PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 10 MARCH 2011
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

In Attendance:
Ms Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr John Dallat
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Adrian McQuillan

2:03pm The meeting opened in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above

2. Minutes of meeting held on 24 February 2011.

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters arising

Correspondence from DHSSPS

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Andrew McCormick, Accounting Officer, Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety providing an update on the Departments’ commitment to providing a report on respite care by end November 2010.

2:06pm Ms Purvis entered the meeting.

Correspondence from the C&AG

The Committee noted correspondence from the C&AG providing an update on the operation of ‘Energy Efficiency Programmes’ following correspondence received by the Committee from a whistleblower.

2:08pm Mr Campbell entered the meeting.

Correspondence from the Committee for Finance & Personnel

The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk of the Finance and Personnel Committee which contained a quarterly briefing from the Department on the number of post project evaluations that are outstanding.

The Committee agreed to continue to be updated on this issue.

Correspondence from NIPSA

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Noel Griffin, Assistant Secretary, NIPSA in relation to previous correspondence received regarding the proposed sale of Ormiston House by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Committee agreed for the C&AG to meet with Mr Griffin to discuss this matter.

Correspondence from DFP

The Committee noted correspondence from the TOA, Fiona Hamill providing an update to the information requested by the Committee when it considered the MOR on the ‘Management of Substitute Teachers’.

Correspondence from DFP

The Committee noted correspondence from the TOA, Fiona Hamill relating to the timing of the MOR for the NI Water report.

The Committee requested that Ms Hamill update the Clerk as to when the MOR will be laid.

4. Consideration of Assembly Contributory Pension Fund Accounts

Agreed: The Committee noted receipt of the accounts and agreed to forward these to the Assembly Commission and to the Secretariat Audit Risk Committee for their information.

5. Consideration of Assembly Contributory Pension Fund Accounts

Agreed: The Committee noted receipt of the accounts and agreed to forward these to the Assembly Commission and to the Secretariat Audit Risk Committee for their information.

2:23pm The Committee went into closed session.

6. Consideration of Draft Committee Report on ‘Improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy’

Paragraphs 1-4 read and agreed.

2.35pm Mr Lunn entered the meeting.

Paragraphs 5 & 6 read, amended and agreed.

2:46pm Mr Moutray left the meeting.

2:48pm Mr Moutray entered the meeting.

Paragraphs 7-11 read and agreed.

2:59pm Mr Irwin left the meeting.

Paragraphs 12-20 read and agreed.

Paragraph 21 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 22 read and agreed.

Paragraph 23 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 24-27 read and agreed.

Paragraphs 28 & 29 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 30 read and agreed.

Paragraph 31 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 32-45 read and agreed.

3:.33pm Mr Moutray left the meeting.

3:40pm Ms Purvis left the meeting

Paragraph 46 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraph 47 read and agreed.

Paragraph 48 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 49-51 read and agreed.

Paragraphs 52-55 read, amended and agreed.

Paragraphs 56 & 57 read and agreed.

4:04pm Mr Campbell left 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.

4:04pm The Committee lost quorum.

7. NI Water Leak Inquiry

The Committee received a briefing from Mr John Stewart, Director of Clerking and Reporting in relation n to two items of correspondence received.

Agreed : The Committee deferred consideration of these items until its next quorate meeting.

8. Date. time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on 15 March 2011 at 1 pm in room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:22pm.

24 February 11 / Menu