PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

Also in attendance:
Mr Damien Martin (Clerk Assistant)

Apologies:
Mr John Dallat
Mr Adrian McQuillan
Mr Stephen Moutray

2:07 pm The meeting opened in open session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 27 January 2011

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. 

3. Matters arising

Corresponse from NIPSA

Members noted correspondence from Noel Griffin, Assistant Secretary, NIPSA highlighting concerns relating to proposed sale of Ormiston House by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

2:11 pm Ms Purvis entered the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the C&AG should monitor the issue and report back to the Committee.

Agreed: The Committee agreed its position in the event of any media requests.

Correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

Members noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee enclosing correspondence received from a member of the public highlighting management issues in the Department for Agriculture and Regional Development.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the C&AG should investigate the highlighted issues and report back to the Committee upon its conclusion.

Correspondence from the Committee for Education

Members noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee enclosing correspondence sent anonymously which alleges discrepancies and improprieties relating to a temporary project carried out on behalf of the five Education and Library Boards.

2:19 pm Mr Irwin entered the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the C&AG should investigate the highlighted issues and report back to the Committee upon its conclusion.

4. MOR

Members considered the Memorandum of Reply to the Committee report on ‘The Management of Substitution Cover for Teachers: Follow-up Report’.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Treasury Officer of Accounts to clarify some of the information contained within the response.

5. Briefing on NIAO Report on ‘Improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy’

Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller & Auditor General; Mr Robert Hutchinson, Director; Mr Billy Fitzsimons, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager; briefed the Committee on the report.

3:20 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.

The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that two students on work experience with the Audit Office should attend agenda item 5 in closed session.

6. Consideration of the Draft Committee Report on ‘Arrangements for Ensuring the Quality of Care in Homes for Older People’

Paragraphs 1 – 7 read and agreed .

Paragraph 8 read, amended and agreed .

Paragraphs 9 – 11 read and agreed .

Paragraph 12 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 13 read and agreed .

Paragraph 14 read, amended and agreed.

3:45pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.

Paragraphs 15 – 25 read and agreed .

Paragraph 26 read, amended and agreed.

3:47pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
3:48pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting.

Paragraph 27 read and agreed.

Paragraph 28 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 29 read and agreed.

4:04pm Mr Irwin entered the meeting.
4:05pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.

Paragraph 30 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 31 – 32 read and agreed.

4:07pm Mr Lunn left the meeting.

Paragraph 33 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 34 – 36 read and agreed.

Paragraph 37 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 38 – 44 read and agreed.

Consideration of the Executive Summary

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Executive Summary subject to the amendments made in the main report.

4:09pm Mr Lunn entered the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee ordered the report to be printed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the report would be embargoed until 00.01 am on Thursday, 24 February 2011.

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

4:25pm Mr Campbell left the meeting.

7. Final Consideration of the Draft Committee Report on ‘Procurement Governance of NI Water’

The Committee noted correspondence from the Head of the Civil Service and agreed to reflect the content in its draft report.

Paragraph 39, read and amended.

Agreed: The Committee further decided to write to BBC NI and consequently agreed a draft letter for immediate issue.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Interim Chairman of NI Water and agreed to reflect its content in the draft report.

Paragraph 64, read, amended and agreed.

The Committee considered advice on selected paragraphs of the draft report.

Paragraphs 37, 39, 44, 62 and 81, read, amended and agreed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the title of the report should be ‘Procurement and Governance in NI Water’.

4:30pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Executive Summary subject to the amendments made in the main report.

Agreed: The Committee 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, 3 March 2011.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to update its webpage to reflect the launch date of the report.

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

8. Any other business

There was no other business.

9. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 10 February 2011 at 2:00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:49 pm.

Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
10 February 2011

27 January 11 / Menu