Minutes of Proceedings

2:03 pm The meeting opened in public session.

1.  Apologies

There were no apologies.

2:04 pm Mr Hussey declared an interest stating that he is chairman of the Audit Committee of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and that he prefers to withdraw from participating in the Committee’s inquiry.

2. Minutes of the meeting on 26 September 2012

Agreed: The minutes of the last meeting were agreed. 

3. Matters Arising

Correspondence from the PSNI

The Committee noted correspondence from the Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, PSNI on the established protocols relating to commenting on reports due for consideration by the Committee.

2:07 pm Mr Hussey left the meeting.

4. Briefing on Northern Ireland Audit Office Reports on 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 former members of the Policing Board.  

Mr Kieran Donnelly Comptroller and Auditor General; Mr Neil Gray, Director; Mr Billy Fitzsimons, Audit Manager; and Joe Campbell, Audit Manager briefed the Committee on the report.

2:10 pm The meeting went into closed session after the C&AG’s initial remarks.

2:21 pm The Chairperson said that she was taking advice from the Clerk of Standards on whether a legal dispute some time ago might require her to declare an interest at the session.

2:34 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.

2:35 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.

2:36 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.

2:40 pm Mr Copeland entered the meeting.

2:47 pm Mr McKay left the meeting.

2:49 pm Mr McKay entered the meeting.

2:50 pm Mr Dallat left the meeting.

2:50 pm Mr Copeland declared an interest stating that he is married to a former police officer.

3:00 pm Mr Dallat entered the meeting.

3.15 pm Mr Anderson declared an interest stating that members of his extended family are PSNI and former RUC officers.

3:25 pm Mr McQuillan left the meeting.

3:34 pm Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.

3:41 pm Mr Copeland left the meeting.

3:45 pm Mr Girvan left the meeting.

3:47 pm Mr Copeland entered the meeting.

3:49 pm Mr Girvan and Mr McQuillan entered the meeting.

3:50 pm Mr Clarke left the meeting.

3:54 pm Mr Clarke entered the meeting.

The witnesses answered a number of questions put by members.

5. Inquiry on ‘NIHE Management of Response Maintenance Contracts’

Correspondence from the Department for Social Development

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Will Haire, Accounting Officer, Department for Social Development enclosing a letter requested by the Committee at its meeting on 19 September 2012.

Correspondence from the Department for Social Development

The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Jim Wilkinson, Director of Housing, Department of Social Development providing the additional information requested by the Committee at its evidence session on 12 September 2012.

Note of Meeting with a Whistleblower

The Committee considered a note of a recent meeting between the Clerk, the Assistant Clerk and a whistleblower relating to its inquiry.

Mr Clarke proposed that given that the Department says that the whistleblower owes monies to the Housing Executive the allegations made could not be objective and should be disregarded.

Agreed: The Committee agreed not to reflect the content of this note in its inquiry.

Next Steps

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider a paper at a future meeting setting out options for developing this inquiry.

7. Any other business

The Chairperson briefed the Committee on a potential programme to support elected members to address future political and economic challenges.

Agreed:  The Committee agreed that the Clerk should develop procurement options on the initial stage and proposals for an enhancement stage, for consideration at a future meeting.

8. Date, time and place of next meeting 

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 October 2012 at 2 pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4:24 pm.

Ms Michaela Boyle MLA
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
10 October 2012