PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2010
THE SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
The Lord Browne
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Jim Shannon MP
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 Stephen Moutray
Ms Dawn Purvis
2:05 pm The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2:06 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting.
2. Evidence Session on the NI Audit Office Report ‘Campsie Office Accommodation’ .
The Committee took oral evidence on the above report from:
- Mr David Sterling, Accounting Officer, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI);
- Mr Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive, Invest NI;
- Mr Mel Chittock, Acting Managing Director, Corporate Services, Invest NI;
2:09 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
2:13 pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting.
2:36 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
2:50 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
2:51 pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
2:57 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
3:04 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
3:13 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request further information from the witnesses.
3 . Evidence Session on the NI Audit Office Report ‘Synergy e-Business Incubator’.
The Committee took oral evidence on the above report from:
- Mr David Sterling, Accounting Officer, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI);
- Mr Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive, Invest NI;
- Mr Mel Chittock, Acting Managing Director, Corporate Services, Invest NI;
- Ms Tracey Meharg, Managing Director, Innovation and Capability Development Group, Invest NI
3:28 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
3:30 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
3:48 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request further information from the witnesses.
4:04 pm The meeting went into closed session.
4. Report on the ‘Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals’.
Members reviewed the transcript of the recent media response by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the departmental press release relating to the launch of the Committee report on ‘The Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals’
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer the matter until it considers the forthcoming Memorandum of Reply to the Committee’s report.
5. PSA MOR Options Paper
Members considered the options paper from the Clerk relating to the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee’s previous report on ‘Public Service Agreements – Measuring Performance’.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Treasury Officer of Accounts on the matter.
6. Minutes of the meeting on 13 May 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
7. Any other business.
The Chairperson updated members on attendance on behalf of the Committee at the recent Balmoral Show by Mr Beggs, Deputy Chairperson; Mr Lunn; and Ms Purvis. Mr Beggs suggested that consideration should be given to conducting an evidence session on a future visit to the show.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 27 May 2010 at 2:00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:25 pm.