PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 24 MAY 2007
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr John O’Dowd (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
In Attendance: Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Pauline Hunter (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 2.03pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
There were no apologies.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 17 May 2007.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
Members noted the amendments to the Declaration of Interests as follows:
CRAIG, Jonathan
Director, Community Safety Lisburn (Ends 2006/2007)
Councillor, Lisburn City Council
Director, Voluntary Services Lisburn
Director, Citizens Advice Lisburn
Member, Grand Prix Steering Group
Chairman of the Board of Governors of Laurelhill Community College
Member of the Board of Governors of Harmony Hill Primary School
Member of the Board of Governors of Killowen Primary School
Member of the Orange Order
Member of the Apprentice Boys
LUNN, Trevor
Lisburn City Council
` Walk Management Ltd
Lisburn City Centre Management Ltd
Stanger Properties Ltd
Property Owned - Apartment 5a, Portsalon Golf Apartments, Portsalon, Co. Donegal
Lisburn Buildings Preservation Trust Ltd
Member Ulster Grand Prix Steering Group
Chairman, Lisburn Community Safety Partnership
HILDITCH, David
Causeway Coast and Glens Regional Tourism Partnership (on behalf of Carrickfergus Borough Council)
Carrickfergus Development Company (on behalf of Carrickfergus Borough Council) – Town Centre Regeneration
Member, Carrickfergus Borough Council
Member, Carrickfergus District Policing Partnership
Director (unremunerated), Carrick Rangers Football Club Limited
Guest of McDonalds at F.A. Community Shield Final 2005 and 2006, provision of hospitality, accommodation and match ticket
4. Northern Ireland Audit Office Estimate for 2007 - 2008.
Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Mr Ciaran Moore, Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General, and Ms Catherine O’Hagan, Audit Manager, gave an outline of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) Estimate for 2007 – 2008 and answered questions raised by members.
Agreed: The Committee approved the Estimate.
2.09pm Mr McGlone joined the meeting.
5. Presentation on the NIAO Report ‘The Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line’.
Mr John Dowdall, C&AG, Mr Eddie Bradley, Director of Value for Money, and Mr Paul Craig, Audit Manager, briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘The Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line’, and answered members’ questions.
2.19pm Mr Lunn left the meeting.
2.23pm the meeting went into closed session.
Members agreed that the C&AG and his staff would remain for the closed session.
2.25pm Mr Lunn rejoined the meeting.
2.58pm Mr Hamilton left the meeting.
3.41pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
3.41pm the NIAO officials left the meeting.
6. Any other business.
Members agreed that the Clerk should provide some DVD clips of the Committee hearings for use by the Chief Executives Forum in their public accountability seminars.
Members also noted a letter which the Chairperson received from a member of the public.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 31 May 2007 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.45pm.
John O’Dowd
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee.
31 May 2007