Minutes of Proceedings

2:03 pm The meeting opened in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2:04 pm Mr Girvan and McIlveen entered the meeting.

2. Minutes of the meeting on 1 May 2013

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. 

3. Matters Arising

Committee Meeting on 12 June 2013

The Chairperson briefed the Committee of an opportunity to conduct its meeting in Londonderry on 12 June 2013 marking the City of Culture year.

The Clerk undertook to confirm the availability of members to meet in Derry.

2:04 pm Mr Girvan and Mr McIlveen entered the meeting.

2:10 pm The meeting went into closed session.

Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General reporting back on a case referred by the Committee regarding concerns raised by a contractor relating to a procurement exercise undertaken by Translink.

2:16 pm Mr McKay left the meeting.

2:20 pm Mr McKay entered the meeting.

The C&AG undertook to provide some additional information regarding the scoring and weightings applied in the exercise at the meeting of 15 May.

2:21 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider additional information at the meeting of 15 May.

4. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered a summary of Audit Office reports available for selection.

2:28 pm Mr McIlveen left the meeting.

2:31 pm Mr McIlveen entered the meeting.

2:40 pm Mr Girvan left the meeting.

2:45 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.

2:51 pm Mr Copeland entered the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to take evidence on the Audit Office report on ‘DCAL – Management of Major Capital Projects’ at its meeting on 26 June 2013.

The Committee considered a draft forward work programme for September to December 2013.

Agreed: The Committee decided and agreed the timing and order of the reports it will consider up to Hallowe’en Recess 2013.

5. Consideration of Draft Report on ‘PSNI: Use of Agency Staff’

2:28 pm Mr McIlveen declared an interest stating that he is a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

2:28 pm Mr Hussey declared an interest stating that he is chairman of the Audit Committee of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and expressed concern that there is not full separation from the Policing Board in the Committee’s inquiry.

2:28 pm Mr Hussey left the meeting.

The Clerk briefed members on the handling of correspondence to witnesses in PAC inquiries.

Draft Correspondence to the PSNI

The Committee considered a draft letter to the Chief Constable seeking further information to assist deliberations in its inquiry.

2:40 pm Mr Girvan entered the meeting.

3:25 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.

3:26 pm Mr Rogers left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue the correspondence, as amended, to the Chief Constable.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to reflect on the minutes of evidence from its inquiry evidence sessions for completeness to ensure that all information sought has been provided.

3:40 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.

Consideration of the Draft Report on ‘PSNI: Use of Agency Staff’

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the draft report until its next meeting on 15 May 2013.

6. Any other business

There was no other business.

7. Date, time and place of next meeting 

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 15 May 2013 at 2:00 pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3:44 pm.

Mr John Dallat MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
15 May 2013