PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
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 Jonathan Craig
Mr David Hilditch
Ms Dawn Purvis
2:05 pm the meeting opened in public session .
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2:06 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 4 February 2010
Agreed : The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
Agreed : the Committee agreed that a work experience student should attend the entire meeting.
3. Matters arising
Correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
In respect of its inquiry into the control of Bovine TB in Northern Ireland, the Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development providing follow-up on details of the Department’s MOR undertakings.
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel
Mr Beggs declared an interest as he is currently a local councillor at Carrickfergus Borough Council.
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing a quarterly update on the progress of Land and Property Services against the recommendations in the Committee’s report on ‘Statement of Rate Levy and Collection 2006-07’.
4. Briefing on the NIAO report on the ‘Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals’.
2:15 pm the meeting went into closed session after the initial remarks by the C&AG.
2:18 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
2:20 pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
2:23 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
Mr Donaldson declared an interest in regards to a family member in the context of the report.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller & Auditor General; Mr Sean McKay, Director; and Ms Claire Dornan, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the report.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
2:56 pm Mr Donaldson left the meeting.
2:58 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
5. Issues Paper on the Review of the Gateway Process and the Management of Personal Injury Claims.
Members considered an issues paper on this evidence session.
3:10 pm Mr Donaldson entered the meeting.
6. Consideration of the Draft Committee Report on ‘The Pre-school Education Expansion Programme’.
The Chairperson declared an interest as a result of an immediate family member being employed by Sure Start.
Mr Roy Beggs declared an interest as he is currently on the board of governors at Glynn Primary School and a committee member for Horizon Sure Start.
3:22 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
3:23 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
Paragraphs 1 – 3 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 7 – 11 read and agreed.
Paragraph 12 read, amended and agreed.
3:30 pm Mr Donaldson left the meeting.
Members agreed to seek further detail from the Department and to defer consideration of paragraphs 13 – 15 & paragraphs 35 – 37 until a response has been received.
Paragraphs 16 – 20 read and agreed.
Paragraph 21 read, amended and agreed.
3:42 pm Mr Donaldson entered the meeting.
Paragraph 22 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 23 - 25 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 26 – 31 read and agreed.
Paragraph 32 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 33 read and agreed.
Paragraph 34 read, amended and agreed.
Consideration of the Executive Summary
Paragraphs 1 – 6 read and agreed.
Agreed: Members agreed the correspondence for inclusion in the report.
7. Any other business
The Chairperson provided an update to the Committee on a recent informal meeting with Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts; Mr Stephen Grimason, head of Executive Information Services; and his deputy, Mr Colm Shannon; regarding the protocols surrounding official commentary on PAC reports.
8. Date, time and venue of the next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 25 February 2010 at 2:00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
3:55 pm Mr Chairperson adjourned the meeting.