PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 26 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 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 David Hilditch
The meeting opened at 2:02 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2:04 pm Mr McLaughlin entered the meeting.
2:05 pm Mr Donaldson and Mr McMcGlone entered the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 19 November 2009
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters arising
The Chairperson congratulated Ms Dawn Purvis for her award of ‘MLA of the Year’ at the recent Slugger O’Toole Awards.
Correspondence from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts
Members noted correspondence from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts, Department of Finance and Personnel relating to a Memorandum of Response from the Committee’s previous report on ‘The Control of Bovine Tuberculosis’.
Agreed: the Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development for its consideration.
4. Memorandum of Response – Report on ‘The Investigation of Suspected Contract Fraud’.
Mr Beggs declared an interest.
The Committee noted the Memorandum of Response on the Committee’s previous report on ‘The Investigation of Suspected Contract Fraud’.
2:19 pm Mr Craig and Mr McGlone left the meeting.
2:25 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
2:27 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
2:28 pm Mr Craig entered the meeting.
2:28 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
2:30 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed to seek clarification from the Department of some information in the MOR.
5. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the proposed Forward Work Programme from January – April 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to the proposed Forward Work Programme and to update the website and the other Committee Clerks accordingly.
2:49 pm The meeting went into closed session.
6. Briefing on NIAO report ‘The Performance of the Planning Service’.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, C&AG; Mr Eddie Bradley, Assistant Auditor General; Ms Ursula Moyna, Audit Manager; and Mr John Hegarty, Senior Auditor; briefed the Committee on the report.
3:15 pm Mr Craig left the meeting.
3:19 pm Mr Craig entered the meeting.
3:19 pm Mr Donaldson left the meeting.
3:25 pm Mr Donaldson entered the meeting.
3:27 pm Mr Donaldson left the meeting.
3:28 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
3:30 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
3:58 pm Mr Craig left the meeting.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
7. Any other business
3:58 pm Mr Craig entered the meeting.
4:03 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
Members noted correspondence from Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson should invite Mr Thomson to lunch to reflect on his time as the TOA.
The Chairperson provided an update to the members of a recent meeting conducted with Mr Alan Shannon, Accounting Officer, Department for Social Development.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask Mr Shannon to write to the Committee.
8. Date, time and venue of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 3 December 2009 at 2.00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:10 pm.