PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
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 Mitchel McLaughlin
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 Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Ms Dawn Purvis
The meeting opened at 2.02pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 25 October 2007.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
Members considered the witnesses listed in the forward work programme for January to March 2008.
Agreed: Members agreed no further changes to the witnesses.
4. Briefing on the NIAO Report ‘Use of Consultants’.
Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, Mr Stephen McCormick, Director, and Ms Clare Dornan, Audit Manager, briefed the Committee on the NIAO report ‘Use of Consultants’ and answered members’ questions.
2.11pm The meeting went into closed session.
5. NIAO reports privilege.
Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, briefed the Committee on the issue regarding privilege for NIAO reports.
Agreed: Members agreed a motion to be forwarded to the Business Office to be considered at the next meeting of the Business Committee. Members considered that the motion should be scheduled for approximately a 10 minute debate.
6. Any other business.
The Chairperson reminded members of the launch of the Committee’s Report on Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy, at 12 noon in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 15 November 2007 at 2.00pm in Confex 2 and 3 in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.07pm.