Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

The Comptroller and Auditor General plays a central role in the public accountability process by providing assurance to Dáil Éireann on the manner in which public funds have been administered and providing it with reports on matters arising out of audits and other statutory examinations. These reports are considered by the Committee of Public Accounts of Dáil Éireann (PAC). The core work of the Office is the conduct of financial audits which culminates in an annual opinion on all accounts of State and State-sponsored bodies falling within the audit remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG). This work entails examining the accounts and underlying records and transactions of those entities in order to ensure that * the accounts properly reflect the transactions * the transactions recorded in the accounts are regular – have been applied for the purposes intended and in accordance with rules governing them. For each account an examination is also made of the internal financial control arrangements. The Office also carries out a range of other work designed to test on a discretionary basis whether * value for money has been achieved by State organisations * good financial management principles have been applied in the administration of public funds * funds paid to bodies who receive more than 50% of their funding from the State have been applied for the purpose intended * public business has been conducted properly. As Comptroller of the Exchequer the C&AG authorises the release of funds from the Exchequer on requisition by either the Minister for Finance or the National Treasury Management Agency. Funds requisitioned must be for purposes permitted by law and can only be drawn down to the extent authorised by Dáil Éireann.