PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr George Robinson
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 Thomas Burns
Mr Trevor Lunn
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2.03pm Mr Beggs joined the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 28 May 2009.
Agreed : The minutes were agreed.
3. Briefing on the NIAO report ‘Review of Assistant to Valence Technology: a Case Study on Inward Investment’.
Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG; Mr Robert Hutcheson, Director; Mr Alan Orme, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘Review of Assistance to Valence Technology: a Case Study on Inward Investment’.
2.08pm The meeting went into closed session .
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
2.37pm Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
2.38pm Mr Wells joined the meeting.
2.45pm Mr Robinson left the meeting.
2.55pm Mr Wells left the meeting.
3.15pm Mr Wells rejoined the meeting.
4. Matters arising.
3.33pm Ms Purvis left the meeting.
Members noted the correspondence and report from Dr Michael Maguire, Chief Inspector, Criminal Justice Inspectorate for NI.
Members noted correspondence from Dr Aideen McGinley, Accounting Officer, Department for Employment and Learning, in response to the Chairperson’s request for further written information following the evidence session on the NIAO report ‘Review of Financial Management in the Further Education Sector in Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2007; and Governance Examination of Fermanagh College of Further and Higher Education’.
3.35pm Ms Purvis rejoined the meeting.
Members noted the response from C&AG relating to information from a member of the public on the Rathlin Island Ferry.
Agreed: Members agreed that C&AG will revisit the NIAO report on this issue and report back to the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed that further correspondence received on this matter would be circulated electronically to members and copied to C&AG. Any new issues within the correspondence would be considered as they arise.
Members noted a briefing paper from the Clerk in relation to the Committee visit to meet with the members of the Audit Committee, National Assembly of Wales.
Agreed: Members agreed that they would invite the Audit Committee, National Assembly of Wales, at a later date to discuss progress after the new processes have bedded in.
Agreed: Members also agreed to make a similar visit to the Public Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
Members noted a response from the Accounting Officer, Department for Social Development, in relation to commenting on NIAO reports.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider the Accounting Officer’s response in detail when the Committee considers its forward work programme at a future meeting.
5. Issues paper on evidence session on NIAO report ‘The Investigation of Suspected Contract Fraud’.
Members discussed and agreed the issues paper as the outline for its report.
6. Consideration of the draft Committee Report on Accountability of North/South Bodies 1999-2007.
Members congratulated Mr Kieran Donnelly on his nomination, by the Northern Ireland Assembly, as Comptroller and Auditor General. Mr Donnelly will take up his new position in September 2009.
3.50pm Mr Craig left the meeting.
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph.
There were declarations of interest from members as follows:
Mr Beggs: Treasurer of Carrickfergus Neighbourhood Development Group and former member of Carrickfergus Local Strategic Partnership.
Ms Purvis: Vice-Chair, Management Committee of Ex-Prisoners Interpretive Centre (EPIC).
Mr Maskey: Member of Belfast City Council; Director of Belfast Visitor Convention Bureau; Director of Upper Andersonstown Community Forum; Director of Féile an Phobail; Fáilte Feirste Thiar; and West Belfast Partnership Economic Development Committee.
The Committee considered the main body of the report.
Paragraphs 1 – 13 read and agreed.
Paragraph 14 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 15 read and agreed.
Paragraph 16 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 17 – 19 read and agreed.
Paragraph 20 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 21 – 30 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 31 and 32 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 33 – 37 read and agreed.
Paragraph 38 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 39 read and agreed.
Paragraph 40 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 41 – 49 read and agreed.
Paragraph 50 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 51 – 54 read and agreed.
4.07pm Mr Beggs left the meeting.
Paragraphs 55 – 58 read and agreed.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary.
Paragraphs 1 – 4 read and agreed.
Paragraph 5 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 6 – 18 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the amendments would be made to the report and that it would be considered again by the Committee following the proposed informal meeting with the Dáil Committee on Public Accounts in September 2009.
7. Consideration of the draft Committee Report on Control of Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland.
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph.
The Committee considered the main body of the report.
Paragraphs 1 – 5 read and agreed.
4.10pm Mr Beggs rejoined the meeting.
Mr Beggs declared an interest in that his father has a herd of cattle.
Paragraphs 6 – 9 read and agreed.
Paragraph 10 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 11 and 12 read and agreed.
Paragraph 13 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 14 read and agreed.
Paragraph 15 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 16 – 18 read and agreed.
Paragraph 19 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 20 – 22 read and agreed.
4.13pm Ms Purvis left the meeting.
Paragraph 23 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 24 and 25 read and agreed.
Paragraph 26 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 27 read and agreed.
Paragraph 28 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 29 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 30 and 31 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 32 and 33 read and agreed.
Paragraph 34 read, amended and agreed.
4.23pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
Paragraph 35 read, amended and agreed.
Members agreed to insert a further paragraph.
Paragraphs 36 and 37 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 38 – 41 read and agreed.
Paragraph 42 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 43 read and agreed.
Paragraph 44 read, amended and agreed.
4.30pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting.
Paragraphs 45 and 46 read and agreed.
4.31pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
Paragraph 47 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 48 – 60 read and agreed.
Paragraph 61 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 62 read and agreed.
Paragraph 63 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 64 read and agreed.
4.37pm Mr Dallat rejoined the meeting.
Paragraphs 65 – 69 read and agreed.
4.40pm Mr Beggs left the meeting.
Paragraph 70 read, amended and agreed.
4.42pm Mr Beggs rejoined the meeting .
Paragraph 71 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 72 – 78 read and agreed.
Paragraph 79 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 80 – 86 read and agreed.
Paragraph 87 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 88 – 93 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 94 and 95 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 96 – 98 read and agreed.
Paragraph 99 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 100 – 105 read and agreed.
Paragraph 106 read, amended and agreed.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary.
Paragraphs 1 – 5 read and agreed.
Paragraph 6 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 7 – 13 read and agreed.
Paragraph 14 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 15 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 16 and 17 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 18 and 19 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed to include in the report the Chairperson’s letters to Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Accounting Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Chief Executive, Ulster Farmers Union, together with their responses, and the letter from The Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland and North of Ireland Veterinary Association.
Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01am on Monday, 29 June 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed that they would issue a press release to launch the report.
7. Any other business.
None.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 18 June 2009 at 1.30pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.55pm.