PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 21 MAY 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns
Mr John Dallat
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr Jim Shannon
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr George Robinson
The meeting opened at 2.03pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 7 May 2009
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
3. Matters arising
The Chairperson welcomed Danielle Best to the Committee staff.
Members noted a letter from Mr Will Haire, Accounting Officer, Department of Education, in response to the Committee’s request for further information following its discussions on the Memorandum of Reply: Job Evaluation in the Education and Library Boards.
Members noted a response from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts, in relation to issues raised on the Memorandum of Reply on Warm Homes and Shared Services.
4. Criminal Justice Inspectorate NI Operational Protocol
Members received briefing on the Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJINI) NI Operational Protocol from Dr Michael Maguire, Chief Inspector, CJINI, Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager.
2.10pm Mr Wells joined the meeting.
2.20pm Mr Burns left the meeting.
2.22pm Mr Beggs left the meeting.
The witnesses answered a numbers of members’ questions.
5. Memorandum of Reply: Brangam Bagnall & Co, Legal Practitioner Fraud Perpetrated Against the Health and Personal Social Services
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply (MOR).
2.37pm Mr Burns rejoined the meeting.
6. Briefing on the NIAO report ‘The Investigation of Suspected Contract Fraud’
Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, Mr Patrick O’Neill, Director, Ms Jacqueline O’Brien, Audit Manager, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘The Investigation of Suspected Contract Fraud’.
2.55pm The meeting went into closed session.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
3.10pm Mr Burns left the meeting .
Members considered a letter from a member of the public in relation to the NIAO report.
Agreed: Members agreed to request a written submission from the member of the public, with evidence to support the issues raised.
3.20pm Ms Purvis left the meeting.
3.35pm Mr Burns rejoined the meeting.
3.47pm Mr Burns left the meeting.
7. Issues paper on evidence session on NIAO report ‘Review of Financial Management in the FE Sector in Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2007; and Governance of Fermanagh College of Further and Higher Education’
Members discussed and agreed the issues paper as the outline for its report.
8. Consideration of the draft Third Composite Report on Issues Dealt with by Correspondence
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph.
The Committee considered the main body of the report.
Paragraphs 1 – 13 read and agreed.
Paragraph 14 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 15 – 23 read and agreed.
Paragraph 24 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 25 – 43 read and agreed.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary.
Paragraphs 1 – 4 read and agreed.
Paragraph 5 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 6 – 8 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed:Members agreed to include in the report the Chairperson’s letters to the Accounting Officers of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Education, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and Department of the Environment, together with their responses and the letter from the Chief Executive, Rivers Agency.
Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01am on Thursday, 11 June 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed that they would not issue a press release to launch the report.
9. Any other business
Members discussed guidance about departmental commentary on NIAO reports.
Agreed: Members agreed a letter to be sent to the relevant Accounting Officer requesting clarification and further information.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 28 May 2009 at 2.00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.05pm.