Present:
Mr Francie Molloy (Chairperson)
Mr James Leslie (Deputy Chairperson) Mr Billy Bell
Mr Seamus Close
Mr Derek Hussey
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Peter Weir

Apologies:
Ms Patricia Lewsley

In attendance:
Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mr Peter Hughes (Clerk)
Mr Joe Sloan (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Edel Gillen (Executive Support)
Ms Sharon Bowman (Administrative Support)

The Chairman declared the meeting open at 2.45 p.m. This session was held in public.

1. Minutes of Proceedings

1.1 Resolved: The Committee agreed the Minutes of Proceedings for 27 March 2001.

2. Matters arising

2.1. The Committee noted letters to the Department of Finance and Personnel on the Penny Product; to the Department of Finance and Personnel on training for Committees; to the Department of Finance and Personnel on EU Structural Funds; and from the Minister on Executive Programme allocations.

3. PPP Inquiry

3.1. The Committee received briefing and questions provided by its specialist adviser for use during evidence sessions and the indicative timetable presented by the Clerk for visits to sites and evidence sessions.

4. Penny Product Calculation Errors

4.1. The Committee considered its draft report.

4.2. The Committee deliberated.

4.3. Resolved: That the Committee includes a recommendation in its report that the remit of the Rating Review should include investigation of alternative finance raising arrangements.

Mr Bell attended the meeting at 3.03 p.m, Mr Hussey attended at 3.14 p.m.

5. Trustee Bill - (NIA 11/00)

5.1. The Committee received briefing and questioned officials from the Office of Law Reform, Mrs Ethne Harkness and Mr Michael Foster.

Mr Close left the meeting at 3.47 p.m, Mr Weir left the meeting at 4.07 p.m.

6. Procurement Review

6.1. The Committee received briefing on the scope, timing, progress to date and next steps for the review from members of the Review Team, Mr David Ferguson, Mr Michael Daly, Prof Andrew Erridge and Mrs Teresa Molloy.

6.2. The Review Team agreed to meet the Committee again in May 2001.

7. Correspondence

7.1 None.

8. Any other business

8.1. None.

9.1 The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday, 24 April 2001.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 4.57 p.m.