15 Noll 2014, 14:20
The European Year for Development 2015 will be discussed with Dochás
15 December 2014
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs tomorrow meets with the Irish Member of European Court of Auditors Kevin Cardiff to consider the Annual Report for 2013.
The report provide assurances on how EU funds were used throughout 2013, highlighting where those funds were found to be at most risk of being misspent. The reports also include recommendations on how EU financial management can be approved. The Court estimated that 4.7 percent of spending should not have been paid out from the EU budget in 2013.
Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD said: “The Committee looks forward to meeting Kevin Cardiff, who is currently the Irish Member of the European Court of Auditors. In challenging financial times for the Union when value for money is of critical importance, it is timely that the Committee look at the Report of the institution tasked with appraising EU financial management. We will wish to explore in greater detail the underlying reasons for the most error prone spending areas, namely regional policy, energy and transport (6.9 percent error rate); and rural development, environment, fisheries and health (6.7 percent).
“Mr Cardiff’s presence will also allow the Committee explore the Court's Landscape Reviews on the Financial Risks to the EU Budget and Accountability and Audit in the European Union. A new initiative by the Court, these reviews are intended to serve as a basis for consultation and dialogue with the Court's stakeholders.”
Separately, the Committee will meet with Dóchas, the organisation charged with coordinating the promotion of the European Year for Development in Ireland.
Deputy Hannigan continues: “The EU is collectively the world’s largest donor, accounting for about half of all development aid. 2015 has been designated as European Year for Development, which aims to change the way people in Ireland think about, talk about, and act on global issues. Tomorrow’s meeting will be a valuable opportunity to engage with Dóchas representatives on their ambitious plans for promoting the Year in Ireland.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Tuesday 16 December at 2pm in Committee Room 1, LH 2000. Public proceedings can be followed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Committee Membership
Deputies: Eric Byrne, Seán Crowe, Timmy Dooley, Bernard J. Durkan, John Halligan, Dominic Hannigan (Chair), Derek Keating, Seán Kyne, and Joe O’Reilly
Senators: Colm Burke, Aideen Hayden, Terry Leyden, Catherine Noone and Kathryn Reilly