Minutes of proceedings of the first meeting of the Public Accounts Committee in Room 152, Parliament Buildings on Friday 4 February 2000

Present: Mr B Bell (Chairman)
Ms S Ramsey (Deputy Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Mr R Beggs
Mr M Carrick
Mr S Close
Mr J Dallat
Mr D Hilditch
Mr D McClelland
Ms J Morrice

Apologies: Mr D O'Connor

In Attendance: Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mrs G Ardis
Miss L Tracey
Mr F McMahon

1. CHAIRMAN'S INTRODUCTION

The Chairman welcomed members to the first meeting of this Committee and congratulated them on their appointment to this very important Committee. He thanked the Deputy Chairman for her help in setting up this first meeting and introduced the Clerk and his staff to the Committee. The main purpose of the meeting was to enable the Committee to be briefed by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Dowdall and the Treasury Officer of Accounts, Dr Andrew McCormick. The Committee was also informed that Mr Dowdall and Dr McCormick had brought members of their staff to observe the proceedings.

2. DATE AND TIMING OF MEETING

The Chairman stated that he was aware of members' concerns about meeting on Fridays - a day normally reserved for constituency business but due to other circumstances it was not possible to schedule a meeting for an alternative day. It was also agreed that the room being used for the meeting was not suitable for further meetings particularly if evidence was being taken.

Agreed

The Clerk will bring forward proposals as to the date, timing and venue of future meetings that would be discussed at the next Committee meeting.

3. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

The Chairman advised members that they must declare any interests in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct. Each member had received and completed a Members' Interests Registration form. Ms Morrice declared that she was a member of the Board of Laganside.

4. PRESENTATIONS BY MR JOHN DOWDALL, COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL AND DR ANDREW McCORMICK, TREASURY OFFICER OF ACCOUNTS

The Chairman welcomed both Mr Dowdall and Dr McCormick to the meeting.

Mr Dowdall outlined the role of the NI Audit Office, his responsibilities as Comptroller and Auditor General and how this interfaced with the Committee's roles and responsibilities.

Dr McCormick spoke about his work as Treasury Officer of Accounts and the relationship between Department of Finance and Personnel, the NI Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee.

Following these presentations there was a detailed question and answer session.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their contributions and asked that Mr Dowdall and staff remain to enable a discussion of the Committee's future work programme to take place.

5. COMMITTEE'S BUSINESS AND FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME

It was agreed that an alternative venue should be used for future meetings - particularly when the proceedings were held in public. The Chairman felt that it would be important and very useful from a learning perspective, if the Committee's next meeting was to be held at the NI Audit Offices headquarters in University Street, Belfast.

Agreed

The Clerk will arrange that the next meeting of the Committee be held at NI Audit Office's headquarters. It was also agreed that the Committee's future work programme would be discussed and agreed at that next meeting.

6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There being no further business the meeting closed and the Chairman again thanked all those present for their contributions and Mr Dowdall for his excellent and very informative presentation.

William B Bell
Committee Chairman
8 June 2000