Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2010/2011

Date: 14 October 2010

Present: 
Mr Paul Maskey (Chairperson) 
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson) 
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA 
Mr John Dallat 
Mr William Irwin 
Mr Trevor Lunn 
Mr Patsy McGlone 
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin 
Mr Adrian McQuillan 
Mr Stephen Moutray 
Ms Dawn Purvis

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

Apologies: N/A

2:02 pm The meeting opened in public session .

1. Apologies.

Apologies are listed above.

2. End-of-year Report

Agreed: The Committee considered and agreed its end-of-year report for 2009 –2010.

2:08 pm Ms Purvis entered the meeting.

2:10 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.

2:12 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.

2:15 pm Mr Irwin entered the meeting.

Pages 1 – 21 read and agreed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed for the report to be published on its web page.

Take-note Debate

Agreed: Having reviewed the year’s work as summarised in the end-of-year report, the Committee agreed a motion for plenary take-note debate to bring its work in 2009-2010 before the Assembly.

2. Evidence Session on the Audit Office Report ‘The Administration and Management of the Disability Living Allowance Reconsideration and Appeals Process’.

The Committee took oral evidence on the above report from:

  • Mr Will Haire, Accounting Officer, Department for Social Development (DSD);
  • Mr Tommy O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Social Security Agency (SSA);
  • Mr Stephen McMurray, Director of Finance, Department for Social Development (DSD);
  • Mr Mickey Kelly, Assistant Director, Pension, Disability and Carers Services; and
  • Mrs Siobhan Broderick, Head of Tribunal Reform Division, Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service.

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

2:25 pm Mr Campbell left the meeting.

2:36 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.

2:40 pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting.

2:42 pm Mr Dallat and Mr Lunn left the meeting.

2:55 pm Mr Moutray left the meeting.

2:57 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.

3:01 pm Mr Moutray entered the meeting.

3:03 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.

3:24 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.

3:34 pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.

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

3. Minutes of the meeting on 12 October 2010

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed subject to one amendment.

4. Any other business

There was no other business.

5. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 21 October 2010 at 2:00 pm in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3:35 pm.

Mr Paul Maskey 
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee 
21 October 2010.