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PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE

Minutes of Proceedings

Thursday, 13 September 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr John O’Dowd (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
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 Nicola Shephard (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Willie Clarke
Mr John Dallat

The meeting opened at 2.00pm in closed session.

  1. Correspondence

Members noted correspondence in relation to the NIAO report ‘ Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy’.

2.02pm The meeting went into public session.

  1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. The Committee met in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, where it was considering the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report ‘Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy’ (HIA 1). The Chairperson welcomed Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) and Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts (TOA), to the meeting.
  2. Evidence on the NIAO Report ‘ Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy’

The Committee took oral evidence on the NIAO report ‘Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy’ from Mr Stephen Peover, Accounting Officer, Department of Environment (DOE), Mr Stanley Duncan, Director of Road Safety, DOE, Mr Desi McDonnell, Head of Road Safety Education Branch, DOE, Assistant Chief Constable Roy Toner, Head of Operational Support Department, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Chief Inspector Brian Kee, Deputy Head of Road Policing Development Branch, PSNI. The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.

3.20pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
3.30pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.
3.33pm Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting.
3.34pm Mr Hamilton and Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
3.35pm Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting.
3.55pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
3.58pm The evidence session finished and the witnesses left the meeting.

Minutes of the meeting on 6 September 2007.

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

  1. Matters arising.

Members noted the updated forward work programme. The Chairperson informed members that Parliament Buildings would close at 1pm on Thursday, 15 November 2007.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk would arrange an alternative venue for the meeting, either at Clare House, or another suitable venue.
Agreed: Members agreed the rota for asking questions at oral evidence sessions.

Members noted the final copy of the Committee Report on Outpatients: Missed Appointments and Cancelled Clinics.

  1. Any other business.

Members noted that the Chairperson had accepted an invitation to lunch with the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 15 October 2007.

Members discussed the receipt of newly published NIAO reports and were informed that NIAO are currently examining ways of ensuring members receive the reports in a more timely manner.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 20 September 2007 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.10pm.

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

06 September 2007 / Menu