PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 2 JULY 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Patsy McGlone
Ms Dawn Purvis
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that Mr John Dowdall CB would be retiring in September 2009 and that this was his last meeting with the Committee. The Chairperson and individual members acknowledged the contribution made by Mr Dowdall and wished him well on his retirement.
2.06pm Mr Craig joined the meeting.
The Chairperson also informed the Committee that Mrs Gillian Lewis was leaving the Committee staff to work on a project in another area of the Assembly. He thanked Mrs Lewis for her support and service to PAC and wished her well in her new post.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that Mr Patsy McGlone had become a member of the Committee following the Plenary session on Monday, 29 June 2009, and that Mr John Dallat would remain a member of the Committee.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.15pm.
The Chairperson reconvened the meeting at 2.22pm in public session.
2.22pm Mr Wells joined the meeting.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 25 June 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
3. Matters arising
Members discussed correspondence from Antrim Borough Council relating to the Penny Product, and considered a draft response.
Agreed: Members agreed that the response should be copied to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Members noted the correspondence from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts, providing further information in relation to the evidence session on Valence Technology.
Members considered further correspondence from a member of the public in relation to the Rathlin Ferry.
Agreed: Members agreed to forward the requested information to the member of the public and forward a copy to the Committee for Regional Development.
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: Members agreed to forward the correspondence to the NIAO, as requested by the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
4. Ministerial Direction
Members considered two Ministerial Directions in relation to continued funding to Ligoniel Improvement Association and Lower North Belfast Community Council.
2.30pm Mr Dallat joined the meeting.
Mr Dowdall CB, C&AG, informed the Committee that he would produce a report on the issues raised by the Ministerial Directions for members’ attention.
5. Forward Work Programme
Members discussed the final forward work programme for the period September to December 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed the final forward work programme and that it should be placed on the Committee’s website.
Members considered a proposal to refer the NIAO report ‘General Report on the Health and Social Care Sector in Northern Ireland’ to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Agreed: Members agreed to refer the NIAO report ‘General Report on the Health and Social Care Sector in Northern Ireland – 2008’ to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety with a request for the Committee to report back to the Public Accounts Committee on the benefits of this exercise, to inform future practice on this matter.
6. Memorandum of Reply on Committee Report on The PFI Contract for Northern Ireland’s New Vehicle Testing Facilities
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply on the Committee’s Report on the PFI Contract for Northern Ireland’s New Vehicle Testing Facilities.
Agreed: Members agreed to seek clarification in relation to the Department’s response to Recommendation 6.
2.35pm The meeting went into closed session.
7. Consideration of the draft Committee Report on Improving Maintenance Procurement and the Investigation of Suspected Contract Fraud
Members continued their consideration of the draft report paragraph by paragraph, starting at paragraph 54.
Paragraphs 54 and 55 read and agreed.
Paragraph 56 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 57 – 70 read and agreed.
Paragraph 71 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 72 and 73 read and agreed.
Paragraph 74 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 75 – 78 read and agreed.
Paragraph 79 read, amended and agreed.
Two further paragraphs were agreed to be included in the report.
Paragraph 80 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 81 - 83 read and agreed.
3.00pm Mr Craig left the meeting.
Members agreed to delete paragraph 84.
Paragraph 85 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 86 read and agreed.
Paragraph 87 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 88 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 89 and 90 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 91 and 92 read and agreed.
Paragraph 93 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 94 and 95 read and agreed.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary.
Paragraphs 1 – 10 read and agreed.
Paragraph 11 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 12 read and agreed.
Paragraph 13 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 14 – 16 read and agreed.
Paragraph 17 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 18 – 20 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed to include in the report the Chairperson’s letter to Mr Will Haire, Accounting Officer of the Department of Education, together with his response; and the Chairperson’s letter to Mr Howard Ingram, together with his correspondence to the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01am on Thursday, 10 September 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson would agree a press release to launch the report during the summer recess.
8. Any other business
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson would deal with any Freedom of Information requests which were received during the summer recess.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 10 September 2009 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.35pm.