PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr Jim Shannon
In Attendance:
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr George Robinson
Mr Jim Wells
The meeting opened at 2.02pm in public session.
The Chairperson welcomed the Committee to the first meeting after the summer recess.
The Chairperson welcomed and congratulated the new C&AG, Kieran Donnelly on his appointment, and Phil Pateman who joins the Committee as the new Assistant Clerk.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that Mr Jim Wells was leaving the Committee and would be replaced by Rt Hon Mr Jeffrey Donaldson MLA, MP; and that Mr George Robinson was also leaving and would be replaced by Mr David Hilditch. He thanked Mr Wells and Mr Robinson for their support and service to PAC.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are listed above.
2.05 pm Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting.
2.06 pm Mr McGlone joined the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 2 July 2009.
Agreed : The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
-
Forward work planning
Members considered correspondence from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts relating to the delayed scheduling of the MOR on Bovine TB.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider the MOR on Bovine TB on 24 September 2009.
Members noted correspondence from Dr Aideen McGinley, outgoing Accounting Officer (AO) of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) in relation to a forthcoming DEL hearing.
Agreed: Members agreed to liaise with the team regarding their availability for a proposed visit on 18 November to the Public Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
Agreed: Members agreed the proposed motion for debate for a take-note debate in the Assembly of the work of the Public Accounts Committee; members also agreed to require that the debate have a duration of at least 2 hrs.
-
MOR on Brangam, Bagnall and Co
Members noted correspondence from Dr Andrew McCormick, Accounting Officer of Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) on the Brangam, Bagnall and Co report.
2.15 pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
-
Hospitality Association, Northern Ireland (HANI) Report
Members noted correspondence from Mrs Felicity Huston, Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Members agreed to request further information from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer in relation to the correspondence; and to hear evidence from Mrs Huston after considering this response if required.
Members noted a letter from the First and Deputy First Ministers giving an update to recommendation 21 of the HANI report, and agreed to respond suggesting an interim measure to speed up implementation.
-
Additional Information regarding the NIAO report, ‘Bringing the SS Nomadic to Belfast[]’
Members noted the additional information regarding the subject of this report provided in the letters of 6 and 28 August 2009 from Alan Shannon, AO of the Department for Social Development (DSD).
4. Register of Interests
Mr McGlone declared that his registered interests, as published on the Assembly website, are up to date.
5. Briefing on NIAO report ‘The Management of Social Housing Rent Collection and Arrears’
- Mr Kieran Donnelly, C&AG, Mr Eddie Bradley, Director; Ursula Moyna, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘The Management of Social Housing Rent Collection and Arrears’.
6. Briefing on NIAO report ‘Bringing The SS Nomadic to Belfast – The Acquisition and Restoration of SS Nomadic’
- Mr Kieran Donnelly, C&AG; Mr Brandon McMaster, Director; Vicki Quigley, Auditor; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the NIAO Report, ‘Bringing The SS Nomadic to Belfast – The Acquisition and Restoration of SS Nomadic’.
2.46 pm the meeting went into closed session.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
7. Consideration of the draft Committee Report on Review of Assistance to Valence Technology
Paragraphs 1 - 13 read and agreed.
Paragraph 14 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 15 - 17 read and agreed.
Paragraph 18 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 19 - 26 read and agreed.
Paragraph 27 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 28 - 30 read and agreed.
Paragraph 31 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 32 - 38 read and agreed.
Paragraph 39 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 40 – 44 read and agreed.
Paragraph 45 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 46 – 49 read and agreed
Paragraph 50 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 51 read and agreed.
Paragraph 52 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 53 – 54 read and agreed.
Paragraph 55 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 56 – 58 read and agreed.
Paragraph 59 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 60 – 70 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 71 – 72 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 73 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 74 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 75 – 80 read and agreed.
Paragraph 81 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 82 – 83 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 84 – 93 read and agreed
Paragraph 94 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 95 read and agreed
Paragraph 96 read, amended and agreed.
4.45 pm Mr Craig left the meeting
Consideration of the Executive Summary
Paragraphs 1 – 5 read and agreed
Paragraph 6 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 7 read and agreed.
Paragraph 8 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 9 – 21 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01 am on Thursday, 1 October 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed to launch the report with a press release to be agreed at a later meeting.
8. Any other business
The Chairperson informed the Committee that Ms Treanor would not be clerking the meeting on 17 September.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 17 September 2009 at 2.00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.10 pm.