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AUDIT COMMITTEE

END OF MANDATE LEGACY REPORT

8TH MAY 2007 – 24TH MARCH 2011

1. Committee remit, current membership and powers

Remit:

The Audit Committee is a Standing Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly established in accordance with paragraph 10 of Strand One of the Belfast Agreement and under Assembly Standing Order No. 58. The Committee has 5 members including a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and a quorum of 2.

Current Membership:

The membership of the Committee is as follows:

Mr Jonathan Craig (Chairperson)
Mr Samuel Gardiner (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Paul Maskey

Powers:

The Committee has the power to:

The Chairperson of the Audit Committee also has a lead role in the recruitment of the C & AG (NI).

2. Achievements of the Committee over the period of the Mandate

3. Committee’s approach to undertaking its work

In considering the NIAO Annual Report and Accounts the Committee considers the Audit Findings Report prepared by the independent auditors and takes evidence from the Comptroller and Auditor General.

When considering the NIAO Corporate Plan and Estimates the Committee takes evidence from the C&AG and also has regard to the advice of the Public Accounts Committee and the Department of Finance and Personnel.

4. Issues and matters that the incoming committee may wish to consider

Further to the outcome of the major review of the judicial salary structure to which the Comptroller and Auditor General’s salary is aligned, the Audit Committee should give consideration to carrying out a review of the options open to it for determining the Comptroller and Auditor General’s salary in the future.

The Audit Committee may wish to consider further the corporate governance arrangements in respect of the NIAO.

The Committee may wish to agree a protocol with the Department of Finance and Personnel to include agreed timescales for considering and agreeing the estimates of the NIAO.

APPENDIX 1

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Change in membership throughout the mandate

Membership (11):

Alliance Dr Stephen Farry 6,7
Democratic Unionist Party Mr Jonathan Craig (Chairperson) 3,4,5
Sinn Fein Mr Paul Maskey 1
Social Democratic and Labour Party Mr Tommy Gallagher 2
Ulster Unionist Party Mr Samuel Gardiner (Deputy Chairperson)

1 with effect from 29 September 2008 Mr Paul Maskey replaced Mr John O’Dowd
2 with effect from 29 June 2009 Mr Tommy Gallagher replaced Mr Pat Ramsey
3 with effect from 4 July 2009 Mr Peter Weir replaced Mr Robin Newton
4 with effect from 28th June 2010 Mr Peter Weir ceased being chair of the Committee
5 with effect from 3rd September 2010 Mr Jonathan Craig was appointed as Chair of the Committee
6 with effect from 13th September 2010 Ms Anna Lo replaced Dr Stephen Farry as a member of the Committee
7 with effect from 15 November 2010 Dr Stephen Farry replaced Ms Anna Lo


APPENDIX 2

Committee meetings and visits
Session Number of meetings held % minutes Closed % minutes Public Number of meetings held outside Parliament Buildings Number of Committee visits
2007
1
34
36
0
0
2007/2008
4
47.8
52.2
0
0
2008/2009
4
40.1
59.9
0
0
2009/2010
3
33.9
66.1
0
0
2010/2011
3
62.2
37.8
0
0
Committee Report
Session
Name of Report
Date (date approved by Committee)
Date debated in Plenary (if appropriate)
2010/2011 Report on the Estimate of the Northern Ireland Audit Office 2011-12 1 st March 2011 ---
Budget Scrutiny (NIAO Estimates)
Session
Number of evidence sessions
2007
0
2007/2008
1
2008/2009
1
2009/2010
1
2010/2011
1