Bruton prepares law change in response to spending revelations

The Irish government will be demanding higher standards of financial governance in universities following widespread reports of weak accounting practices.

The Department of Education and Skills is preparing fresh legislation that will impose tougher fiscal controls, with financial penalties for infringements.

The move comes in response to revelations of spending and remuneration decisions that were made public by state broadcaster RTÉ in May. They were also scrutinised in public by the Dail’s public account’s committee (PAC), which held hearings and published its own report on 11 July.