PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
The Lord Browne
Mr John Dallat
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
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Stephen Moutray
2:07 pm The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 22 April 2010.
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
2:08 pm Mr Beggs left the meeting.
3. Matters arising
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to the Centre of Procurement Expertise (COPE) status of NI Water.
2:10 pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting.
2:12 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
Agreed: Members agreed to request to continue to be updated on this matter.
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing an update on the latest bi-annual progress report on managing sickness absence in the NICS.
Correspondence from the Committee for the Environment
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Environment providing a response to the concerns raised by Mr Alan Boyle relating to planning policies following the Committee’s report on ‘The Performance of the Planning Service’.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a copy of the departmental response to Mr Boyle.
Correspondence from the Minister for Education
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Education, Caitriona Ruane MLA acknowledging the Committee’s recent report on ‘The Pre-School Education Expansion Programme’.
Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing an update on the number of outstanding Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: Members agreed to request to continue to be updated on this matter.
4. Joint Memorandum of Reply
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on ‘The Performance of the Health Service in Northern Ireland’.
Members put a number of questions to Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts.
2:36 pm Mr Beggs declared an interest as he is a committee member for Horizon Surestart.
Agreed: Members agreed to refer some matters to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety for its consideration.
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on ‘The Performance of the Planning Service’.
Members put a number of questions to Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the TOA to request further clarification to some information in the response and to refer some matters to the Committee for the Environment for its consideration.
2:57 pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
3:00 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
Members noted correspondence from Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts updating the Committee on the previous Memorandum of Reply on Public Service Agreements.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider the response at a future meeting.
3:07 pm The meeting went into closed session.
5. Report on ‘Transforming Land Registers: The Landweb Project’
Members noted correspondence from Mr John Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Land and Property Services providing the information requested by the Committee at its evidence session 18 March 2010.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider the response on 13 May 2010 to coincide with the consideration of the draft report.
6. PAC Thematic report on PFI
Agreed: Members agreed to consider this item on 13 May 2010.
7. Issues arising from the oral evidence session on the ‘Memorandum to the Committee of Public Accounts from the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland: Combating Organised Crime.’
The Committee considered an issues paper from the oral evidence session on the ‘Memorandum to the Committee of Public Accounts from the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland: Combating Organised Crime.’
Agreed: The Committee agreed the issues contained in the paper as discussed.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
There was no other business.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 13 May 2010 at 2:00 pm in the Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3:17 pm.