11.1 The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions makes payments to suppliers after the goods or services in question have been provided satisfactorily and within 30 days of the supplier submitting an invoice. In the case of fees to counsel, while invoices are not generated, the practice of the Office is to pay counsels' fees within 45 days of receipt of the state solicitor's report in each case.
11.2 In the period in question, the Office made 14 late payments in excess of €317.50. The total value of these payments was €25,695.63. The total value of late payments in the year amounted to €26,065.63 out of total payments of €3.17 million and interest thereon came to €669.53.
11.3 The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is one of the organisations which is subject to the terms of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997 and the Late Payments in Commercial Transactions Regulations 2002. The Act came into force on 2 January 1998, and since that time the Office has complied with the terms of the Act.
11.4 All invoices from suppliers are date stamped on receipt. Invoices are approved and submitted for payment in a timely manner to ensure that payment is made within the relevant period. When the invoices are being paid the date of receipt and the date of payment are compared, and if the relevant time limit has been exceeded, an interest payment is automatically generated. In cases where an interest payment is required, the matter is brought to the attention of management so that any necessary remedial action can be taken.
11.5 The procedures which have been put in place can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material non-compliance with the Act.
Barry Donoghue
Accounting Officer
May 2007