PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 26 MARCH 2009
MANOR SUITE, GREENMOUNT CAFRE
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance:
Ms Alison Ross (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Jim Wells
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
The Chairperson thanked Mr John Fay, Director, Greenmount CAFRE, for hosting the Committee’s meeting in the Manor Suite, and welcomed Mr John Dowdall CB, Comptroller and Auditor General, and Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts (TOA) to the meeting.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Matters arising
None.
3. Evidence on the NIAO Report ‘Control of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland’
The Committee took oral evidence on the NIAO report ‘Control of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland’ from Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Accounting Officer, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Mr Bert Houston, Chief Veterinary Officer, DARD, and Mrs Colette McMaster, Director of Animal Health and Welfare Division, DARD.
Mr Beggs declared an interest in that his father has a small farm on which he keeps cattle.
Mr Shannon declared an interest in that he is a member of the Ulster Farmers’ Union.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
3.10pm Mr Burns joined the meeting.
3.58pm Mr Craig left the meeting.
Members requested that the witnesses should provide additional information to the Clerk on some issues raised as a result of the evidence session.
4.52pm The evidence session finished and the witnesses left the meeting.
4. Minutes of the meeting on 19 March 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
5. Any other business
Members discussed the proposed Committee visit to the Audit Committee of the National Assembly of Wales on 13 and 14 May 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed to inform the Clerk of their availability for the visit to the National Assembly of Wales by 2 April 2009.
6. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 2 April 2009 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.54pm.