Annual Report and Accounts Tuaras agu - Waterways Ireland

Goal 6
6.1.6 Audit Programme
Internal Audit
Internal Audit forms part of the governance and control environment by exercising an
independent appraisal function charged with reviewing activities across all areas within the
Body. The role of Internal Audit is to objectively examine, evaluate and report on whether
the systems, procedures and controls which management operate in the pursuance of the
Body’s objectives are being complied with in the most economic, efficient and effective
manner and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. It assists all levels of
management in exercising its responsibility of ensuring that sound systems of internal
controls are introduced and maintained. Internal Audit carries out its remit by completing
an annual programme of audits and reports to the Audit Committee on the results of these
audits. It also monitors and reports to management and the Audit Committee on progress
towards the implementation of agreed audit recommendations. During 2008, Internal Audit
continued to audit the effectiveness of the internal control environment in Waterways
Ireland.
External Audit
Waterways Irelands Accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General for
Northern Ireland and the Irish Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AGs) in accordance
with the provisions of the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern
Ireland) Order 1999 and the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999. The C&AGs are heads of
the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General
and they and their staff are wholly independent of Waterways Ireland. They report their
findings to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas. The charge
for the audit services for the financial year, which is included as a cost in the Income and
Expenditure account, was €38,746, (STG£37,465). There was no remuneration paid to
auditors for non-audit work as there was no such work carried out in the year.
Audit Committee
Waterways Ireland has an Audit Committee which has two external members. The Audit
Committee has unrestricted access to the internal and external auditors. The Audit
Committee assesses the work of Internal Audit and receives reports on various aspects
of internal control. During 2008 the Audit Committee met three times to review Internal
Audit reports and to ensure that appropriate action was being taken by management to
implement agreed internal audit recommendations.
6.1.7 Industrial/Employee Relations
Waterways Ireland has continued to maintain stable Industrial Relations with employees by
participating in quarterly meetings with recognised trade unions including; NIPSA, IMPACT
and SIPTU. The organisation also regularly participates in the Industrial Relations Forum and
the Partnership Forum.
Substantial progress was made during 2008 on a number of industrial relations issues
through discussions at these meetings, including positive collaboration with SIPTU and
UNITE unions on the development of a new work roster for Lockkeepers which should be
completed and agreed in 2009.
Waterways Ireland Annual Report and Accounts 2008
41