Minutes of Proceedings

2:03pm The meeting opened in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

2:04 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting

2. Minutes of the meeting on 25 May 2011

Agreed : The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters arising

There were no matters arising.

2:19 pmThe meeting went into closed session after initial remarks by the C&AG on Agenda Items 4 & 5

2:19 pm Ms McCann entered the meeting

4. Briefing on NIAO Report ‘Reducing Water Pollution from Agricultural Sources – The Farm Nutrient Scheme’

Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General; Mr Robert Hutcheson, Director; and Mr Billy Fitzsimons, Audit Manager briefed the Committee on the report.

2:48 pm Mr Frew left the meeting

2:52 pm Mr Frew entered the meeting

The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.

5. Briefing on ‘Public Accounts Committee Report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2009 - 2010’.

The Committee was briefed by the Clerk on the excess vote process and the previous Committee’s concerns; and by Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General and Ms Colette Kane, Director on the errors relating to the DARD excess vote.

3:05 pm Mr Girvan left the meeting

3:07 pm Mr Girvan entered the meeting

The Committee noted correspondence from Ms Fiona Hamill, the former Treasury Officer of Accounts providing the information sought by the previous Committee.

6. Ministerial Direction

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General regarding a Ministerial Direction at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Mr Donnelly and Ms Colette Kane briefed the Committee on the detail of the Ministerial Direction.

The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.

The C&AG undertook to report back to update the Committee as the conditions specified in the direction are met.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to request that the C&AG establish whether funding will be diverted from other projects in the INI budget as a result of the direction.

7. Any other business

There was no other business.

8. Date. time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 15 June 2011 at 2:00 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3:24 pm.

Mr Paul Maskey
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
15 June 2011.