1. Introduction
2. Apologies
3. Minutes from Meeting of 21 November 2001 and 13 December 2001
4. Draft Report (The Outbreak of Brucellosis at the Agricultural Research Institute)
5. Draft Report on "The DFP Memorandum of Reply to the 5^th Report from the Public Accounts Committee - Session 2000-2001"
6. PAC Assembly Debate

Members Present:
Mr B Bell (Chairperson)
Mr Beggs
Mr Carrick
Mr Close
Mr Dallat
Mr McClelland
Ms Morrice
Ms Ramsey

Apologies
Ms Armitage
Mr Hilditch
Mr O'Connor

In Attendance:
Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Campbell (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Ms J Duffin

1. Introduction

The Chairman commenced proceedings by welcoming Mr. Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and his staff to the meeting. He then proceeded to outline the objectives of the meeting as:

• To agree the Minutes of the Meetings of 21.11.01 and 13.12.01

• To discuss and agree the draft report on "the Outbreak of Brucellosis at the Agricultural Research Institute"

• To discuss and agree the draft report on "The DFP Memorandum of Reply to the 5^th Report from the Public Accounts Committee - Session 2000-2001"

• To discuss the format of the PAC debate to be held on Tuesday 15^th January 2002 in the Assembly Chamber.

Following this introduction, the Chairman turned to the order of business.

2. Apologies

Apologies were received from Ms P Armitage, Ms D Hilditch and Mr D O'Connor

3. Minutes from Meeting of 21 November 2001 and 13 December 2001

Agreed

The minutes accurately represented the business of the Committee.

4. Draft Report (The Outbreak of Brucellosis at the Agricultural Research Institute)

Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) was further examined

Draft Report (The Outbreak of Brucellosis at the Agricultural Research Institute) proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.

Paras 1 to 4 read and agreed to

Paras 5.1 to 5.30 postponed

Paras 6 to 7 read and agreed to

Para 8 read and agreed subject to amendment

Paras 9 to 10 read and agreed to

Paras 11 to 12 read and agreed subject to amendment

Paras 13 to 19 read and agreed to

Para 20 read and agreed subject to amendment

Paras 21 to 22 read and agreed to

Para 23 read and agreed subject to amendment

Paras 24 to 27 read and agreed to

Para 28 read and agreed subject to amendment

Paras 29 to 31 read and agreed to

Para 32 read and agreed subject to amendment

Paras 33 to 34 read and agreed to

Paras 35 to 36 read and agreed subject to amendment

Paras 37 to 41 read and agreed to

Para 42 read and agreed subject to amendment

Para 43 read and agreed to

Para 44 read and agreed to subject to amendment

Paras 45 to 51 read and agreed to

Paras 5.1 to 5.30 read and agreed subject to changes to be made to reflect amendments in paras 6 to 51.

Agreed

The publication date for this report will be Tuesday 29^th January 2002. The press release will be approved at the next meeting.

5. Draft Report on "The DFP Memorandum of Reply to the 5^th Report from the Public Accounts Committee - Session 2000-2001"

Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) was further examined

Draft Report (The Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum of Reply to the Fifth Report of the Public Accounts Committee (5/00/r)) proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.

Paras 1 to 11 read and agreed to.

Agreed

The publication date for this report will be Tuesday 22^nd January 2002. No press release will be issued with the report.


6. PAC Assembly Debate

The Chairman outlined to members the structure of the debate and indicative times as follows:

2:30pm Chairman's Introduction

2:50pm to 4:05pm Contributions from Committee Members and other MLAs

4:05pm to 4:25pm Response from Minister of Finance and Personnel

4:25pm to 4:30pm Wind Up of debate by Chairman

The members were given an indication of the main subject matter which the Chairman would be covering in his introduction. Having detailed this, members were asked to express areas of interest which they would like to incorporate in their speeches.

Agreed

Members were allocated their preferred subject area but will not be limited to the subject area allocated.

The meeting was then drawn to a close at 12:30pm.