Department criticises Goal over audit

The Department of Foreign Affairs has described as "unacceptable" the refusal by the relief agency, Goal, to co-operate with an audit of its accounts. In a letter in today's Irish Times, a spokesman says no funds have been provided to Goal this year because of its failure to comply with the Department's accounting requirements. These require Goal to show each grant from the Department individually within its audited accounts.

"Despite this obligation, Goal's audited accounts for 1995, which were presented in January 1997, did not provide the specific information required," the letter states. The Department says an EU investigation into Goal was started in Brussels, on foot of complaints made by former Goal employees. Goal says the EU's humanitarian office (ECHO) only got involved after a Department official made a complaint.

The letter says that it was "apparent" that Goal had sought funding from the Agency for Personal Services Overseas (APSO) for assignments that were fully funded by ECHO.

When the Department started its own audit, Goal refused access to the relevant records, the spokesman says. However, Goal's chairman, Mr Noel Carroll, last night denied the agency was not co-operating with the audit. The Department had withdrawn its auditors last week, he said.

Mr Carroll questioned the right of officials to stop up to £1 million in funding destined for famine victims and other projects in the Third World. Such decisions should be taken by the responsible ministers. The work of 20 years' dedication could not now be dismissed by someone "taking out the rule-book". The Department was hiding behind "a veil of bureaucratic righteousness".