PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER Speaker of the House of Representatives Anġlu Farrugia opens the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Network Event

Speaker of the House of Representatives Anġlu Farrugia opened the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Network Meeting 2024 and welcomed participants from seven different jurisdictions across the British Islands and the Mediterranean Region on 28 November 2024.

The sessions of the network event focused on advantages and disadvantages of small PACs, the role of digitalisation and AI in assisting PAC members and auditing the implementation of the SDGs.

His address focused on strengthening transparency, accountability, and good governance in the Public Accounts Committees across nations,  highlighting the balance between smaller and larger PACs, emphasising how the size of a committee can impact its efficiency and the diversity of perspectives, essential for comprehensive decision-making, whilst noting the critical role of PACs in ensuring that public funds are used responsibly, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring their oversight function in achieving global sustainability targets.

In his address, the Speaker stressed the potential of AI to streamline routine tasks and improve the accuracy and speed of financial analysis, whilst he acknowledged the challenges of training PAC members and staff to effectively use these technologies, calling for commitment to overcome these barriers while ensuring data security and privacy.

The conference was also addressed by George Hyzler, Malta's representative at the European Court of Auditors, and Darren Carabott, Chair of the Maltese PAC.

The conference, held in the Parliament Building, welcomed representatives from the branches of the British Isles and Mediterranean: Cyprus, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

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