AUDIT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Stephen Farry MLA
Mr Paul Maskey MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Trevor Reaney (Director-General)
Ms Stella McArdle (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Beatty (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Linda Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Diarmaid Elder (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Samuel Gardiner MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
The meeting opened at 12.32 pm in public session.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Maskey to his first meeting of the Committee. Mr Maskey confirmed that his earlier declaration of interests was still correct and that he had nothing further to add.
Mr Farry informed the Committee that he was the Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Community Relations Council, which is audited by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO). He has received advice that there is no conflict of interests.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2008
Agreed : The minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2008 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted that members had approved the entry for the Assembly Commission’s Annual Report by correspondence.
4. Draft NIAO Corporate Plan 2009-2010 to 2011-2012
Mr John Dowdall CB (C&AG), accompanied by Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, Ms Louise Mason and Mr Denver Lynn briefed the Committee on issues within the draft Corporate Plan and answered questions from the members.
Agreed: The Committee approved the draft Corporate Plan and agreed to inform the C&AG accordingly.
Agreed: The C&AG agreed to provide the Committee with:-
- details of how the reports of the NIAO are assessed by an independent external panel, and
- information on International Financial Reporting Standards.
5. Retirement of Comptroller and Auditor General
The Committee noted correspondence on the above matter and that the Director-General provided information on how the issue should progress.
Agreed : It was agreed that no further action was required by the Committee at this stage.
The Committee went into Closed Session at 1.10pm.
6. Appointment of Auditors to the NIAO
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from BTMM and DFP and agreed to:
(a) take no further action on the matter at this stage
(b) hold a one-item meeting on Tuesday, 6 January 2009 regarding the appointment by DFP of auditors for the NIAO.
The Committee returned to Open Session at 1.23pm.
7. Any other business
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should send Christmas cards, as appropriate, on behalf of the Committee.
9. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 6 January 2009 at a time to be agreed. Members will be advised accordingly.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.25pm.