Minutes of proceedings of the eleventh meetingof the Public Accounts Committee held in Room 152, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 15th November 2000
Present: Mr B Bell (Chairman)
Mr R Beggs
Mr M Carrick
Mr S Close
Mr J Dallat
Mr D Hilditch
Mr Donovan McClelland
In Attendance: Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Campbell (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Miss L Tracey
Apologies Ms S Ramsey (Deputy Chairman)
Ms P Armitage
Ms J Morrice
Prior to commencement of business, the Chairman welcomed Mr. Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), and his staff.
Following this introduction, the Chairperson turned to the order of business.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Ms S Ramsey and Ms P Armitage due to prior engagements.
2. Minutes from Meetings of 19.10.00, 25.10.00 and 7.11.00
Agreed
The minutes were an accurate record of the previous meetings.
Mr Beggs joined the meeting at 10:40am
Mr McClelland joined the meeting at 10:45am
3. Matters arising from the minutes of previous meeting
None
4. Presentation by Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and his staff on the NIAO Report on The Control of River Pollution in Northern Ireland (incorporating a Questions and Answer Session)
The C&AG, Mr Raymond Jones (Assistant Auditor General) and Ms Ursula Moyna briefed the Committee on the Report. During the presentation they addressed a number of queries raised by the members.
Mr McClelland left the meeting at 11:40am
5. Any other business.
The Administration of Income Support Benefit - All members were issued with a copy of the published PAC Report on The Administration of Income Support Benefit and the corresponding Draft Press Release. The Press Release was reviewed and approved by the Committee. It was drawn to the attention of members that that there is an embargo on the Report and Press Release until Tuesday 21st November and therefore it could not be discussed or made available to other committees until this date.
Pay Flexibilities for School Principals and Vice Principals - Copies of the NIAO Report on "Pay Flexibilities for School Principals and Vice Principals" were also issued to all members present. Once again it was stressed that there was an embargo on the document until 17/11/00.
Date of next meeting - The next meeting is to held at 10.20am on Thursday 23rd November in the Senate Chamber- members should aim to be present 10-15 minutes beforehand.
The meeting closed at 11:45am
William B Bell
Committee Chairman
28 November 2000
