PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Patsy McGlone
Ms Dawn Purvis
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 Gregory Campbell MP MLA
Mr William Irwin
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Stephen Moutray
2:03 pm The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 21 September 2010.
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters arising
Correspondence from Unison NI
Members noted correspondence copied to the Committee from Patricia McKeown, Regional Secretary, Unison NI.
2:06 pm Ms Purvis entered the meeting.
Correspondence from Whistleblower
Members noted correspondence submitted by Dawn Purvis on behalf of a constituent on the tendering of a poll conducted by OFMDFM.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to refer this additional material to NIAO for investigation.
Correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure highlighting concerns raised by a journalist about the Ulster Camogie Council which was previously considered by the Committee at its meeting on 9 September 2010.
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure highlighting alleged funding irregularities within the Ulster Scots Folk Orchestra.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the information to the Audit Office for investigation and in due course to communicate any findings to the Committee for Culture, Art and Leisure.
Correspondence from Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Members noted correspondence from Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA to Mr John Buchanan, Chief Local Government Auditor, Northern Ireland Audit Office which was copied to the Committee highlighting concerns relating to the reimbursement of legal costs at Craigavon Borough Council.
2:16 pm Mr Beggs declared an interest as he is a local councillor.
2:19 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
The following question was put:
That the Public Accounts Committee forwards this item of correspondence to the Committee for the Environment for its consideration.
Vote in Favour: Mr John Dallat
Mr Patsy McGlone
Those Against: Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Mitchell McLaughlin
Those Abstained: Mr Paul Maskey
Mr Trevor Lunn
Ms Dawn Purvis
The vote was equal, and therefore the motion fell.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond to Mrs Kelly referring her to the appropriate bodies.
2:30 pm Mr Lunn left the meeting.
2:31 pm Mr Lunn entered the meeting.
Correspondence from Mr Brian Acheson
The Committee agreed to return to this item in closed session.
4. New Members’ Registered Interests
This item will be considered at the Committee’s next meeting.
5. Memorandum of Reply
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on the ‘Review of the Gateway Process and the Management of Personal Injury Claims’.
Members put a number of questions to Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee for Justice, drawing to its attention the responses to recommendations 4 & 5.
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on the ‘Resettlement of Long-Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals’.
Members put a number of questions to Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts.
2:59 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
3:04 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to clarify in correspondence certain details of the response.
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on the ‘Transforming Land Registers: The LandWeb Project’.
Members put a number of questions to Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to clarify in correspondence certain details of the response.
3:13 pm The meeting went into closed session.
3:13 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
6. Chairperson’s Meeting with Mr Sammy Wilson MP MLA, Minister of Finance and Personnel
3:16 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
Members noted a paper from the Clerk to the Committee providing a summary of the issues flagged up at the Chairperson’s meeting with the Minister and at the Clerk’s subsequent meeting with TOA.
7. Issues arising from the oral evidence session on ‘The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers: Follow-up Report’.
Members considered an issues paper from the oral evidence session on ‘The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers: Follow-up Report’.
3:32 pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
Correspondence from Mr Brian Acheson
Members noted correspondence from Mr Brian Acheson and was briefed by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the matters raised.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to reply to Mr Acheson’s letter and that the C&AG would investigate and report back to the Committee on the issue in due course.
Correspondence to Mr Bruce Robinson, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service
Members considered a draft letter to Mr Bruce Robinson relating to the investigation surrounding the suspension of Mr Paul Priestly.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward the letter as drafted.
Press Release – Report on Campsie Office Accommodation and Synergy e-Business Incubator (SeBI)
The Committee considered the draft press release to accompany the Committee’s report on ‘Campsie Office Accommodation and Synergy e-Business Incubator (SeBI)’.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the press release and that subject to media interest, a media pre-brief by members would accompany the launch of the report.
Correspondence from the President of the Appeals Service
Members noted correspondence from Mr Conall MacLynn, President of the Appeals Service NI relating to the Committee’s forthcoming evidence session on 16 October 2010.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to schedule a session on 21 October 2010 to take oral evidence from Mr MacLynn.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 7 October 2010 at 2:00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3:45 pm.
Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
7 October 2010.
21 September 10 / Menu
|
