Garda Auditors Not Informed Of Long-Term Controversies

Garda auditors have recently raised strong concerns about hidden long-term controversies.

The Internal Audit Committee of An Garda Síochána has said it was "very concerned" at not being told, for over a year, by senior Garda management about the existence of thousands of fake breath tests or unreliable fixed notice convictions.

The claims were made in the latest Annual Report from the Audit Committee, who said that neither they nor the Garda's internal audit unit were informed of the issues even though senior gardai had already devoted considerable resource to examining both.

As a result, the committee have said that they have been placed in "the unusual position of being unable to offer any view concerning the implications of either issue".

They have declared that the issues must be regarded "unresolved" and have requested that senior Garda management be "examined thoroughly".

Alan Kelly, vice-chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said that the report raised many questions.

"Obviously the relationship between the internal audit function and senior management in An Garda Síochána isn't functioning," he said.

"The passing of information from one to the other isn't happening to the level required."

"Why weren't the audit committee told about this for over a year? How can they do their jobs? How can they actually assess risks and costs to the taxpayer if they are not provided information in the first place?"