Dr Kevin Smyth

Dr. Kevin Smyth is the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Finance Division & Central Procurement Unit, Accounts Division, Internal Audit Unit, Agricultural Appeals Office, Horse & Greyhound Racing, and Teagasc

Divisions

Finance Division & Central Procurement Unit - Head of Division - Rebecca Chapman

The responsibility of this Division is to to ensure that the Department operates the highest standards in financial management, in relation to EU and voted funds, including procurement, risk and fraud management.

Accounts Division - Head of Division - Colm McKiernan

The responsibility of Accounts Division is to process and maintain all appropriate accounting records of the Department's financial transactions by executing all Department payment and receipt transactions promptly and accurately, maintaining the integrity of the Accounts and the Corporate Customer Systems, while also assessing and managing changing business requirements and processes, including engagement

with the Financial Shared Services Project. The Division also administers the Rural Innovation and Development Fund and provides support to external users of the AgFood.ie On-Line portal.

Internal Audit Unit - Head of Division - Gordon Conroy

The responsibility of this Division is to support the Department in maintaining the highest standards of financial management and controls and to give assurance to the Secretary General, the Committee and senior management as to the adequacy and effectiveness of the Department’s risk management, control and governance processes.

Agricultural Appeals Office - Head of Division - Lynda O’Regan

The Agriculture Appeals Office is an independent Office providing an appeals service for agriculture scheme of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine since 2002. In 2018, the Office was assigned responsibility for implementing a new statutory appeals service for appeals against Department decisions on forestry licences.

Horse & Greyhound Racing, and Teagasc - Head of Division - Caroline Ball

The responsibility of this Division is to effectively manage the Department’s oversight functions in relation to Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Bord na gCon (BnG), the Irish National Stud (INS) and Teagasc. The Division has ancillary responsibility for aspects of Coursing and Irish Harness Racing.