Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Venue: Room 29
The meeting commenced at 1.02pm in open session.
Chairperson’s Introduction
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the meeting.
1. Apologies
As detailed above.
2. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson reminded Members of their obligation to declare any relevant financial or other interests before and during each Committee meeting.
Mr Maskey declared an interest as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 13th December 2011
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting held on 13th December 2011 were agreed by the Committee.
4. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
5. NIAO Estimate for 2012-2013
Members noted the draft NIAO Estimate for 2012-2013 and correspondence from the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Public Accounts Committee.
The Chairperson welcomed Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General; Ms Janet Sides, Assistant Auditor General; Mr Andrew Allen, Audit Manager; and Mr Joe Campbell, Audit Manager. The Chairperson invited Mr Donnelly to brief the Committee on the NIAO Estimate for 2012-13.
Following discussion the Chairperson thanked Mr Donnelly and his colleagues for attending the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the NIAO Estimates for 2012-2013.
1.15pm The Committee moved into closed session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft Committee Report on the NIAO Estimates for 2012-2013.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee Powers and Membership and Table of Contents should form part of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Appendix 1 ‘Other Evidence considered by the Committee’ should form part of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Appendix 2 ‘Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Report’ should form part of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the tabled extract of today’s Minutes of Proceedings as amended should be included in Appendix 1 of the report.
Agreed: The Committee ordered the Report on the Estimates of the Northern Ireland Audit Office 2012-13 to be printed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report should be accompanied by a covering note from the Chairperson to all MLAs.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Department of Finance and Personnel advising them of the Committee’s decision.
6. Draft Foreword to NIAO Corporate Plan 2012-13 to 2014-15
Agreed: Members noted and agreed the draft ‘Foreword’ to the NIAO Corporate Plan 201213 TO 2014-15.
7. Salary of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Agreed: Following a briefing by the Clerk the Committee agreed that:
(a) the Comptroller and Auditor General’s salary for 2012-13 should remain frozen at its current level (and therefore that no motion should be tabled by the Audit Committee); and
(b) that further to the outcome of the Government’s consideration of the Senior Salary Review Body’s review of the judicial salary structure, the Audit Committee should carry out a review of the options open to it for determining the Comptroller and Auditor General’s salary in the future.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should write to the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department of Finance and Personnel informing them of the Committee’s decision.
8. Correspondence
Agreed: Members noted correspondence received from the Department of Finance and Personnel and agreed a response from the Chairperson to the Finance Minister outlining the Committee’s position in relation to the Executive’s Review of the Financial Process in Northern Ireland.
9. Any other business
There was no other business.
10. Time, date and place of next meeting
Members will be informed of the date of the next meeting by Committee staff in due course.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.33pm.
Danny Kinahan
Chairperson
Audit Committee
Dated: 25th June 2012