AUDIT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 10 MARCH 2008
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Samuel Gardiner MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
In Attendance:
Ms Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Eithne Knappitsch (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
The meeting opened at 1.06pm in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Chairperson’s business
The Chairperson informed Members that the meeting was called to discuss one item of business: that of the motion for the salary of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 th January 2008
Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting held on 16 th January were agreed.
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Matters arising
The Chairperson informed Members about correspondence received from the DFP relating to the Committee’s request for information on the process the DFP intends to use in the appointment of the Auditor to the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
Members noted the timetable setting out the stages in the planned tendering process and that they would be required to be involved in the tender evaluation stage at the end of April or the beginning of May.
Agreed : Members were content with the process outlined by the DFP for the appointment of the Auditor to the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
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Motion for Comptroller and Auditor General’s Annual Salary Increase
Members discussed the motion for the Comptroller and Auditor General’s annual salary increase.
1.16 pm Mr O’Dowd joined the meeting.
Agreed : Members agreed the motion for the Comptroller and Auditor General’s annual salary increase.
Agreed : Members discussed and agreed to inform party colleagues of the details of the motion for the C&AG’s annual salary increase prior to debate of this motion in the Assembly on 31 st of March 2008.
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Any Other business
None.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting is to be arranged for either the 6 th or 7 th May 2008. The Clerk agreed to contact Mr O’Dowd and Mr Ramsey to ask for their preference of date and time for the next meeting. All Members will be contacted in due course with the finalised information on the next meeting.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.20pm.