AUDIT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Room 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Samuel Gardiner MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
In Attendance:
Ms Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Wendy Young (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Linda Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
The meeting opened at 1.10 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s business
There was no chairperson’s business.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2008
Agreed - the draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 th March were agreed.
4. Appointment of Auditors to the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO)
The Committee noted the correspondence received from the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP)
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it is content that DFP come to the Committee in autumn 2008 to inform it of the appointment process of the NIAO auditors. The Committee agreed to consider the accounts and talk to the auditors to the NIAO.
5. NIAO Estimates – Briefing from NIAO Officials
The Committee members were briefed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and staff regarding the NIAO estimates, a question and answer session ensued.
Agreed: The Committee noted the letters from DFP and the Public Accounts Committee approving the estimates.
Agreed: The Committee formally approved the estimates.
6. Code of Data Matching Practice 2008.
The Committee members were briefed by the officials from NIAO on the process to produce the Code of Data Matching Practice.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that they would be content for the C&AG to provide feedback at the end of the period of consultation and a situation report.
7. Correspondance.
The Committee noted the anonymous letter alleging fraud.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that any future letters alleging fraud should have personal information removed before being included in Committee business.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to refer this letter and any future letters of a similar nature to the C&AG.
The Committee noted the letter from the Committee for the Environment.
The Committee noted the correspondence from C&AG including the “Review of the National Audit Office’s Corporate Governance” report.
8. Any other business
There was no other business.
9. Date, time and place of the next meeting
Members will be informed of the date of the next meeting of the Audit Committee in due course by committee staff.
The chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.33pm.