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PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 03 JUNE 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Jim Shannon

In Attendance:
Miss Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
The Lord Browne
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Stephen Moutray
Ms Dawn Purvis

2:39 pm The meeting opened in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 27 May 2010.

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. 

3. Matters arising

Correspondence from DFP

The Committee noted correspondence from Ms Fiona Hamill, TOA, DFP relating to the use of consultants.

Agreed: Members agreed to discuss the response with the TOA at a later date and to ask the Procedures Committee to update them on any action taken by the Speaker on the matter.

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel providing an update on LPS’s progress to the recommendations in the Committee’s previous report on ‘Statement of Rate Levy and Collection 2006-07’.

4. Memorandum of Reply

2:47 pm Mr Beggs declared an interest as he is currently a committee member for Horizon SureStart

The Committee considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee’s ‘Report on The Pre-school Education Expansion Programme’.

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the TOA to clarify the Committee’s position in respect of recommendation 8 and to seek clarification of the response to recommendation 10.

Correspondence from DFP

The Committee noted correspondence from Ms Fiona Hamill, TOA, DFP in response to further information requested by the Committee on the joint MOR on ‘The Performance of the Health Service’ and ‘The Performance of the Planning Service’.

3:05 pm The meeting went into closed session.

5. Forward Work Programme

The Committee received a briefing from Mr Kieran Donnelly, C&AG, Northern Ireland Audit Office on the reports available for selection by the Committee for its forward work programme.

The C&AG answered a number of question put by the Committee.

Agreed: Members agreed to the scheduling of reports for evidence sessions for the session September – December 2010.

6. Consideration of the Draft Committee Report on ‘Combating Organised Crime’.

Paragraphs 1 – 13 read and agreed.

Paragraph 14 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 15 – 16 read and agreed.

Paragraph 17 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 18 – 27 read and agreed.

Paragraph 28 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 29 – 31 read and agreed.

Paragraph 32 read, amended and agreed.

Consideration of the Executive Summary

Paragraph 1 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 2 -10 read and agreed.

Agreed: Members agreed the correspondence for inclusion in the report.

Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.

Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01 am on Thursday, 24 June 2010.

Agreed: Members agreed to launch the report with a press release to be agreed at a later meeting, and to participate in a media pre-brief subject to gauging press interest in the matter.

7. Consideration of Draft Committee Fourth Composite Report

Pages 2 - 3 read and agreed

Page 4 read, amended and agreed.

Pages 5 – 6 read and agreed.

Page 7 read, amended and agreed.

Pages 8 – 16 read and agreed.

Consideration of the Executive Summary

Page 1 read and agreed.

Agreed: Members agreed the correspondence for inclusion in the report.

Agreed: Members ordered the report to be printed.

Agreed: Members agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01 am on Thursday, 24 June 2010.

8. Consideration of the Draft Thematic Report

The Committee agreed to consider this item at its next meeting on 10 June 2010.

9. Any other business

There was no other business.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 10 June 2010 at 2:00 pm in the Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

3:40 pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
10 June 2010.

27 May 10 / Menu