MINUTES OF PROCEEDING OF THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON MONDAY 12 JUNE 2000
1. Apologies
2. Declaration of Interests
3. The Role of the Committee
4. Estimates 2000/2001
5. Forward Work Programme
6. Chairman's Business
7. Date of Next Meeting
Present:Mr John Dallat (Chairman)
Mr Billy Hutchinson (Deputy Chairman)
Mr Derek Hussey
In Attendance:Mrs E Sung, Ms A Colville, Ms C Angelone
1.Apologies
Mr Gerry McHugh, Mr Mark Robinson.
2.Declaration of Interests
The Chairman advised members that they are required to declare any pecuniary or other interests. If members have not already completed a members' Interests Registration form or if their circumstances had changed they were advised to inform the Clerk of Committees. Mr Hutchinson declared a change of interest (member of the Board of Springvale Campus, unpaid) which he will formally register.
3.The Role of the Committee
The Chairman outlined the Audit Committee's duty under Section 66 of the NI Act 1998, which is to agree with the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) for Northern Ireland his operating expenses, taking account of the views of the Public Accounts Committee and the Department of Finance, and to lay before the Assembly the estimate of the expenses for the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
4.Estimates 2000/2001
The Chairman informed members that he had laid before the Assembly (notified the Business Office) the estimate of the expenses for the Northern Ireland Audit Office for the year 2000-2001.
Agreed
The Chairman would speak to this effect during the course of the Appropriation Debate in the Assembly plenary session after the meeting.
5.Forward Work Programme
Agreed
Clerk to write to the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland requesting a meeting before recess to discuss the work and scope of his office and consideration of the NIAO's Estimates for 2000-2001 (date arranged 27 June 2000).
Agreed
That at a meeting to be arranged after recess, the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland would be asked to attend a formal evidence session on the NIAO business plan for 2001/2002 and draft estimates. This meeting would also cover the strategy for three to five years ahead.
Noted
Although the Audit Committee has a role analogous to that of the Public Accounts Commission, its powers are more limited. The Audit Committee will at a future meeting discuss whether as a Committee they can or should seek to increase their remit.
6.Chairman's Business
The Chairman thanked members for attending the meeting and suggested that they might consider speaking in support of his remarks to the Assembly during today's Appropriation debate.
7.Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 27 June at 9 am in Room 106, Parliament Buildings.