PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 28 JUNE 2007
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr John O’Dowd (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
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 Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Pauline Hunter (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Willie Clarke
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2.02pm Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting.
2. The Committee met in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, where it was considering the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report ‘Outpatients: Missed Appointments and Cancelled Clinics (HC 404). The Chairperson welcomed Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) and Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts (TOA), to the meeting.
3. Evidence on the NIAO Report ‘Outpatients: Missed Appointments and Cancelled Clinics’
The Committee took oral evidence on the NIAO report ‘Outpatients: Missed Appointments and Cancelled Clinics’ from Dr Andrew McCormick, Accounting Officer, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS); Dr Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS, and Mr Dean Sullivan, Director of Planning and Performance Management, DHSSPS. The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
The Chairperson raised the issue that it was the convention that no comment should be made by the Accounting Officer and Departmental Officials regarding NIAO reports in advance of a PAC hearing.
Mr Thompson, TOA, agreed to write to all Accounting Officers reminding them of the convention.
4.00pm The evidence session finished and the witnesses left the meeting.
4.00pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
4.00pm Ms Purvis left the meeting.
3. Minutes of the meeting on 21 June 2007.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
None.
5. Correspondence.
Members noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office regarding Accountability in Further and Higher Education.
Members noted a letter from a member of the public to Mr Edward Leigh MP, Chairperson of the House of Commons, Committee of Public Accounts.
Agreed: Members agreed that the correspondence should be forwarded to the C&AG for follow up and to report back to the Committee.
4.03pm The meeting went into closed session.
Agreed: Members agreed that the C&AG and his staff would remain for the closed session.
6. Any other business.
Members noted the final version of the Committee’s ‘Report on the Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line’.
Members noted details regarding privilege.
Agreed: The wording on privilege that was read out would be issued to all members in advance of the press conference.
Members noted a list of various press contacts and a draft press release.
Agreed: Members agreed the draft press release.
Agreed: Members agreed that the press release should be issued to all press contacts on the list and that it should be published on the Internet.
Members noted a press contact list.
Agreed: Members agreed that a reporter from the Daily Mirror should be added to the list.
Agreed: Members agreed that an invitation to the press conference along with a pre-released copy of the report should be issued to the members of the press on the list.
Agreed: Members agreed to issue pre-released copies of the report to the Accounting Officer, witnesses, the relevant Minister and the relevant Chairperson.
Members noted that the Committee Office may not receive the final report from the printers until next Monday and that the report would be put in members pigeonholes for collection.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee Office should text them on their mobiles when the report became available.
Members discussed the format of the press conference and the way in which questions from members of the press should be handled. Members also discussed the draft press release relating to the report.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would make some opening remarks and then all members would individually speak to members of the press.
Agreed Members agreed one minor amendment to the press release, which is embargoed until 12noon on Thursday 5 July 2007. Members agreed that this press release should be issued with the pre-released reports and would be placed on the Internet after the embargo.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 5 July 2007 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.15pm
John O’Dowd
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee.
5 July 2007