Minister’s Brief

ability of both electronic files and the electronic records stored therein provide an ability to
file emails directly, migrate existing electronic files on the network for consolidated storage
and allow increased tracking of physical files and their location.
eDiscovery: In order to support its work, the Department has recently tendered for an
eDiscovery platform solution to be put in place to aid in data and information retrieval which
requires digital and electronic documents to be effectively and efficiently searched, identified,
reviewed, collated and formatted.
Business Continuity Management Policy
Corporate Affairs is managing the development of a Business Continuity Management Policy
as part of the Executive Board’s overall management system that establishes, implements,
operates, monitors, reviews, maintains and improves business continuity processes in the
Department. It will set out the Departments minimum standards to which the Department
shall operate to minimise the likelihood of employee, stakeholders or general public impact,
regulatory breaches and reputational damage arising from disruption to business
operations. This policy provides for an overarching framework which will include the
development or consolidation of incident management, response and recovery plans across
the relevant divisions.
Systems to support internal financial control: Audit Committee & Internal Audit
Audit Committee: The role of the Audit Committee is to consider the adequacy and
effectiveness of the Department’s internal control systems, control environment and control
procedures, to oversee the work of the IAU and to provide guidance in relation to the
suitability and robustness of the systems of risk management and internal control within the
organisation. The Audit Committee, comprising a majority of non-executive members, reports
to the Secretary General, and works to an agreed Charter that is reviewed annually.
Internal Audit: The Internal Audit Unit (IAU) assesses areas that are specifically requested by
the Department’s Executive Board and the Audit Committee in respect of the areas of
responsibility of the Accounting Officer of the Department. The IAU’s expertise and
independent approach evaluates management approach to risk and internal controls. IAU
services is provided by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and this
relationship is managed by Corporate Affairs through a relationship framework, and regulated
by a service level agreement which is revised annually. The existence of Internal Audit does
not relieve line management of its responsibility for effective control of the activities for
which it is responsible. The IAU functions professionally, adhering to the Internal Audit
Standards (2012) of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The work of the Unit
takes account of the Core Principles for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, the
Code of Ethics and the International Standards of the IIA.
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