Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Confex 2 & 3, Stormont hotel, Belfast

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 Patsy McGlone
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:
Ms Dawn Purvis

The meeting opened at 2.00pm in closed session.

Members considered a request from a journalist that the update papers from Department of Finance and Personnel and Department for Regional Development in relation to use of consultants should be released to all members of the press.

Agreed : Members agreed to release the update papers by placing them on the press table.

2.02pm The meeting went into public session.

  1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. The Committee met in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast, where it was considering the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) report ‘Use of Consultants’ (HIA 35/03, HC 641 – Session 2003/04). The Chairperson welcomed Mr John Dowdall CB, Comptroller & Auditor General, to the meeting.
  2. Evidence on the NIAO Report ‘Use of Consultants’

The Committee took oral evidence on the NIAO report ‘Use of Consultants’ from Mr Bruce Robinson, Accounting Officer, Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), Mr David Orr, Central Procurement Directorate, DFP, Mr David Thomson, Head of Supply, DFP, and Mr David Sterling, Accounting Officer, Department for Regional Development. 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.

3.16pm Mr Hamilton left the meeting.
3.22pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
4.01pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.
4.02pm The evidence session finished and the witnesses left the meeting.

  1. Minutes of the meeting on 8 November 2007.

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

  1. Matters arising.

None.

  1. Any other business.

None.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 22 November 2007 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.04pm.

John O’Dowd
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee.
22 November 2007

08 November 07 / Menu