI 580 of 2012 gives legal effect to Directive 2011/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on combating late payment in commercial transactions.
These Regulations apply to all public authorities which include Government Departments and state bodies. The Regulations provide that public authorities must pay for goods and services they procure within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice or as specified in a contract (which cannot exceed 30 days).
It is the responsibility of each individual Government Department and state body to ensure its internal systems and processes are in order to meet obligations under the above Regulations.
I can confirm that my Department and its agencies have systems and processes in place to ensure that obligations under the 15-day prompt payment rules and the 30-day limit under the Regulations are met. Prompt payments is an integral part of the processes in this Department and its agencies and is constantly monitored.
All Departments must publish, on a quarterly basis their compliance figures. All Departments must also publish the compliance levels of the bodies under their aegis on their respective websites. The compliance level among Government Departments and the agencies of my Department with the regulations have been consistently very strong. In 2018 and 2019 respectively, 98% of all invoices received by Government Departments were paid within 30 days and did not incur late payment interest or compensation. In 2018 and 2019, 99% and 98% of all invoices received by the agencies of this Department were paid within 30 days and therefore did not incur late payment interest or compensation payments. This demonstrates that robust systems are in place to ensure compliance with the regulations.
