PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 144, 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

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 David Hilditch
Ms Dawn Purvis

2:01 pm The meeting opened in closed session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2:03 pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting.

2. Minutes of the meeting on 7 September 2010

The minutes of the meetings were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

Update on Whistleblower Information

Members noted correspondence from a member of the public relating to the tendering of a poll conducting by OFMDFM.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to return to this item on 23 September 2010.

Members noted correspondence from a journalist relating to issues highlighted at the Ulster Camogie Council and the C&AG’s response to the whistleblower.

Members noted correspondence from a whistleblower highlighting concerns over the Department of Social Development’s Neighbourhood Renewal Funded Project and an update from the Comptroller and Auditor General on the matter.

2:14 pm Mr Lunn declared an interest stating that the whistleblower was a previous political and business colleague.

2:16 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.

Members noted correspondence from the Comptroller and Auditor General in response to concerns raised by a whistleblower relating to Laurelhill Community College.

Members noted correspondence from the Comptroller and Auditor General providing an update to the Committee in relation to a letter from a whistleblower highlighting concerns in the tendering of taxi services.

3. Department of Finance and Personnel

Correspondence from the Department of Finance and Personnel

Members noted correspondence from Mr Sammy Wilson, Minister of Finance of Personnel following the Committee’s take note debate 29 June offering to meet to discuss points that arose in the debate.

The Chairperson updated the Committee on the subsequent meeting he had with the Minister on 19 August.

2:23 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to receive a summary of the meeting with the Minister and to consider the issues raised on 23 September 2010.

Members noted correspondence from Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts, DFP providing an undertaking regarding consultation with the Information Commissioners Office on datasharing issues.

4. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Correspondence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Members noted correspondence from Mr David Sterling, Accounting Officer, DETI providing an update on issues highlighted in a previous Westminster PAC report relating to Novatech Ltd which has been concluded.

2:34 pm Mr Moutray left the meeting.

Members noted correspondence from Mr David Sterling, Accounting Officer, DETI providing an update to the Committee on its previous report on ‘Northern Ireland Tourist Board – Contract to Manage the Trading Activities of Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd’ and the successful disposal of leases.

6. Forthcoming Evidence Sessions

Members noted correspondence from Conall MacLynn, President of Appeals Tribunals NI offering to attend as a witness at its evidence session on 14 October 2010 on the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on ‘The Adminstration and Management of the Disability Reconsideration and Appeals Process’.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to formally invite Mr MacLynn to its evidence session.

Members noted correspondence from Dr Andrew Mccormick, Accounting Officer, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety requesting the Committee’s consideration to reschedule its forthcoming evidence session on the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on ‘Arrangement for Ensuring the Quality of Care in Homes for Older People’.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to reschedule this evidence session to 16 December 2010.

Agreed : The Committee agreed not to meet on Thursday 30 September 2010.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to the proposed forward work programme and to update it on the Committee’s web page.

7. Briefing on NIAO report ‘The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers: Follow-up Report’.

2:46 pm The meeting went into closed session after initial remarks by the C&AG.

2:46 pm The Chairperson declared an interest as a family member is the vice principal of a school.

2:46 pm The Deputy Chairperson declared an interest as a family member is a teacher.

2:59 pm The Deputy Chairperson declared an interest as he is a Governer of Glynn Primary School.

Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller & Auditor General; Mr Sean McKay, Director; and Mr Roger McCance, Auditor; briefed the Committee on the report.

The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.

8. Consideration of the Draft Committee Report on ‘Campsie Office Accommodation and Synergy e-Business Incubator’.

Paragraphs 1 – 7 read and agreed.

Paragraphs 8 - 13 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 14 – 15 read and agreed.

Paragraphs 16 – 17 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 18 – 19 read and agreed.

Paragraph 20 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 21 read and agreed.

Paragraphs 22 - 23 read, amended and agreed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to merge paragraphs 21 – 22 in the final report.

3:41 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.

Paragraph 24 read and agreed.

Paragraphs 25 - 26 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 27 read and agreed.

Paragraphs 28 - 29 read amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 30 – 37 read and agreed.

Paragraph 38 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 39 – 47 read and agreed.

3:55 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.

Consideration of the Executive Summary

Paragraphs 1 – 9 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, 30 September 2010.

Agreed: Members agreed to launch the report with a press release to be agreed at a later meeting.

9. Any other business

The Committee noted correspondence from Felicity Huston, Commissioner of Public Appointments for Northern Ireland highlighting a correction to the evidence heard at its session on 1 July 2010 on the Governance of NI Water.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to include the correspondence alongside the Hansard transcript in its final report.

4. Date, time and place of next meeting

The Committee will meet again on Thursday 16 September 2010, at 2:00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

4:50 pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.

Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
16 September 2010

7 September 10 / Menu