Minutes of proceedings of the eighth meetingof the Public Accounts Committee held in Room 152, Parliament Buildings on Thursday 19th October 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 Donovan McClelland
Ms J Morrice
In Attendance: Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Campbell (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Miss L Tracey
Apologies Mr D Hilditch
Mr D O'Connor
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 Mr D Hilditch and Mr D O'Connor due to prior engagements.
2. Minutes from Meeting of 20 September 2000
Agreed
The minutes were an accurate record of the previous meeting.
3. Matters arising from the minutes of previous meeting
None
4. Presentation by the C&AG and his staff on the NIAO Report on The Rural Development Programme (incorporating a Questions and Answer Session)
The C&AG and Mr Hutcheson (NIAO Director of VFM) briefed the Committee on the Report. During the presentation they addressed a number of queries raised by the members.
Mr Carrick left the meeting at 11:14am.
Mr McClelland left the meeting at 11:30am
Mr McClelland returned at 11:34am
5. Any other business
Hearing on River Pollution - The next NIAO Report to be reviewed following the Rural Development Programme will be "River Pollution in Northern Ireland". Since this Report was published in April 1998 it was agreed to obtain written information in advance of the hearing from the relevant departments - the Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the Environment (DOE).
NIAO Corporate Plan - The Chairman notified the Committee that he has received a copy of the NIAO's Corporate Plan. He has made it available to all members for review.
PAC Review - The Chairman informed members of his intention to hold a meeting to review the workings of the Committee in early December. Both David Davis, the Chairman of PAC in Westminster, and Mr Dowdall will be invited to attend the meeting.
Forward Work Programme - It was agreed to hold an Evidence Session on "DANI Fraud/ Grants to Irish Sport Horse Genetic Testing Unit Ltd" on 24th January 2001. A briefing on these reports will be held on 18th January 2001.
Production of Draft Report - The Chairman informed the Committee that a draft report on "The Administration of Income Support Benefit" has been produced. The report and the Hansard Minutes of Evidence were available for distribution after the meeting.
The members agreed that if there were few amendments required they would clear the report following the Evidence Session of 25 October.
Date of next meeting - The next meeting is at 10.20am on Wednesday 25th October in the Senate Chamber- members should aim to be present 10-15 minutes beforehand for coffee etc.
The meeting closed at 12:30pm.
William B Bell
Committee Chairman
15 November 2000
