In accordance with directives issued by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Government Departments do not measure payment performance against the dates that appear on invoices, but rather against the date on which invoices are received at the address quoted on purchase orders or similar documents. This is also in line with the requirements of the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
The Department paid 93.27 per cent. of its suppliers within 10 days of the receipt of an invoice at our nominated address during the period from 1 October 2008 to 31 December 2008.