PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

In Attendance:
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Dominic O’Farrell (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Mr Adrian McQuillan

2:02 pm The meeting opened in public session.
2:03 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 23 September 2010.

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters arising

Correspondence from Mr John O’Dowd MLA

Members noted correspondence from Mr John O’Dowd MLA highlighting concerns relating to legal fees regarding medical negligence cases.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to acknowledge Mr O’Dowd’s letter and that the Northern Ireland Audit Office keep the Committee updated of the work they are currently undertaking.

2:06 pm Mr Campbell and Mr Moutray entered the meeting.

Correspondence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Members noted correspondence from Mr David Sterling, Accounting Officer, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment providing an update to the Departments’ undertakings from a previous Westminster Public Accounts Committee Report on ‘Governance Issues in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s Former Local Enterprise Development Unit’.

Correspondence from a Member of the Public

Members noted correspondence from a member of the public relating to financial irregularities at the Belfast Festival.

Agreed: The Committee approved a draft response and agreed to send it to acknowledge the correspondence.

4. Memorandum of Reply

Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on ‘Combating Organised Crime’.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee for Justice for its consideration and to clarify the Department of Justice’s position on the recommendations of the report.

Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on ‘North/South Bodies’.

5. Members’ Registered Interests

Mr Campbell and Mr Irwin advised the Committee that they will amend the register of their interests and notify the Clerk when the updates have been made.

6. Briefing on NIAO Report ‘The Administration and Management of the Disability Living Allowance Reconsideration and Appeals Process’.

2:24 pm The meeting went into closed session after initial remarks by the C&AG.

Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller & Auditor General; Mr Brandon McMaster, Director; Mr David Murdie, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the report.

The Committee noted an update letter from the Accounting Officer of the Department for Regional Development, Mr Will Haire.

2:34 pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting.

The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.

7. Any other business

Correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee on Procedures
Members noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee on Procedures providing a copy of a letter sent by the Speaker to the First and deputy First Minister regarding responses to Assembly Questions.

Take Note Debate
The Committee noted and agreed the proposed date of 2 November 2010 for the Committee’s annual take note debate.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed to conduct an additional meeting to review progress on its ongoing inquiry into NI Water.
The next meeting will therefore be held on Tuesday, 12 October 2010 at 1:00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2:55 pm.

Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
12 October 2010.

23 September 10 / Menu