PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 22 May 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
In Attendance:
Mr Jim Beatty (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Nicola Shephard (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies: Ms Dawn Purvis
The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are listed above.
2.02pm Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 15 May 2008.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed, with a minor amendment.
3. Matters arising.
None.
4. Presentation on the NIAO Report ‘The Management of Sickness Absence in the Northern Ireland Civil Service’.
Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, Mr Eddie Bradley, Director of Value for Money, Mr Paul Craig, Audit Manager, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘The Management of Sickness Absence in the Northern Ireland Civil Service’.
2.08pm The meeting went into closed session.
The witnesses answered a number of Members’ questions.
5. First Draft of Committee Report on Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland.
The witnesses attending were Mr John Dowdall CB, C&AG, Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, Mr Alan Orme, Audit Manager, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, NIAO.
2.13pm Mr Hamilton joined the meeting.
2.14pm Mr Dallat joined the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the relevant section of the Draft Committee Report on Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland to the OFMDFM Committee.
6. Consideration of Draft Committee Report on National Fraud Initiative.
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph. The witnesses attending were Mr John Dowdall CB , C&AG, Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, NIAO.
Paragraphs 1 – 28 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed to launch the report on Thursday 12 June 2008.
Agreed: Members agreed that they would not hold a press conference.
7. Any other business.
Members considered a letter from the Treasury Officer of Accounts, and agreed to proceed as agreed at the meeting of the 15 May 2008.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 29 May 2008 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at3.40 pm.