PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

In Attendance:
Miss Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Damien Martin (Clerk Assistant)
Ms Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jonathan McMillan (Legal Services)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
The Lord Browne
Mr David Hilditch

12:07 pm The meeting opened in closed session.

The Committee agreed to conduct the 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 and Mr Jonathan McMillen from Legal Services should be present.

12:10 pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 1 July 2010 & 2 September 2010

The minutes of the meetings were agreed.

3. NIAO General Report 2009 – 2010

The Committee noted correspondence from a member of the public highlighting concerns around prompt payment performance as detailed in the NIAO General Report 2009 – 2010. The C&AG stressed the importance of prompt payment in current economic conditions and identified an opportunity in the coming months for the Committee to revisit the matter.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to return to the matter at a later date.

4. NI Water

Correspondence from Chris Mellor & Mr Declan Gormley

Members noted correspondence received from Chris Mellor and Mr Declan Gormley.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider as its inquiry develops Mr Gormley’s request to provide oral evidence to the Committee and the need for further oral evidence to be heard.

12:39 pm Mr Moutray left the meeting.
12:50 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
12:54 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.

Correspondence from a Member of the Public

Members noted correspondence from a member of the public relating to the appointment of Non-Executive Directors at NI Water.

Correspondence from Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General

Members noted correspondence from Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General outlining the aims of his examination of NI Water.

Clerks Brief

Members noted the legal advice and accompanying brief from the Clerk to the Committee.

FOI Requests

Members noted the due to the amount of information received as a result of FOI requests by members and supplied to members that an electronic copy has been provided.

Issues Paper on ‘Procurement and Governance at NI Water’

Members considered an 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 agreed to receive a progress paper from the Clerk to the Committee summarising lines of inquiry in the week commencing 20 September 2010.

5. Any other business

The Committee agreed that the Chairperson should agree a press statement to issue immediately on the agreed actions.

6. Date, time and place of next meeting

The Committee will meet again on Thursday 7 September 2010, at 2:00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

1:31 pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
7 September 2010

2 September 10 / Menu