PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr John O’Dowd (Chairperson)
Mr Mickey Brady
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr Trevor Lunn
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 Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Patsy McGlone
The meeting opened at 2.05pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 15 November 2007.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2.10pm Ms Purvis joined the meeting.
3. Briefing on the NIAO Report ‘Job Evaluation in the Education and Library Boards’.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Mr Sean McKay, Director of Value for Money, Mr Brian Gardiner, Audit Manager, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, briefed the Committee on the NIAO report ‘Job Evaluation in the Education and Library Boards’, and answered members’ questions.
2.14pm The meeting went into closed session.
4. Any other business.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, briefed the Committee on the Northern Ireland Events Company. The Committee asked that the Audit Office provide interim reports on the matter.
5. Confidentiality.
Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts, briefed the Committee on confidentiality of information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to follow the practices adopted in Westminster and as set out in HM Treasury Guidance and the Osmotherly Rules.
The Committee considered correspondence in light of the agreed practices for confidentiality.
6. Matters Arising.
None.
7. Issues from oral evidence session on the NIAO Report ‘Use of Consultants’. Members discussed issues relating to the evidence session.
8. Consideration of Draft Committee Report on Transfer of Surplus Land in the PFI Education Pathfinder Projects.
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph. The witnesses attending were Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, Mr Brandon McMaster, Director of Value for Money, Mr Sean Beattie, Audit Manager and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager.
The Committee considered the main body of the report.
Paragraph 1 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 2-4 read and agreed.
Paragraph 5 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 6-7 read and agreed.
Paragraph 8 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 9 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 10-12 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 13-19 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 20 – 22 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 23-28 read and agreed.
Paragraph 29 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 30 read and agreed.
Paragraph 31 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 32-33 read and agreed.
Paragraph 34 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 35-36 read and agreed.
Paragraph 37 read, amended and agreed.
3.59pm Mr Lunn left the meeting.
Paragraph 38 read, amended and agreed.
4.00pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
Paragraphs 39-40 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 41 – 44 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 45 read and agreed.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary of the report.
Paragraphs 1-4 read and agreed.
Paragraph 5 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 6-8 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 9-10 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 11-13 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 14-15 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 16-17 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members agreed to amend the headings in the report.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the correspondence from Mr Will Haire, Accounting Officer, Department of Education, Mr John Wilkinson, Chief Executive, Land and Property Services, Dr Aideen McGinley, Accounting Officer, Department for Employment and Learning and Mrs Edith Shaw, Chair, Board of Governors, Wellington College would be included in the Committee’s report.
Agreed: Members agreed to embargo the report until 00.01am on Thursday 13 December 2007.
Agreed: Members agreed to launch the report at a press conference on Thursday 13 December at 10am.
9. Any other business.
Agreed: The Committee agreed not to hold the meeting on the 6th December, moving the business to the 13th December and deferring the consideration of the Use of Consultants report until the New Year.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 29 November 2007 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.25pm.