Committee for The Executive Office

Minutes of proceedings Wednesday 20 May 2026

Committee for the Executive Office minutes of proceedings 20 May 2026.pdf (223.72 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Present:                           

Ms Paula Bradshaw MLA (Chairperson) 

Mr Stewart Dickson MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Ms Áine Murphy MLA

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA                                     

Online:                            

Mrs Pam Cameron MLA

Mr Timothy Gaston MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

Ms Claire Sugden MLA 

Apologies:                      

Mr Phillip Brett MLA

In Attendance:                

Mr Trevor Allen (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Feargal McGuinness (Assembly Clerk)

Ms Sarah-Anne McKinley (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Neil Porter (Clerical Supervisor)

Ms Andrienne Magee (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.00pm in public session.

1.    Apologies

Apologies as above.

2.    Declarations of Interest

Carál Ní Chuilín declared an interest in relation to Item 6, having served as Communities Minister from June 2020 to December 2020 and attended the Covid Inquiry in 2024.

3.    Chairperson’s Business

3.1 Consideration Stage Debate - Bill

The Chairperson discussed the Consideration Stage debate for the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalane Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.

The Chairperson advised that she and the Deputy Chairperson have tabled an amendment in their own names in relation to Clause 31(5)(b) of the Bill.

Pam Cameron joined the meeting online at 2.02pm.

Áine Murphy joined the meeting at 2.13pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Bill Clerk to join the session to discuss Further Consideration Stage of the Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session.

The meeting moved into closed session at 2:20pm.

Proceedings continued in public session at 2.54pm with the following Members present: Paula Bradshaw, Stewart Dickson, Carál Ní Chuilín, Áine Murphy and Timothy Gaston, Pam Cameron, Sinéad McLauglin and Claire Sugden online.

Timothy Gaston put on record his concerns regarding the amendments accepted during Consideration Stage from Gerry Carroll MLA, indicating that he supports some of those amendments but not all of them. The Committee indicated that it is willing to work with Mr Carroll to tidy up amendment 30 in particular.

Carál Ní Chuilín left at 2.35pm and returned at 2.38pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to engage with Mr Carroll and TEO in relation to a number of his amendments, with a view to working collaboratively with the Committee in advance of Further Consideration Stage. The Committee also agreed to seek clarification from TEO on its plans to bring forward technical amendments ahead of Further Consideration Stage.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Departmental officials to provide oral evidence at next week's meeting following the amendments made at Consideration Stage. In particular, the Committee agreed to request that TEO provide financial projections in relation to costings around alternative posthumous dates and following the amendment to Clause 31 (page 18, line 10), which now provides for a payment of £12,000.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Clerk Assistant with responsibility for the Bill Office to provide oral evidence at next week's meeting on the procedures in place for the Bill Office advising the Speaker.

The Committee noted correspondence from a victim-survivor in relation to the amendments selected for debate.

The Committee acknowledged and thanked those who were involved with the committee’s work throughout the passage of the Bill thus far.

3.2 Interfaith Clerical Abuse Survivors Meeting

The Chairperson advised Members that she had received correspondence from Interfaith Clerical Abuse Survivors (ICAS) following their meeting with junior Ministers on 30 April 2026 regarding Historical Clerical Child Abuse (HCCA).

The Committee noted correspondence from TEO on this matter in response to its letter of 1 May 2026.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the First and deputy first Minister to ask that in line with ICAS’s request, a meeting is arranged in the coming weeks to discuss the TEO HCCA Research and Recommendations, as well as the need to re- establish a constructive working relationship to progress this area of work and to seek clarity on when the appropriate point for these to be shared with the Committee will be decided.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request that HCCA is included as a topic for discussion when Ministers next appear before the Committee.

3.3 NI Survival Council – Report

The Chairperson advised Members that the Northern Ireland Survival Council have published a report ‘Nothing About US, Expert Survivor Insights.’ A Thematic Analysis of Lived-Experience Testimony from victim and survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite representatives from the NI Survivor Council to attend a future meeting to discuss the report and its findings.

The Chairperson put on record how informative the paper was and that it would be helpful for the Committee in considering this area of work going forward.

3.4 Concern Worldwide – Invitation

The Chairperson advised Members that she received correspondence from Concern Worldwide inviting her as Chairperson of the Committee, to meet with students from their summer academy who will be visiting Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

Agreed: The Committee agreed for the Chairperson to attend this informal meeting.

4.    Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 13 May 2026.

5.    Matters Arising

The Chairperson advised Members that, as matters arising from the Dillon judgment are listed for case management review, and that the hearing date has not yet been set, the issues may be discussed until such time as the hearing date is set. It was noted that this does not prevent the planned meeting with the Equality Commission on 24 June proceeding and that Assembly Legal Services are available to brief the Committee further on the matter.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Assembly Legal Services to attend the meeting on Wednesday 3 June 2026.

5.1 Strategic Priorities – Agreed Programme of Work

The Chairperson reminded Members that the Committee has agreed eleven areas of work that it wishes to give priority and focus to between now and the end of the Assembly mandate in March 2027.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Committee on the Administration of Justice to join the stakeholder panel sessions at next week’s meeting to discuss the Draft Race Relations Framework and Delivery Plan 2026–2028, as well as the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.

