PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance:
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Thomas Burns
Mr John Dallat
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 2 April 2009.
Agreed : The minutes were agreed.
2 .03pm Mr Beggs joined the meeting .
3. Matters arising.
Members considered the itinerary for the Committee visit to meet with the Audit Committee, National Assembly for Wales on 13 and 14 May 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed the itinerary.
2.04pm Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
2.05pm Ms Purvis joined the meeting.
4. Criminal Justice Inspectorate NI Operational Protocol.
Members noted the Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJI) NI Operational Protocol and received briefing from Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager.
Agreed: Members agreed that a representative from the CJI and Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, would attend the meeting on 21 May 2009 to provide further information for members on the Operational Protocol.
5. Ministerial Direction – Fishing Industry Hardship Payments.
Members noted the Ministerial Direction on Fishing Industry Hardship Payments and the flowchart explaining the way in which Ministerial Directions were dealt with by Accounting Officers.
6. Forward Work Programme.
Members considered whether the meeting on 4 June 2009 should be cancelled and items of business should be rearranged because of the European elections.
Agreed: Members agreed that the meeting on 4 June 2009 should be cancelled, and further agreed the amendments to the forward work programme.
7. Briefing on the NIAO report ‘Review of Financial Management in the FE Sector in NI from 1998 to 2007; and Governance of Fermanagh College of Further and Higher Education’.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG; Mr Stephen McCormick, Director; Mr Gary Christie, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘Review of Financial Management in the FE Sector in NI from 1998 to 2007; and Governance of Fermanagh College of Further and Higher Education’.
2.20pm The meeting went into closed session .
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
8. Correspondence.
Members considered a letter from Phoenix Natural Gas in relation to the Committee’s Report on Road Openings by Utilities.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson would thank Phoenix Natural Gas for its letter, and that the correspondence would be copied to the Regional Development Committee for information.
9. Third Composite Report.
Members considered the responses from Departmental Accounting Officers in relation to the Committee’s request for written evidence on a number of NIAO reports and Memoranda of Reply. The witnesses were Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager.
Agreed: Members agreed to note in the report progress on implementation of the NIAO recommendations within the following reports: Recoupment of Drainage Infrastructure Costs; Education and Health and Social Services Transport; Areas of Special Scientific Interest; and the Memorandum of Reply regarding the report on the Sheep Premium Scheme and the Brucellosis Outbreak at the Agricultural Research Institute.
Agreed: Members further agreed to comment qualitatively on items of the above correspondence in the conclusions of its third composite report.
3.23pm Mr Beggs left the meeting.
3.25pm Mr Beggs rejoined the meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee staff should proceed to draft a report for Members’ consideration.
10. Any other business.
Members considered correspondence from a whistleblower in relation to Laurelhill Community School.
Mr Craig declared an interest in this issue.
Agreed: Members agreed that the NIAO would report back to the Committee when it had completed its investigation of the matter.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 7 May 2009 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.30pm.