International aid agency Goal has rejected suggestions that it withheld information from government auditors during an examination of how it spent €14 million in state funding.
In a statement, the charity said it "rejects entirely" claims in a Sunday newspaper that it failed to co-operate fully with Irish Aid, the arm of the Department of Foreign Affairs responsible for the Government’s overseas aid budget.
As part of its remit, Irish Aid routinely audits all its beneficiaries to ensure public funds are properly spent.
Goal said it "co-operates fully with its external auditors and has a strong track record of compliance and cost-effectiveness over the last 35 years".
The report said information withheld from Irish Aid auditors included minutes of board meetings, copies of agendas for meetings, information on "succession planning for the board and senior management" and an internal review of security in the field after the kidnapping of two staff in Sudan in 2009: Sharon Commins, 32, from Dublin, and her colleague Hilda Kawuki, 42, from Uganda.
However Goal said any documentation requested by Irish Aid was submitted and referenced in the final evaluation report.
"The action plan annexed to the report states clearly that where documents were requested Goal provided them and, in the absence of any documents, Goal provided a clear rationale," the statement said.
Its statement also claimed that the Irish Aid report "demonstrates clearly that Goal fulfilled its audit requirements effectively" and that the report was "positive" regarding Goal’s financial and management systems.
Goal chairman Pat O’Mahony said the newspaper report was "factually incorrect" and misrepresented the Irish Aid report.
"Goal did not withhold any documents or information in our possession from the auditors," Mr O’Mahony said.
It is understood that Irish Aid had requested documents from the charity that were not supplied on time.
The statement added that Mr O’Mahony and Goal CEO John O’Shea welcomed the audit "which, in common with those conducted previously by Goal’s other major donors ... has served to confirm that the organisation’s financial structures are compliant and robust".
Irish Aid has said it will work with Goal to implement the recommendations of the audit.
Goal has not been free from controversy in recent months.
Goal said it "co-operates fully with its external auditors and has a strong track record of compliance and cost-effectiveness over the last 35 years".
The report said information withheld from Irish Aid auditors included minutes of board meetings, copies of agendas for meetings, information on "succession planning for the board and senior management" and an internal review of security in the field after the kidnapping of two staff in Sudan in 2009: Sharon Commins, 32, from Dublin, and her colleague Hilda Kawuki, 42, from Uganda.
However Goal said any documentation requested by Irish Aid was submitted and referenced in the final evaluation report.
"The action plan annexed to the report states clearly that where documents were requested Goal provided them and, in the absence of any documents, Goal provided a clear rationale," the statement said.
Its statement also claimed that the Irish Aid report "demonstrates clearly that Goal fulfilled its audit requirements effectively" and that the report was "positive" regarding Goal’s financial and management systems.
Goal chairman Pat O’Mahony said the newspaper report was "factually incorrect" and misrepresented the Irish Aid report.
"Goal did not withhold any documents or information in our possession from the auditors," Mr O’Mahony said.
It is understood that Irish Aid had requested documents from the charity that were not supplied on time.
The statement added that Mr O’Mahony and Goal CEO John O’Shea welcomed the audit "which, in common with those conducted previously by Goal’s other major donors ... has served to confirm that the organisation’s financial structures are compliant and robust".
Irish Aid has said it will work with Goal to implement the recommendations of the audit.
Goal has not been free from controversy in recent months.
In November, Fran Rooney, former chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, resigned from the board shortly after barrister Ken Fogarty resigned from his position as chair of the board.
Mr Fogarty told the Irish Examiner that he had quit on foot of being told by Mr O’Shea that he had no trust or confidence in him.
Mr Fogarty told the Irish Examiner that he had quit on foot of being told by Mr O’Shea that he had no trust or confidence in him.
Mr Fogarty, who said he was caught off guard by Mr O’Shea’s comments, had been involved in delivering a restructuring programme for the charity which included changes that would help modernise corporate governance and improve supervision in the agency.