PRESS RELEASE
2 July 2009
PR14/08/09
Comptroller and Auditor General attends his final meeting of Public Accounts Committee
John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) for Northern Ireland, is to attend his final meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee today prior to his retirement in September. Since he was first appointed in 1994, he has produced over 150 reports, of which 85 were dealt with in PAC sessions in the Assembly and in Westminster.
Mr Maskey, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “The C&AG plays a vital role in looking after our interests; not only as the eyes and ears of the Public Accounts Committee, but as the taxpayer’s watchdog. In the role of independent auditor of the public sector, Mr Dowdall provided an efficient, professional and impartial service to PAC and to the Assembly as a new institution.
“During his tenure the C&AG has seen through many significant changes. He led the NIAO through the introduction of resource accounting; the consolidation of public sector audit; the re-structuring of Departments; the National Fraud Initiative; and, perhaps most significantly, the return of devolved government.”
Mr Maskey said that he and his predecessor, John O’Dowd, were in agreement that Mr Dowdall brought both dedication and enthusiasm to the role.
He said: “He drew on his public sector and academic experience to give wise counsel as C&AG. We have found his advice invaluable in helping us to carry out our role as PAC Chairpersons.
“Mr Dowdall has overseen some of the most important, and at times, some of the most critical reviews of the public sector. Matters of public interest which he has reported on include the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; privatisation of Northern Ireland Electricity; road safety; numeracy and literacy; and, since devolution returned, the Springvale campus; the use of consultants; the public appointments process; the Brangam and Bagnall fraud; and the management of sickness absence.
“Mr Dowdall has championed high standards in public life, good governance, transparency and accountability in government. From a clear vision of where he wants the whole of the public sector to be, he has established a robust model for public sector audit.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Standing Orders under Section 60(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 have provided for the establishment of the Public Accounts Committee (the Committee). The main statutory function of the Committee is to consider accounts and the reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland (C&AG) laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The PAC Committee members are:-
Alliance |
Mr Trevor Lunn |
Democratic Unionist Party |
Mr Jim Shannon 6 |
Mr Jonathan Craig |
|
Mr George Robinson 7 |
|
Mr Jim Wells 3,4,5 |
|
Sinn Fein |
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson) 2 |
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin |
|
Social Democratic and Labour Party |
Mr John Dallat |
Ulster Unionist Party |
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson) |
Progressive Unionist Party |
Ms Dawn Purvis |
1 With effect from 04 March 2008 Mr Thomas Burns replaced Mr Patsy McGlone.
2 With effect from 20 May 2008 Mr Paul Maskey replaced Mr John O'Dowd.
3 With effect from 1 October 2007 Mr Mickey Brady replaced Mr Willie Clarke.
4 With effect from 21 January 2008 Mr Ian McCrea replaced Mr Mickey Brady.
5 With effect from Tuesday 27 May 08 Mr Jim Wells replaced Mr Ian McCrea.
6 With effect from Monday, 15 September 08 Mr Shannon replaced Mr David Hilditch.
7 With effect from Monday, 15 September 08 Mr Robinson replaced Mr Simon Hamilton.
8 With effect from 29 June 2009, Mr Patsy McGlone replaced Mr Thomas Burns.
Media enquiries to:
Debra Savage,
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Tel. 028 90521405
Mobile 07920 864221
Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk
Website archive.niassembly.gov.uk