5.2 Victims Payment Board – Evidence Session

The Chairperson advised Members the President of the Victim’s Payment Board had written to the Committee following their oral evidence session at last week’s meeting. Stewart Dickson declared an interest as a Member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into closed session.

The meeting moved into closed session at 3.09pm.

Proceedings continued in public session at 3.11pm with the following Members present: Paula Bradshaw, Stewart Dickson, Áine Murphy and Timothy Gaston, Pam Cameron, Sinéad McLauglin and Claire Sugden online.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond to Mr McAlinden advising that individuals may raise concerns where they believe a Member of the Assembly has contravened the Members’ Code of Conduct, and that any such complaints should be directed to the Commissioner for Standards.

6.    Oral Briefing - Response to Module 2 Report of the Covid Inquiry – Departmental Officials

Agreed: The Committee agreed for Hansard to record the session.

The witnesses joined the meeting at 3.12pm.

Members received an oral briefing from:

•  Jane Holmes - Director, Covid Strategy and Inquiry, TEO
•  Maria Hannon - Head of Branch, Covid Strategy and Inquiry, TEO

The witnesses provided an update on the Executive’s response to Module 2 Report of the Covid Inquiry.

Pam Cameron left the meeting at 3.19pm.

Claire Sugden left the meeting at 3.19pm and returned at 3.23pm.

Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting at 3.18pm and returned at 3.19pm.

Áine Murphy left at 3.22pm and returned at 3.27pm.

Áine Murphy left at 3.44pm and returned at 3.46pm.

The oral briefing session was followed by a question and answer session.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their attendance.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department ask for the following information:

• To seek clarification on the practical steps that will be taken to progress the

          remaining four recommendations under the Module 2 response.

• To confirm the date on which the first Dashboard Report was published and to

          provide a link to the report on the Covid-19 Inquiry website.

• To request that, when the Executive’s response to modules of the Covid-19

          Inquiry Report is next published, the First Minister and deputy First Minister

          attend as joint heads of the Executive.

• To ask that the First Minister and deputy First Minister come before the

          Committee to provide further information on the Executive response to the

          Module Reports published to date.

Carál Ní Chuilín put on record her concern regarding Ministers’ attendance at Committee meetings and the relevance of the topics discussed.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to take a short comfort break and suspend the meeting.

The meeting was suspended at 4:02pm.

Proceedings continued in public session at 4.09pm with the following Members present: Paula Bradshaw, Stewart Dickson, Áine Murphy and Timothy Gaston and Sinéad McLauglin online.

7.    Retention and Disposal Schedule: TEO

The Committee considered the latest Retention and Disposal Schedule for TEO.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Schedule and agreed to forward it to the Committee for Communities for consideration.

8.    Correspondence

i. The Committee noted the summary of Committee correspondence.

ii. The Committee considered a response from the Head of the Civil Service to the Committee’s correspondence on 12 February 2026 seeking clarification on matters relating to advice published by the Commission for Victims and Survivors in December 2023, concerning services for bereaved families.

The Committee noted this item.

iii. The Committee considered an invitation from the Independent Monitoring Authority for Citizen’s Rights.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item and to arrange an informal meeting

with the Chair and deputy Chair in the first instance.

iv. The Committee considered correspondence from the Health Minister regarding a single central location for access of institutional records.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item and to write to the Minister to ask that as the Redress Scheme progresses to design and implementation, that the Committee is kept informed of the work of the Trusts, including any emerging issues or common themes. The Committee also agreed to highlight its concern that the necessary arrangements are in place in time for the opening of the Redress Scheme.

v. The Committee considered correspondence from an individual regarding the cost of home heating oil.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this item and agreed to write to the individual to outline that this area does not fall under the remit of TEO and that they should address any concerns around home heating oil to the Economy Committee.

vi. The Committee noted a Hansard Report Introductory Briefing: TEO Permanent Secretary 6 May 2026.

vii. The Committee noted a Hansard Report - TEO Retention and Disposal Schedule 6 May 2026.

viii. The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Committee for Education to TEO - Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill.

ix. The Committee noted a response from TEO to the Committee’s correspondence regarding EU Matters.

x. The Committee noted a response from the Health Minister to correspondence regarding New Foundations Pilot Scheme.

9.    Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered the draft forward work programme.

The Committee considered the scheduled briefings for 27 May 2026 from stakeholders on the Draft Framework for Race Relations and Delivery Plan 2026- 2028. At that meeting, the Committee will also receive an oral briefing from Departmental officials on the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill as well as from the Head of the Bill Office on procedures for advising the Speaker’s Office.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to proceed with the remaining briefings as set out in the forward work programme.

10. Any Other Business

The Chairperson thanked Pam Cameron for her time and service to the Committee as she is being replaced by Deborah Erskine.

Carál Ní Chuilín put on record her thanks to the Committee staff team and their work in relation to Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.

11. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 27 May 2026 at 2.00pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.17pm.

Paula Bradshaw MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office

Wednesday 27 May 2026