PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE

Minutes of Proceedings
THursday, 6 september 2007
Room 144, 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 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)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr Patsy McGlone

The meeting opened at 2.05pm in public session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes of the meeting on 5 July 2007.

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

3. Chairperson’s business.

The Chairperson informed members that he had met with Mr Seamus McAleavey, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), regarding demands which audit processes are placing on voluntary and community groups, and members will have an opportunity to look at this issue when any future NIAO report on this subject is published. C&AG informed the Committee that NICVA had provided a report to NIAO on this subject and he would copy the report to members for their information.

4. Matters arising.

Members noted the updated forward work programme which details the witnesses for each evidence session, and will inform the Clerk of any further witnesses they may wish to attend. Members also noted that the meeting on 4 October 2007 will take place in Wellington College, Belfast.

Members noted that the publication of the NIAO report ‘Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland’ has been delayed.

Agreed: Members agreed that, following publication, this report will be included into the forward work programme.
Agreed: Members agreed that the NIAO report ‘Use of Consultants’ (HC641) would be substituted for the delayed report at the meeting on 15 November 2007.
Agreed: Members considered a rota for parties taking the lead in evidence sessions and suggested a revision to the rota. The rota will be amended and revisited at next week’s meeting.

5. Briefing on the NIAO Report ‘ Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy’.

Mr John Dowdall, C&AG, Mr Eddie Bradley, Director of Value for Money, Ms Ursula Moyna, Audit Manager, and Mr Paul Turley, Senior Auditor, briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘ Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy’, and answered members’ questions. Members also noted a briefing paper from Mr Will Haire, Accounting Officer, Department of Education, on work which is currently being undertaken to deliver Road Safety education for young people in schools.

2.25pm The meeting went into closed session.

C&AG agreed to provide information to members on the total cost of a road accident.

6. Matters arising.

Members noted correspondence received from Dr McGinley, Professor Barnett, North Belfast Partnership Board, West Belfast Partnership Board, and Belfast Metropolitan College (formerly Belfast Institute of Higher and Further Education) in response to the Committee’s request for further information following the evidence session on the NIAO report ‘Springvale Educational Village Project’.

Members noted that the Greater Shankill Partnership Board would not be providing the Committee with a submission.

7. Consideration of Draft Committee Report on Outpatients: Missed Appointments and Cancelled Clinics

Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph. The witnesses attending were Mr John Dowdall, C&AG and Mr Barry Edgar, Assistant Auditor General.

The Committee considered the main body of the report.

Paragraphs 1 – 3 read and agreed.
Paragraph 4 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 5 read and agreed.
Paragraph 6 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 7 – 12 read and agreed.

3.21pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.

Paragraphs 13 – 15 read and agreed.
Paragraph 16 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 17 read and agreed.
Paragraph 18 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 19 – 22 read and agreed.
Paragraph 23 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 24 read and agreed.
Paragraph 25 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 26 read and agreed.
Paragraph 27 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 28 - 30 read and agreed.

3.43pm Mr Hamilton left the meeting.

Paragraph 31 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 32 – 35 read and agreed.

3.47pm Mr Hamilton rejoined the meeting.

Paragraphs 36 – 39 read and agreed.
Paragraph 40 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 41 – 45 read and agreed.
Paragraph 46 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 47 – 53 read and agreed.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary of the report.

3.57pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.

Paragraph 1 read and agreed.
Paragraph 2 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 3 – 5 read and agreed.
Paragraph 6 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 7 – 8 read and agreed.

4.02pm Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting.

Paragraphs 9 - 14 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk’s letters to Dr Andrew McCormick requesting additional written information and Dr McCormick’s replies would be included in the Committee’s report, together with Outpatient Activity Data for Northern Ireland 2006/2007 and 2005/2006; the remaining papers will be laid in the Assembly library.
Agreed: Members agreed to embargo the report until 10.00am on Thursday, 27 September 2007, when the report would be officially released at a press conference.

Agreed: Members agreed that in future when substantial information is received the Clerk will inform the Committee that the documents will be available for members to view in the Committee office.

8. Correspondence.

Members noted a letter from the NIAO relating to correspondence from Mr Ken Hosick.

Members noted a letter from the NIAO relating to correspondence about Country Meadows Clay Pigeon Shooting Ground.

4.07pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.

9. Any other business.

Members considered a paper relating to some NIAO reports on which the Committee will not be taking oral evidence.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should issue the paper to the appropriate Accounting Officers.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 13 September 2007 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.10pm.

John O’Dowd
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee.
13 September 2007

05 July 2007 / Menu