Audit Committee
Minutes of proceedings 15 April 2026
Audit Committee Minutes of proceedings 15 April 2026.pdf (151.92 kb)
Meeting Location: The Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Alan Chambers MLA (Chairperson)
John Blair MLA
Nick Mathison MLA
In attendance by video:
Emma Sheerin MLA
Apologies:
Diane Forsythe MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
In attendance:
Ashleigh Mitford, Assembly Clerk
Elaine Farrell, Assistant Clerk
Laura Gourley, Clerical Supervisor
Alison Ferguson, Clerical Officer
The meeting commenced at 10.06 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Interests
No interests were declared at this point in the meeting.
3. Draft minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2026.
4. Matters arising
None.
5. Correspondence
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 12 March 2026 from the Committee for Finance in respect of the outworkings of the Chancellor’s Spring Forecast Summary.
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 24 March 2026 from the Minister of Justice which stated that the new Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses of Crime for Northern Ireland is to be added to the remit of NIPSO.
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 25 March 2026 from the Committee for Finance in respect of the 2025-26 Public Expenditure Outturn and Forecast Outturn – February 2026.
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 30 March 2026 from RaISe in respect of its recent publications on the draft Budget.
Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 3 April 2026 from the Assembly Commission in respect of the legislative change relating to the appointment and tenure of the C&AG.
6. Forward Work Programme
The Committee Clerk updated the Committee on the planned visit to the NIAO on 13 May 2026.
Agreed: The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme and agreed to note that the visit to the NIAO is subject to the DoF timetable for the Estimates.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into Closed Session to consider the next two agenda items.
The meeting moved into Closed Session at 10.10 a.m.
7. Audit Committee feasibility study – job evaluation to determine the future salary payable to the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG)
The Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on this agenda item.
John Blair joined the meeting at 10.18 a.m.
Emma Sheerin joined the meeting at 10.25 a.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the feasibility study and agreed to consult with the NIAO and C&AG on the ToR before writing to the listed bodies.
Noted: The Committee noted that a discussion on ‘formalising processes in relation to the ongoing review of the salary to help ensure a more consistent approach to the tabling of motions in the Assembly going forward’ will be scheduled at a future meeting of the Committee.
8. Codification workstream – proposed engagement with bodies
John Blair declared an interest that he is a former member of the Assembly Commission.
The Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on this agenda item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee Clerk will redraft the Committee position paper to reflect the comments by members for consideration at the next meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the covering letters for issue to NIPSO and the NIAO.
Noted: The Committee noted that the policy paper agreed by the Committee on 11 March 2026 will be annexed to the correspondence issued.
9. AOB
None.
10. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Audit Committee will take place on 13 May 2026 at 10.00 a.m. with the location to be confirmed in due course.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.48 a.m.
Alan Chambers MLA
Chairperson, Audit Committee
20 May 2026
