PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THursday, 16 October 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Mr Jim Beatty (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Alison Ross (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Ms Dawn Purvis
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 9 October 2008.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2.03pm Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting.
3. Matters arising.
Members noted that the Audit Committee of the Welsh Assembly meets bi-weekly, and that suggested dates for a visit cannot be fitted into the Public Accounts Committee’s work programme before Christmas.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk would include the visit in the forward work programme between January and April 2009.
4. Forward Work Programme.
Members discussed the draft forward work programme for the period January to April 2009 and considered the updated list of reports provided by Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO). The witnesses were Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, NIAO.
Agreed: Members agreed that the following NIAO reports would be included in the forward work programme for the period January to April 2009:
A) Road Openings by Utilities: Follow-up to Recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee
B) The PFI Contract for Northern Ireland’s New Vehicle Testing Facilities
C) Financial Auditing and Reporting: 2006-07 – Accountability of North/ South Bodies
D) Control of Bovine Tuberculosis
Members considered reports for the Third Composite Report for Issues Dealt with by Correspondence.
Agreed: Members agreed that the following reports would be included in the Third Composite Report:
A) Recoupment of Drainage Infrastructure Costs: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
B) Private Practice in the Health Service
C) Decision-Making and Disability Living Allowance
D) Education and Health and Social Services Transport
Members considered Memoranda of Reply (MOR) on which to obtain updates.
Agreed: Members agreed to ask for updates of the following MORs from the relevant Accounting Officers:
A) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: The Sheep ~Annual Premium Scheme
B) DRD: Water Service: Leakage Management and Water Efficiency
C) DARD: Brucellosis Outbreak at the Agricultural Research Institute
5. Consideration of update on Memorandum of Reply relating to the Committee Report on the Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line.
Members considered the response from the Accounting Officer, Department for Regional Development. Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, Mr Paul Craig, Audit Manager, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, briefed the Committee on the update.
Agreed: Members agreed that, subject to agreement of the Committee, an evidence session would be scheduled following publication of an NIAO report next year.
6. Briefing on the NIAO report ‘Warm Homes: Tackling Fuel Poverty’.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, Mr Brandon McMaster, Director, Mr David Murdie, Audit Manager, and Mr Neil Gray, Audit Manager, briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘Warm Homes: Tackling Fuel Poverty’, and answered members’ questions.
2.42pm The meeting went into closed session.
7. Consideration of the Committee’s Draft Report on Statement of Rate Levy and Collection 2006-07.
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph.
The Committee considered the main body of the report.
Paragraphs 1 – 11 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 12 and 13 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 14 and 15 read and agreed.
Paragraph 16 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 17 - 19 read and agreed.
Paragraph 20 and 21 read, amended and agreed.
3.32pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
Paragraph 22 and 23 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 24 – 27 read and agreed.
Paragraph 28 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 29 – 31 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 32 – 34 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 35 and 36 read and agreed.
Paragraph 37 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 38 read and agreed.
3.53pm Mr Lunn left the meeting.
Paragraph 39 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 40 read and agreed.
Paragraph 41 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 42 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 43 – 45 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 46 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 47 – 50 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 51 – 55 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 56 and 57 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 58 – 62 read and agreed.
4.14pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.
Paragraph 63 read, amended and agreed.
4.16pm Mr McLaughlin rejoined the meeting.
Paragraphs 64 – 66 read and agreed.
Paragraph 67 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 68 read and agreed.
Paragraph 69 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 70 – 72 read and agreed.
Paragraph 73 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 74 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 75 and 76 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 77 read and agreed.
Paragraph 78 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 79 read and agreed.
Paragraph 80 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 81 read and agreed.
Paragraph 82 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 83 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 84 – 94 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 95 – 97 read and agreed.
Paragraph 98 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 99 – 101 read and agreed.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary.
Paragraphs 1 – 4 read and agreed.
Paragraph 5 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 6 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 7 and 8 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 9 – 13 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 14 – 16 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 17 – 20 read and agreed.
Paragraph 21 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 22 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 23 – 26 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 27 and 28 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson’s letter requesting further information to the Accounting Officer, Department of Finance and Personnel, the Accounting Officer’s response, and correspondence from Derry City Council would be included in the Committee’s report.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Staff Attitude Survey would be laid in the Assembly Library and published on the Committee website.
Agreed: Members agreed that an embargo date would be agreed at the next meeting when the Clerk has investigated whether there may be media interest in the report.
8. Any other business.
Members discussed an issue relating to a matter raised at a previous meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk would seek clarification and report back to the Committee.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 23 October 2008 at 2.00pm in Confex 2 and 3, Stormont Hotel, Belfast.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.53pm.