PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
Minutes of Proceedings
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Lecture Theatre, Wellington college
Present:
Mr John O’Dowd (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Trevor Lunn
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 Patsy McGlone
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
The Committee agreed to allow the meeting to be recorded and that television cameras would be allowed to film the meeting.
2.01pm Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Mickey Brady as a member of the Committee. Mr Brady confirmed that he had no interests to declare.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
- The Committee met in the Lecture Theatre, Wellington College, where it was considering the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report ‘Transfer of Surplus Land in the PFI Education Pathfinder Projects’ (NIA 21 07/08). The Chairperson welcomed Mr John Dowdall CB, Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) and Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts (TOA), to the meeting.
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Evidence on the NIAO Report ‘Transfer of Surplus Land in the PFI Education Pathfinder Projects’
The Committee took oral evidence on the NIAO report ‘Transfer of Surplus Land in the PFI Education Pathfinder Projects’ from Mr Will Haire, Accounting Officer, Department of Education (DE), Mr Eugene Rooney, Assistant Secretary, Development and Infrastructure Division, DE, Mr David Cargo, Chief Executive, Belfast Education and Library Board, Mr Stephen Halliday, Senior Valuer, Land and Property Services, Department of Finance and Personnel and Mr Tom Redmond, Head of Further Education Estates, Department of Employment and Learning.
Ms Purvis declared an interest as her two sons attend Wellington College.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
The Committee requested that the witnesses should provide additional information on issues raised by members during the evidence session to the Clerk.
4.24pm The evidence session finished and the witnesses left the meeting.
4.24pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
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Minutes of the meeting on 27 September 2007.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
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Matters arising.
Members noted a paper regarding options for the launch of Committee reports.
Agreed: Members agreed that they would consider the paper at a later meeting.
4.27pm Mr Dallat rejoined the meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed to hold a press conference on Thursday, 11 October 2007, at 1.00pm to launch the Committee Report on Springvale Educational Village Project.
Members noted that NIAO have confirmed that they will be publishing a report in relation to the NICVA report which was issued to members last week.
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Press releases.
Members noted a press release and flyer relating to the launch of the Committee Report on Springvale Education Village Project.
Agreed: Members agreed to the issue of the flyer immediately and the press release, as amended, in advance of the press conference.
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Correspondence.
Members noted a letter to Mr Mark Langhammer from NIAO regarding PFI Pathfinders – NIAO reports.
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Any other business.
Members noted that a postal strike is planned for Friday, Monday and Tuesday, and that because of the strike the Committee Report on Springvale Educational Village Project cannot be posted to the relevant press. However, the Clerk is able to obtain an electronic version which will be emailed to the press. Mr McLaughlin requested an electronic copy.
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Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 11 October 2007 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.35pm.