PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Mr Jim Beatty (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Trevor Lunn
The meeting opened at 1.30pm in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are listed above.
1.31pm Mr Beggs joined the meeting.
1.33pm Mr Hamilton joined the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 29 May 2008.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
None.
4. Consideration of Memorandum of Response on the Committee’s Report on Northern Ireland Resource Accounts – Northern Ireland Child Support Agency Client Funds 2003-04 – 2006-07.
Members considered the response to the Committee’s Report on Northern Ireland Resource Accounts – Northern Ireland Child Support Agency Client Funds 2003-04 – 2006-07. The witness attending was Mr John Dowdall CB, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).
Agreed: Members agreed to obtain an update on the progress against the Department’s response to the Committee’s recommendations in due course.
1.35pm The meeting went into closed session.
5. Press Release in relation to the launch of Report on National Fraud Initiative.
Members considered the press release to launch the Committee Report on National Fraud Initiative.
Agreed: Members agreed the press release with an amendment.
6. Consideration of the Committee’s Draft Report on Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland – A Case Study in Financial Management and the Public Appointments Process.
Members considered the draft report paragraph by paragraph. The witnesses attending were Mr John Dowdall CB , C&AG, Mr Robert Hutcheson, Director of Value for Money, Mr Alan Orme, Audit Manager, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, NIAO. Members also noted the response from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister Committee.
The Committee considered the main body of the report.
Paragraphs 1 – 16 read and agreed.
Paragraph 17 read, amended and agreed.
1.48pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
Paragraphs 18 – 20 read and agreed.
Paragraph 21 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 22 read and agreed.
Paragraph 23 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 24 - 27 read and agreed.
Paragraph 28 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 29 – 32 read and agreed.
Paragraph 33 read, amended and agreed.
2.00pm Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting.
Paragraph 34 read and agreed.
Paragraph 35 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 36 - 47 read and agreed.
Paragraph 48 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 49 and 50 read and agreed.
Paragraph 51 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 52 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 53 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 54 read and agreed.
Paragraph 55 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 56 and 57 read and agreed.
2.20pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed that the background papers relating to paragraphs 58 – 61 of the report would be re-issued and this section of the report would be considered at next week’s meeting.
Paragraphs 62 - 67 read and agreed.
Paragraph 68 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 69 read and agreed.
Paragraph 70 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 71 read and agreed.
2.25pm Mr Craig left the meeting.
Paragraphs 72 - 75 read and agreed.
Paragraph 76 read, amended and agreed.
2.26pm Mr Wells left the meeting.
Paragraphs 77 – 83 read and agreed.
Paragraph 86 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 85 read and agreed.
2.34pm Mr Burns joined the meeting.
Paragraphs 86 read, amended and agreed.
Agreed: Members agreed to review paragraph 86 at next week’s meeting.
Paragraph 87 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 88 – 111 read and agreed.
Paragraph 112 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 113 – 116 read and agreed.
7. Issues from oral evidence session on the NIAO report ‘Management of Sickness Absence in the NICS’
Members agreed to defer consideration of this paper until next week’s meeting.
8. Any other business.
None.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 June 2008 at 2.00pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.57pm.