Dáil Éireann - Volume 653 - 08 May, 2008

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Defence the average time for payment to be made by his Department and by each agency affiliated to his Department to outside contractors for goods and services employed for each of the years 2004 to 2007 and to date in 2008 in tabular readable form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17374/08]

  Deputy Willie O’Dea: The average time taken to make payment to suppliers of goods and services to my Department, the Defence Forces, the Civil Defence Board and Coiste an Asgard for each of the years in question is as follows:

Year

Average Payment Period in Days

2004

12

2005

11

2006

15

2007

9

2008 (to date)

8

[1260] My Department complies with the provisions of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997 and the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002. It is the Department’s policy to settle all invoices promptly with due regard to contractual terms where applicable, good financial management practices and the provisions of the Act and Regulations.