Minutes of proceedings of the fifth meeting of the Public Accounts Committee held in Room 152, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 13th September 2000.

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

In Attendance: Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Campbell (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Miss L Tracey

Prior to commencement of business, the Chairman welcomed Mr. Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), and his staff to the meeting. He then outlined the main issues to be discussed in the meeting:

1. Minutes from Meeting of Wednesday 13^th September 2000
2. Matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting
3. Discussion and Approval of Draft PAC Report on Road Safety In Northern Ireland
4. Forward Work Programme
5. Any other business.

1. Apologies

Apologies were received from Ms Jane Morrice, Mr Danny O'Connor, Ms Pauline Armitage and Mr Donovan McClelland.

2. Minutes from Meeting of 28 June 2000

Agreed

The minutes were an accurate record of the previous meeting.

(Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 10:36am)

3. Matters arising from the minutes of previous meeting

Agreed

There were no matters arising from the previous meeting.

4. PAC Draft Report on Road Safety In Northern Ireland

The draft report was discussed and agreed as follows:

Para 1
Read and Agreed to

Para 2
Read and Agreed to

Para 3
Postponed

Para 4
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 5
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 6
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 7
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 8
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 9
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 10
Read and Agreed to

Para 11
Read and Agreed to

Para 12
Read and Agreed subject to merging with paragraph 12

Para 13
Read and Agreed to

Para 14
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 15
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 16
Read and Agreed to

Para 17
Read and Agreed subject to merging with paragraph 12.

Para 18
Read and agreed subject to reference to DOE response received 12.09.00.

Para 19
Read and Agreed to

Para 20
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 21
Read and Agreed to

Para 22
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 23
Read and Agreed to

Para 24
Read and Agreed subject to amendment

Para 25
Read and Agreed to

Para 3
Read and agreed subject to changes to be made to reflect amendments agreed in paras 4-25.

Resolved

That the Report be the First Report of the Committee to the Assembly

Ordered

That the Chairman do make the Report to the Assembly.

5. Forward Work Programme

The Committee agreed its Forward Work Programme (See Appendix 1)

6. Any Other Business.

Suitability of Report Issues - Mr Close enquired whether issues of immediate concern, such as the outbreak of cryptospiridum or the fuel crisis, should be heard by the Audit Office or the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General, suggested that such issues could be dealt with more quickly by the departmental committees; reports from departmental committees do not have to go through a full clearance process with the department [All NIAO Reports must be agreed with by the departments. This can be a time-consuming exercise].

The exception to this would be where the issue concerned fraud or financial impropriety. In such circumstances, it would be more appropriate for it to be dealt with by the Comptroller and Auditor General immediately.

Publication of PAC Report

The Clerk is to draw up a launch strategy for the Committee's 1^st Report. This is to be agreed with the Chairman (tentative date 02/10/00). The Chairman also intends to report on its launch in the floor of the Assembly. As a result of this, a Publicity Strategy will be developed which will detail the roles of the Committee and highlight the issues raised/to be raised in PAC Reports.

The meeting closed at 12:15pm.

Appendix 1

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

William B Bell
Committee Chairman
20 September 2000