§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in view of recent experiences, and of the fact that tolerance of irregular accounts and of imperfect audits until there is somebody to be punished results in loss to the ratepayers, whether the Local Government Board for Ireland will endeavour to prevent irregularity and loss by requiring from their auditors henceforward more minute local investigation and fuller reports than hitherto, especially when in receipt of warning from any authentic source?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Cherry, replying for Mr. Birrell)The Local Government Board see no reason for taking the action indicated in the question, as the suggestions and allegations contained in it are not warranted by any facts within their knowledge. There is no ground for the allegation that irregular accounts and imperfect audits are tolerated. The Board's auditors investigate accounts minutely, acting upon any warnings respecting irregularities which may be received from authentic sources and making full reports when they appear to be required.