PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Hilditch
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance:
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr Jonathan Craig
The meeting opened at 2.03 pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 24 September 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters arising
MOR Update – Report on Outpatients: Missed Appointments and Cancelled Clinics
Members noted correspondence from Dr Andrew McCormick, Accounting Officer of the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety, providing an update on progress since receipt of the above MOR.
Agreed: Members agreed to explore details of the update at the evidence session with Dr McCormick on 12 November 2009.
PFI Contractors & Open Book Arrangements
Members noted correspondence from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Office of Accounts, concerning information previously requested by the Committee.
2.17 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
2.18 pm Mr McGlone and Mr Hilditch entered the meeting.
Forward Work Programme
Members discussed the vacant meeting on 3 December and discussed which of the 3 proposed reports to be considered.
Agreed: Members agreed to select the report ‘The Performance of Northern Ireland’s Planning System’ as the content for the meeting on 3 December.
Agreed: Members further agreed to schedule ‘A Review of the Gateway Process & the Management of Personal Injury Claims’ for the first evidence session of 2010 and ‘The Pre-school Education Expansion Programme’ for the second evidence session of 2010.
Members considered the proposed visit to the Public Audit Committee at the Scottish Parliament.
Agreed: Members agreed to conduct the visit on 16 December with an overnight stay on 15 December.
2.48 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
2.48 pm The meeting went into closed session.
4. Briefing on NIAO report ‘Public Service Agreements – Measuring Performance’.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, C&AG, Mr Eddie Bradley, Director; Claire Dornan, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the eport.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
2.58 pm Mr Donaldson left the meeting.
3.05 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting.
3.07 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
3.10 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
3.12 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
3.17 pm Mr Dallat and Mr Donaldson entered the meeting.
5. Briefing on NIAO report ‘Irish Sport Horse Genetic Testing Unit Ltd: Transfer and Disposal of Assets’.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, C&AG, Mr Robert Hutcheson, Director; Jacqueline O’Brien, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the report.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
3.17 pm Mr Dallat and Mr Donaldson entered the meeting.
3.31 pm Mr Lunn left the meeting.
3.34 pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.
3.35 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
6. Any other business
Members agreed to review issues raised around the recent take-note debate in a separate meeting to be arranged by the secretariat.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 8 October 2009 at 2.00 pm in the Senate Chambers, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.48 pm.