PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis

In Attendance:
Miss Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Damien Martin (Clerk Assistant)
Ms Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
The Lord Browne
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Stephen Moutray

12:04 pm The meeting opened in closed session.
12:06 pm Ms Purvis entered the meeting.

The Committee agreed to conduct the entire meeting in closed session to discuss matters relating to the development of its draft report into the NI Water inquiry.

Members agreed that the Clerk to the Committee for Regional Development should be present.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 August 2010

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. 

3. NI Water

Correspondence from Mr Bruce Robinson, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service

The Committee noted correspondence received from Mr Bruce Robinson, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service detailing the current position of the investigation being undertaken in respect of Mr Paul Priestly’s suspension.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the terms of a response to Mr Robinsons’s letter and to request to be updated on the outcome of the investigation upon its conclusion.

Correspondence from the Department for Regional Development

Members noted correspondence from Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Accounting Officer, Department for Regional Development providing the further information requested by the Committee following its evidence session on 1 July 2010. Members also noted a tabled letter from the Department giving a further update on outstanding issues.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the terms of a reply to Dr McKibbin.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to Mr McKenzie’s offer of a briefing in due course.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a further meeting on Tuesday, 7 September 2010 on the NI Water inquiry.

Correspondence from Mr Chris Mellor and Mr Declan Gormley

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider this item at its next meeting.

Agreed: The Committee also agreed that FOI information received by members would be circulated to the Committee.

Correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development

Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development providing an update on its recent evidence session on NI Water with the Minister for Regional Development.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to the request made by the Committee for Regional Development to share the inquiry papers received pertaining to NI Water inquiry.

Issues Paper on ‘Procurement and Governance at NI Water’

Members considered and amended a draft issues paper on this evidence session.

Consideration of an Options Paper

Members considered an options paper provided by the Clerk to the Committee.

Agreed : The Committee asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to undertake an examination of procurement contract exceptions in NI Water.

4. Any other business

There was no other business.

5. Date, time and place of next meeting

The Committee will meet again on Tuesday 7 September 2010, at 12.00 noon in room 135.

1:55 pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
7 September 2010

24 August 10 / Menu