Public Accounts Committee

Minutes of Proceedings Thursday 30 May 2024

Public Accounts Committee minutes of proceedings 30 May 2024.pdf (152.23 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings

Present:                   

Daniel McCrossan, MLA (Chairperson)

Cheryl Brownlee, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Cathal Boylan, MLA

Diane Forsyth, MLA

Colm Gildernew, MLA

David Honeyford, MLA

Tom Buchanan, MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference:

Pádraig Delargy, MLA

John Stewart, MLA

Apologies:

In Attendance:       

Lucia Wilson (Committee Clerk)

Kirsten McClelland (Assistant Committee Clerk)

Karen Barry (Clerical Supervisor)

Barbara Daly (Clerical Officer)

The meeting commenced at 2.01 pm in closed session.

The Chairperson advised members of the requirement to declare interests in any items of business on the agenda and discussed the substantive items of business to be considered.

The Clerk provided members with an update on room allocation and advised members of arrangements to facilitate attendance of relevant Northern Ireland Audit Office staff in closed session.

Agreed:         Members agreed that Northern Ireland Audit Office staff can attend in closed sessions where they are directly involved in business being discussed without the need to be recorded as witnesses. Where necessary remote attendance will be utilised, and attendance will be recorded in the minutes of proceedings.

The meeting moved into public session at 2.09 pm.

 

1.      Apologies

No apologies were received.

 

2.      Draft minutes

Agreed:         The draft minutes of the meeting on 23 May 2024 were agreed.

 

3.      Matters Arising

The following officials from the Northern Ireland Audit Office joined the meeting at 2.10 pm

Ms Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General, NI

Ms Collette Kane, Director, NIAO

Mr Roger McCance, Audit Manager, NIAO

Mr Kyle Bingham, Assembly Support Officer, NIAO

A letter dated 21 May 2024 was received from the Treasury Officer of Accounts, Department of Finance, regarding the use of Ministerial Directions and the Memorandum of Reply on the Review of the Northern Ireland Budget Process.

Agreed:         Members agreed to request a copy of the Treasury Officer of Accounts’ benchmarking exercise on its completion,

Agreed:         Members agreed to seek an update on the Review of the Budget Process in 12 months’ time, notwithstanding any developments that might supersede this report in light of the recently published Northern Ireland Audit Office report on Budget and Accountability.

A letter dated 23 May 2024 was received from Permanent Secretary Peter May, Department of Health in response to some follow up questions raised by Members during the evidence session on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland.

Agreed:         Members agreed to share this correspondence with the Northern Ireland Audit Office for consideration and inclusion in the draft Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland report.

A letter dated 23 May 2024 from Permanent Secretary Denis McMahon, Department for Infrastructure, confirming his and colleagues’ attendance on 13 June 2024 to brief the Committee on the Memorandum of Reply on Planning in Northern Ireland.

Agreed:         Members agreed to note the correspondence.

Tom Buchanan joined the meeting at 2.12 pm.

 

4.      Chairperson’s Business

No Chairperson’s business was raised.

 

5.      Declaration of Interests

No declarations were received.

 

6.      Correspondence

Correspondence dated 21 May 2024 was received from an individual regarding the Department of Finance and Land and Property Services.

Agreed:         Members agreed to refer this correspondence to the Committee for Finance.

The meeting moved into closed session at 2.15 pm.

 

7.      Inquiry on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland: Initial Consideration of Draft Report.

The following officials from the Northern Ireland Audit Office joined the meeting at 2.15 pm

Ms Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General, NI

Ms Collette Kane, Director, NIAO

Mr Roger McCance, Audit Manager, NIAO

Mr Kyle Bingham, Assembly Support Officer, NIAO

Mr Damien Prenter, Senior Auditor, NIAO (Remote)

Ms Nikita White, Auditor, NIAO (Remote)

The Committee considered the initial draft of its report on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland.

Members provided a number of points for consideration by the Northern Ireland

Audit Office ahead of the formal consideration of the first draft of the report which

will take place on 6 June 2024.

 

8.      Forward Work Programme

The Committee was briefed on the draft Forward Work programme.

Agreed:         Members agreed to hold a launch event for the report on Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland on 20th June 2024.

Agreed:         Members agreed to cancel the meeting scheduled for 4th July 2024 due to the Westminster polling day being held on this date.

Agreed:         The Committee agreed its forward work programme.

 

9.      Any Other Business

The Clerk advised members of the need to consider attendees for the event to mark the launch of the Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland report on 20 June 2024.

Agreed:         Members agreed to bring proposals for invitees to the meeting on 6 June 2024.

 

10.   Date, Time and Place of the next meeting

The Deputy Chairperson thanked officials for their attendance and advised members that the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 6th June, at 2.00 pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.11 pm.

Daniel McCrossan MLA

Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee

30 May 2024