PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2010
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Patsy McGlone
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 John Dallat
Mr William Irwin
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Stephen Moutray
Ms Dawn Purvis
2:08 pm The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 25 November 2010
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters arising
Correspondence from the Department of Finance and Personnel
Members noted correspondence from Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts, Department of Finance and Personnel responding to the Committee’s concerns relating to the MOR on the Committee’s previous report on ‘The Resettlement of Long Stay Patients from Learning Disability Hospitals.
Members noted correspondence from Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts, Department of Finance and Personnel providing the information sought in relation to the Committee’s previous report on ‘Campsie Office Accommodation and Synergy e-Business Incubator’.
Draft Press Release
Members considered the draft press release on the Committee’s forthcoming report on ‘The Administration and Management of the Disability Living Allowance Reconsideration and Appeals Process’.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to the draft press release subject to one amendment.
4. Memorandum of Reply
Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on ‘Campsie Office Accommodation and Synergy e-Business Incubator’.
Members put a number of questions to Ms Fiona Hamill, Treasury Officer of Accounts. Ms Hamill agreed to write to the Committee about record retention policies.
5. Briefing on the NIAO Report on ‘Arrangements for Ensuring the Quality of Care in Homes for Older People’
2:25 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller & Auditor General; Mr Sean McKay, Director; Ms Clare Dornan, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the report.
2:34 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
2:35 pm The meeting went into closed session after initial remarks by the C&AG.
2:45 pm Mr McLaughlin declared an interest stating that his wife is a cook in a residential home.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
6. NI Water
Correspondence from the Department for Regional Development
Members noted correspondence from Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Accounting Officer, Department of Regional Development to the C&AG which was copied to the Committee relating to the NIAO memorandum on the ‘Re-examination of Procurement Breaches in NI Water’.
NIAO Memorandum – Examination of Procurement Breaches in NI Water
Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General; Stephen McCormick, Director; Jacqueline O’Brien, Richard Ross and Joe Campbell, Audit Managers; briefed the Committee on the findings on the recent examination of procurement breaches in NI Water.
The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.
The C&AG agreed to report back to the Committee about concerns raised by Mr McGlone around clearance of the memorandum.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the memorandum and factor the findings into its draft report.
Correspondence from the Department for Regional Development re NI Water Internal Auditor
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item of correspondence until its next meeting on 16 December 2010.
3:39 pm Mr Lunn left the meeting.
7. Any other business
There was no other business.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 16 December 2010 at 1:30 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3:45 pm.
Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
16 December 2010.
25 November 10 / Menu
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