Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2009/2010

Date: 01 July 2010

Present: 
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson) 
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson) 
The Lord Browne 
Mr John Dallat 
Mr David Hilditch 
Mr Patsy McGlone 
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin 
Ms Dawn Purvis
Mr Jim Shannon

In Attendance:
Miss Aoibhinn Treanor (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Phil Pateman (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Miss Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Darren Weir (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
Mr Trevor Lunn 
Mr Stephen Moutray

2:03 pm the meeting opened in closed session .

1. Issues Paper on the Evidence Session ‘Measuring the Performance of NI Water’

The Committee considered an issues paper from the oral evidence session on the NIAO report on ‘Measuring the Performance of NI Water’.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the issues contained in the paper as discussed.

2:09 pm the meeting went into open session.

2. Apologies.

Apologies are listed above.

3. Correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development

Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development providing an update on the main findings of the deep dive reports relating to NI Water.

4. Internal Audit “Deep-dive” Reports

Members noted the “Deep-dive” audit reports recently published by the Department for Regional Development.

5. Evidence Session on the Audit Office Memorandum ‘Governance of NI Water’.

The Committee took oral evidence on the above report from:

  • Mr Paul Priestly, Accounting Officer, Department for Regional Development (DRD);
  • Ms Lian Patterson, Senior Finance Director, Department for Regional Development (DRD);
  • Mr Laurence McKenzie, Chief Executive, NI Water; and
  • Ms Nicola Brennan, Head of Internal Audit, NI Water.

The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.

3:25 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
3:28 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
3:30 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
3:34 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.
3:45 pm Mr Beggs entered the meeting.
3:45 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.
3:47 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.
4:01 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.
4:09 pm Mr Shannon left the meeting.
4:24 pm Mr Shannon entered the meeting.
4:30 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting.
5:03 pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting.
5:10 pm The meeting opened in open session.
5:11 pm Mr Hilditch entered the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request further information from the witnesses.

6. Minutes of the meeting on 24 June 2010

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. 

7. Any other business
Correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety providing an update on the Department’s progress to some of the recommendations in the previous Committee report on ‘The Performance of the Health Service’.

Summer Recess

Members agreed that the Chairperson would deal with any Freedom of Information requests received during recess.

Members agreed that the Committee would not meet unless required over recess.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 9 September 2010 at 2:00 pm in the Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5:25 pm.

Mr Paul Maskey 
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee 
9 September 2010.