PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 17 June 2008
Room 375, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Trevor Lunn
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Mr Jim Beatty (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Nicola Shepherd (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
The meeting opened at 12.23pm in closed session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 12 June 2008.
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
None.
4. Consideration of the Committee’s Draft Report on Northern Ireland Tourist Board – Contract to Manage the Trading Activities of Rural Cottage Holidays Limited.
The witnesses attending were Mr Kieran Donnelly, Deputy C&AG, Mr Stephen McCormick, Director, and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager, NIAO.
The Committee considered the main body of the report paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 – 10 read and agreed.
Paragraph 11read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 12 – 14 read and agreed.
12.30pm Ms Purvis joined the meeting.
Paragraphs 15 and 16 read and agreed.
Paragraph 17 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 18 read and agreed.
Paragraph 19 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 20 read and agreed.
12.40pm Mr Wells left the meeting.
Paragraph 21 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 22 - 29 read and agreed.
Paragraph 30 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 31 read and agreed.
Paragraph 32 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 33 – 38 read and agreed.
12.55pm Mr Wells rejoined the meeting.
Paragraph 39 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 40 – 42 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 43 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 44 – 46 read, amended and agreed
The Committee considered the Executive Summary of the report.
Paragraphs 1 – 4 read and agreed.
Paragraph 5 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 6 and 7 read and agreed.
Paragraph 8 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 9 read and agreed.
Paragraph 10 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 11 – 13 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson’s letter to Mr Stephen Quinn CB, requesting additional information and the response would be included in the Committee’s report.
Agreed: Members agreed to embargo the report until 00.01am on Thursday, 3 July 2008, when the report would be officially released.
Agreed: Members agreed not to hold a press conference to launch the report.
5. Any other business.
None.
6. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 19 June 2008 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.19pm.