PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA
Mr David Hilditch
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 Kevin Marks (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
The meeting opened at 2.02 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 12 November 2009
Agreed : The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
2:05 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting
3. Matters arising
MOR Update – Report on Road Openings by Utilities
Members noted correspondence from the Department of Regional Development providing an update on recommendations made by the Committee in a previous report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to acknowledge this unsolicited update.
2:13 pm Mr Lunn entered the meeting
Correspondence from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Members noted correspondence from OFMDFM updating the Committee on the progress of the commitments undertaken by the Department to the Committee’s report on the Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department to clarify some information detailed in the response.
2:25 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting
2:26 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting
2:30 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting
Post-project Evaluations
Members noted correspondence from the C&AG detailing a comparative analysis of post project evaluations good practice.
Members also noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel relating to PPEs.
Agreed : Members agreed to forward the C&AG’s analysis to the Committee for Finance and Personnel for its consideration.
Correspondence from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Members noted correspondence received from DCAL detailing a copy of the Value for Money analysis for the Electronic Libraries previously covered in the Committee’s First Composite Report.
Correspondence from the Rivers Agency
Members noted correspondence from the Rivers Agency detailing an update on the progress made since the publication of the Committee’s Third Composite Report.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department to clarify some information detailed in the response.
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel detailing an update on the progress made by Land & Property Services towards the recommendations made in the Committee’s previous report on ‘Statement of Rate Levy and Collection’.
Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office
Members noted correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office in relation to the procurement of the Badger Population Survey.
Public Service Agreements
Members noted correspondence from DETI and DARD in relation to the Committee’s forthcoming report on ‘Public Service Agreements: Measuring Performance’.
Agreed : Members agreed to the datamarking requests made by the Departments.
2:48 pm Mr Shannon left the meeting
2:52 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting
2:54 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting
2:56 pm Mr Donaldson left the meeting
4. Draft Forward Work Programme.
Members received a briefing from the Northern Ireland Audit Office on the reports available for selection for the forward work programme.
Agreed: Members agreed the scheduling of reports for evidence sessions for the period January – April 2010.
Members considered a summary of proposals resulting from the Committee’s recent business planning meetings.
Agreed : Members agreed the proposals as a basis on which to proceed.
3:25 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting
3:30 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting
3:36 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting
3:40 pm Mr Donaldson entered the meeting
3:43 pm Mr Lunn left the meeting
5. MOR Investigation of Suspected Contract Fraud
Agreed : Members agreed to review the Department’s response on 26 November 2009.
3 :49 pm The meeting went into closed session
3.57 pm Mr Maskey invited nominations for acting Chairperson as both he and the Deputy Chairperson were required to leave.
Ms Purvis nominated Mr McLaughlin. Mr McLaughlin declined.
Mr McLaughlin nominated Mr Craig. Ms Purvis seconded Mr Craig.
Agreed: Members agreed that Mr Jonathan Craig should chair the meeting in the absence of the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson.
3: 57 Ms Purvis left the meeting
3:58 pm Mr Maskey left the meeting
3.58 pm Mr Craig took the Chair
3:59 pm Mr Beggs left the meeting
6. Issues Paper on the Performance of the Health Service
Members considered an issues paper on this evidence session.
4:00 pm Ms Purvis entered the meeting
4:10 pm Mr Donaldson left the meeting
7. Consideration of the Draft Committee Report on ‘Irish Sport Horse Genetic Testing Ltd: Transfer and Disposal of Assets’.
Paragraphs 1 – 7 read and agreed.
Paragraph 8 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 9 – 17 read and agreed.
Paragraph 18 read, amended and agreed.
4:20 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting
4:20 pm Mr Donaldson entered the meeting
4:24 pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting
4:29 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting
Paragraphs 19 – 25 read and agreed.
Paragraph 26 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 27 – 28 read and agreed.
Consideration of the Executive Summary
Paragraphs 1 – 6 read and agreed subject to the amendments agreed to in the main report.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01 am on Thursday, 10 December 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed to launch the report with a press release to be agreed at a later meeting.
4:40 pm Mr Beggs took the Chair
8. Consideration of the Draft Committee Report on ‘Review of New Deal 25+’.
Paragraphs 1 – 10 read and agreed.
Paragraph 11 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 12 – 16 read and agreed.
Paragraph 17 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 18 – 19 read and agreed.
Paragraph 20 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 21 – 26 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 27 – 28 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 29 – 30 read and agreed.
Paragraph 31 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 32 – 37 read and agreed.
Paragraph 38 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 39 – 40 read and agreed.
Paragraph 41 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 42 read and agreed.
Paragraph 43 read and agreed.
Paragraph 44 read, amended and agreed.
Consideration of the Executive Summary
Paragraphs 1 – 7 read and agreed subject to the amendments agreed to in the main report.
Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.
Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01 am on Thursday, 17 December 2009.
Agreed: Members agreed to launch the report with a press release to be agreed at a later meeting.
4:55 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting
5:00 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting
9. Any other business
Members noted a magazine article of relevance to the Committee.
10. Date, time and venue of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 26 November 2009 at 2:00 pm in room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5:07 pm.
Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee.