PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 19 MARCH 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance:
Ms Alison Ross (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr George Robinson
The meeting opened at 2.00 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 12 March 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2.02 p.m. Mr Beggs joined the meeting.
3. Matters arising
Members considered the draft itinerary for the visit and meeting in Greenmount CAFRE, Antrim, on 26 March 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed that they would meet at Greenmount CAFRE for lunch and that the presentation would take place immediately before the evidence session.
Members considered the arrangements for the press launch of the Report on Road Openings by Utilities.
Agreed: Members agreed that the venue should be Cornmarket, Belfast and that the Chairperson and any other members who are available would attend.
2.10 p.m. Mr Burns joined the meeting.
4. Briefing on NIAO Report ‘Control of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland’.
Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, Mr Robert Hutcheson, Director of VFM, Ms Jacqueline O’Brien, Audit Manager and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘Control of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland’.Mr Beggs declared an interest as his father owns a herd of cattle.
2.15 p.m. The meeting went into closed session.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
3.00 p.m. Mr Burns left the meeting.
5. Issues from the oral evidence session on NIAO report ‘Financial Auditing and Reporting: Accountability of the North/South Bodies 1999-2007’.
Members considered and agreed the issues paper.
Members discussed whether the main issues arising from the evidence session should be forwarded to the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts to inform the evidence session which they will hold on 2 April 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson should write to the Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts with details of the issues arising from this Committee’s evidence session and highlighting recommendations from the previous Public Accounts Committee’s report into the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Members also considered whether the publication of the report would be delayed to coincide with the publication of the report on the same issue by the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk should enquire the date when the Oireachtas Committee would be publishing their report and then reconsider this issue.
6. Press release.
Members considered a press release relating to the evidence session on 26 March 2009 in Greenmount CAFRE, Antrim.
Agreed: Members agreed the press release.
7. Any other business.
Members considered correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel relating to the Financial Provisions Bill. Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, briefed the Committee on the Financial Provisions Bill.
Agreed: Members agreed that they had no issues to raise in relation to the Financial Provisions Bill.
Members noted that consideration of the draft Report on the PFI Contract for Northern Ireland’s New Vehicle Testing Facilities will be delayed until the meeting on 2 April 2009.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 26 March 2009 at 12.45 p.m. in the Manor Suite, Greenmount CAFRE, Antrim.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.42 p.m.