Minutes of Proceedings of the sixth meeting of the Public Accounts Committee held in Room 152, Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 21st November 2001
Present:
Mr B Bell (Chairman)
Mr Beggs
Mr Carrick
Mr Close
Mr Hilditch
Ms Ramsey
Apologies
Ms Armitage
Mr Dallat
Ms Morrice
Mr McClelland
Mr O'Connor
In Attendance:
Mr M Rickard (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Campbell (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Ms J Duffin
- Introduction
The Chairman commenced proceedings by welcoming Mr. John Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and his staff to the meeting. He proceeded to outline the objectives of the meeting as:
- To agree the Minutes of the Meeting of 07.11.01
- To receive a presentation from the C&AG and his staff on the NIAO Report on "A Review of Pathology Laboratories in Northern Ireland (NIA 31/00)" and
- To discuss and approve the draft Committee response to the DFP Consultation Document "Audit and Accountability".
Following this introduction, the Chairman turned to the order of business.
- Apologies
Apologies were received from, Ms Armitage, Mr Dallat, Ms Morrice, Mr McClelland and Mr O'Connor
- Minutes from Meeting of 7th November 2001
Agreed
The minutes were an accurate reflection of the meeting.
- Presentation by Mr. John Dowdall, Comptroller and Auditor General and his staff on the NIAO Report "A Review of Pathology Laboratories in Northern Ireland (NIA 31/00)
Mr Edgar gave the Committee a presentation detailing the main issues in the Report. Following the presentation the C&AG, Mr Edgar and Mr Woodhouse answered a number of queries raised by the members. They also outlined the type of questions to be asked in order to draw out conclusions and recommendations for the subsequent PAC Report.
- DFP Consultation Document "Audit and Accountability"
The Chairman drew the members attention to the draft response, prepared and circulated prior to the meeting, to the DFP Consultation Document "Audit and Accountability". The C&AG briefed the Committee on the main issues which needed to be addressed within the response
Agreed
The draft response should be forwarded to DFP as the Committee's formal reply to the consultation document.
- Ministerial Direction on the Gas Pipelines
The Chairman informed members that he had received correspondence from the C&AG drawing to his attention that the Accounting Officer of Enterprise, Trade and Investment had sought and received a Ministerial Direction for the Gas Pipeline Project, announced by the Minister, Sir Reg Empey on 21st September 2001.
The C&AG reported that he was satisfied that correct procedures had been followed. However, he intended to review the Economic Appraisal of the project and would be reporting back to the Committee as soon as possible.
- Any Other Business
Malone Lodge Hotel
The Chairman referred to correspondence from the Lower Malone Residents Association concerning the issue of a grant of £450,000 from the NI Tourist Board to the Malone Lodge Hotel.
Agreed
The C&AG was asked to investigate and report back to the Committee on this matter.
Annual Review
The Chairman confirmed that the annual review session would take place in the Stormont Hotel on Thursday 13th December. He informed members that further details would be forwarded to members in due course.
Evidence Session
The next meeting will be held at 10:20am on Thursday 29th November in the Senate Chamber where the Committee will take evidence on the NIAO Report on "A Review of Pathology Laboratories in Northern Ireland (NIA 31/00)".
The meeting was then drawn to a close at 11:45am.
B Bell
Committee Chairman
9 January 2002
