Audit Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 15 December 2021
20211215 Audit Draft Minutes.pdf (157.53 kb)
Audit Committee
Minutes of Proceedings
15 December 2021
Meeting Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Daniel McCrossan MLA (Chairperson)
Mr William Irwin MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jim Allister MLA
Mr Alan Chambers MLA
Apologies:
Ms Emma Rogan MLA
In Attendance:
Ms Marie Austin (Clerk to the Committee)
Dr Simon Gallaher (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
In attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Ms Karen Barry (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commence the meeting at 12.44pm in closed session.
1. Apologies
As noted above.
2. Declaration of Interests
No interests were declared.
3. Review of the governance and accountability arrangements for the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman – Committee deliberations
The Committee commenced its deliberations on the evidence received as part of its Review of the governance and accountability arrangements for the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. A draft report reflecting the outcome of the deliberations will be considered at the Committee meeting on 26 January 2022.
Mr Chambers left the meeting at 12.52 pm
Mr Chambers re-joined the meeting at 1.03 pm
The meeting moved into open session at 1.07pm
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2021.
5. Matters Arising
Draft Budgets 2022-25
The Committee considered a response from the Department of Finance to the Committee’s Report on the Draft Budgets 2022-25, for the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, Northern Ireland Audit Office and Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, and the request that its position in relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission’s draft budget be reflected in the Executive’s Draft Budget 2022-25 document.
Agreed: In light of the Department of Finance’s refusal toreflect the Committee’s position on the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission’s draft budget in the Executive’s Draft Budget 2022-25 document, the Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Finance expressing deep concern that, not only is its role as a scrutiny body being disrespected, its views and concerns are also being disregarded by the Department.
Delivery of Efficiencies: Budget 2022-25
The Committee noted responses from the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, Northern Ireland Audit Office and Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, to the Committee’s requests for comments on the extent to which efficiencies could be delivered to offset any pressures that may be faced over the 2022-25 budget period.
6. Comptroller and Auditor General Salary Arrangements
The Committee considered the Research and Information Service
Briefing Paper: Salary information on the Comptroller and Auditor General (NIAR 238-2021). The paper provided details of the background and current salary arrangements of the Comptroller and Auditor General; the salary arrangements for comparable cases in other jurisdictions; and, the maximum salary currently being paid to any person employed in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the salary to be paid, under Article 4(1) of the Audit (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, to the holder of the office of Comptroller and Auditor General, should be the same as that approved by the United Kingdom Government for a judge in salary group 5.
A draft motion will be considered at the Committee meeting on the 26 January 2022, and tabled in the Business Office thereafter.
7. Monitoring Round – January 2022
The Committee noted the January 2022 Monitoring Round positions in respect of the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.
8. Correspondence
- The Committee considered a request from the Secretary to the Westminster Public Accounts Commission for a meeting between the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Commission and Committee Members to discuss issues around the Audit Committee’s role and remit and relationship with the Northern Ireland Audit Office.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to meet with the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Commission in due course.
The Committee noted the following: - Correspondence from the Clerking and Member Support Office regarding the provision of online sessions on ‘Deaf Awareness’.
- Correspondence from the Clerking and Member Support Office regarding the provision of an online session on ‘Personal Security’.
- Assembly Members Pension Scheme (NI) 2016: Triennial Actuarial Valuation as at 31 March 2020.
9. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
10. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next Audit Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday 26 January 2022, at 12.40pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 13.26pm.
Daniel McCrossan MLA
Chairperson, Audit Committee
26 January 2022
