Minutes of Proceedings

2:03 pm The meeting opened in public session.

1.  Apologies

Apologies are listed above.

The Chairperson reminded members that Mr Ross Hussey had withdrawn from the Committee’s inquiry following his declared interest as he is chairman of the Audit Committee of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

2. Minutes of the meeting on 3 October 2012

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

Correspondence from Police Service of Northern Ireland

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Matt Baggott, Chief Constable, PSNI highlighting an inaccuracy in the Audit Office report.

Correspondence from the Committee on the Administration of Justice

The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee on the Administration of Justice highlighting concerns over conflicts of interest and the rehiring of retired police officers in the investigation of historic cases.

4. Evidence on the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report ‘the Police Service of Northern Ireland: Use of Agency Staff’.

2:08 pm Mr McKay and Mr McQuillan declared an interest stating that they were each former members of the Policing Board.

2:09 pm Mr Anderson declared an interest stating that he has family members who are PSNI officers and/or were formerly RUC officers.

2:09 pm Mr Copeland declared an interest stating that he is married to a former police officer.

2:10 pm Ms Boyle declared an interest stating that she had been involved in a legal case in 1997 with the then RUC which did not have a bearing on the use of agency staff; and that she was also a former chairperson of the Community Safety Partnership and a former member of the Strabane District Policing Partnership.

The Committee took oral evidence on the above report from:

• Mr Nick Perry, Accounting Officer, Department for Social Development (DOJ);

• Mr Matt Baggott, Chief Constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI);

• Ms Judith Gillespie, Deputy Chief Constable,  Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI); and

• Mr Sean Pollock, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB).

2:20 pm Mr Rogers entered the meeting.

3:20 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.

3:31 pm Mr Girvan declared an interest stating that that he has family members who are PSNI officers and/or were formerly RUC officers.

3:35 pm Mr Copeland entered the meeting.

3:42 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.

3:46 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.

4:15 pm The meeting was suspended.

4:30 pm The meeting recommenced in public session.

4:31 pm Mr McKay entered the meeting.

4:46 pm Mr Rogers entered the meeting.

4:46 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.

5:15 pm Mr Copeland entered the meeting.

5:24 pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.

5:27 pm Mr McLaughlin entered the meeting.

5:35 pm Mr Dallat and Mr Girvan left the meeting.

5:39 pm Mr Girvan entered the meeting.

5:49 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.

6:10 pm Mr Copeland and Mr McKay left the meeting.

6:24 pm Mr Rogers left the meeting,

6:29 pm Mr Copeland and Rogers entered the meeting.

6:29 pm Mr Anderson left the meeting.

7:15 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.

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

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

5. Any other business

There was no other business.

6. Date, time and place of next meeting 

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 17 October 2012 at 2:00 pm in Room 29, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 7:19 pm.

Ms Michaela Boyle
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
17 October 2012.