Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 27 February 2013
Venue: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
2:04 pm The meeting opened in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes of the meeting on 20 February 2013
Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
2:04 pm Mr Girvan entered the meeting.
Correspondence from NIAO re Belfast Metropolitan College
Agreed: Due to an ongoing tribunal, the Committee agreed to consider this letter in closed session.
Correspondence from NIAO re Contract Procurement at SEELB
Agreed: Due to an item of commercial sensitivity, the Committee agreed to consider this letter in closed session.
Correspondence from PSNI
Agreed: The Committee noted a holding reply from PSNI to the Committee's letter of 1 February.
4. Briefing on Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on 'Improving Literacy and Numeracy Achievement in Schools'
Mr Kieran Donnelly Comptroller and Auditor General; Mr Sean McKay, Director; Ms Suzanne Walsh, Audit Manager; and Joe Campbell, Audit Manager briefed the Committee on the report.
Mr McLaughlin declared an interest stating that he is the current Assembly Private Secretary for the Department of Education and would withdraw from participating in the Committee's inquiry.
Mr Girvan, Mr McQuillan declared an interest as a member's on the Board of Governors for Schools.
Mr Rogers declared an interest as a member of the Committee for Education, a Board of Governors and a former school principal.
Ms Boyle declared and interest as a member of the Committee for Education.
2:24 pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.
2:25 pm The meeting went into closed session after the C&AG's initial remarks.
2:37 pm Mr McKay entered the meeting.
2:37 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.
3:00 pm Mr Rogers left the meeting.
3:20 pm Mr Rogers entered the meeting.
The Committee considered the above report and members put a number of questions to the witnesses.
3. Matters Arising
Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office
The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General providing an update on a matter previously referred by it highlighting concerns from a whistleblower regarding the Belfast Metropolitan College.
3:28 pm Mr Girvan left the meeting.
Proposed: That the Committee formally responds to the whistleblower.
Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Audit Office
3:35 pm Mr Girvan entered the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond to the whistleblower regarding Belfast Metropolitan College.
The Committee noted the assessment by Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General of a matter previously referred by the Committee about procurement practices in the provision and transport of mobile classrooms in the South Eastern and Education and Library Board.
5. MOR paper
The Committee agreed to consider this agenda item at its meeting on 6 March 2013.
6. Consideration of Draft Committee Report on 'The Safety of Services Provided by Health and Social Care Trusts'
The Committee considered its draft report on 'The Safety of Services Provided by Health and Social Care Trusts'.
Paragraphs 1 - 34 read and agreed.
Paragraph 35 - 36 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 37 – 41 read and agreed.
Paragraph 42 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 43 – 52 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 53 read, amended and agreed.
Insertion of a recommendation agreed.
Paragraphs 54 – 58 read and agreed.
Appendix 1 read, and agreed.
Consideration of the Executive Summary
Paragraph 1 – 13 read and agreed as per the main report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the correspondence to be included within the report.
Agreed: The Committee ordered the report to be printed.
7. MOR
The Committee agreed to consider this agenda item at its meeting on 6 March 2013 due to loss of quorum.
8. Any other business
Draft Press Release
The Committee considered a draft press release relating to its forthcoming report on 'Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Management of Response Maintenance Contracts'.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the press as drafted.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 6 March 2013 at 2:00 pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:14 pm.
