Local Government Act, 2001

Audit committee.

122.—(1) A local authority or joint body may, within 3 months of the meeting for which an audited financial statement, auditor's report or auditor's special report was submitted in accordance with section 121 (1), establish a committee (in this Chapter referred to as an “audit committee”).

(2) An audit committee consists of such members of the local authority or joint body as the authority or body may decide but in no case may the number exceed half of the total number of members or 7 members, whichever is the lesser number.

(3) An audit committee may consider the audited financial statement of the local authority or joint body, as the case may be, together with any auditor's report or auditor's special report thereon and any other related matters.

(4) All meetings of an audit committee shall be in public.

(5) At the request of an audit committee the local government auditor who conducted the audit shall attend a meeting of the audit committee to clarify such issues as may be necessary in relation to the content of the auditor's report or auditor's special report or otherwise.

(6) The issue to be discussed by an audit committee at a meeting which a local government auditor attends is subject to such guidelines as the Minister may from time to time issue, but in no case while the local government auditor is in attendance may there be discussed an issue relating to—

(a) a surcharge under section 12 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1871 , or

(b) a charge under section 20 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902 (as amended by section 61(3) of the Local Government Act, 1925 ).

(7) At the request of the audit committee the manager for the local authority or joint body concerned shall attend the meeting of the committee and may arrange for the attendance of such other employees, as he or she may consider appropriate.

(8) The audit committee shall report to the local authority or joint body on its consideration of the audited financial statement, auditor's report or auditor's special report.

(9) A local government auditor is entitled to qualified privilege in relation to any statements made by him or her at an audit committee meeting or at a meeting referred to in section 121 (3).