Comptroller and Auditor General John Purcell (left) has been described as the Government spending watchdog.
He describes the mission of his office as "providing assurance that public money is properly administered and spent to good effect".
Mr Purcell is an independent officer under the Constitution with responsibility for the audit of public funds. He reports directly to Dáil Éireann.
As well as his annual report, he publishes value for money and special reports at other times during the year.
He says his annual report identifies issues across departments which he feels need to be brought to public attention, "in the interests of transparency and accountability".
The Dáil Public Accounts Committee will call in the heads of departments to discuss Mr Purcell's report in the coming months.
Mr Purcell was appointed Comptroller and Auditor General in November 1994. He was a member of the former Public Offices Commission and has been a member of the Standards in Public Office Commission since its establishment in 2001. ... Alison Healy
q The full text of the Comptroller and Auditor General's 2005 report and the audited accounts are available on the website http://www.audgen.gov.ie