Public Account Committee
Minutes of Proceedings 21 November 2024
Public Accounts Committee minutes of proceedings 21 November 2024.pdf (156.01 kb)
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Daniel McCrossan, MLA
Cheryl Brownlee, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Diane Forsythe, MLA
Tom Buchanan, MLA
Colin Crawford, MLA
David Honeyford, MLA
Colm Gildernew, MLA
Cathal Boylan, MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Pádraig Delargy, MLA
Apologies:
In Attendance:
Lucia Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Kirsten McClelland (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Supervisor)
Barbara Daly (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 2.06 pm.
1. Apologies
2. Draft minutes
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 14 November 2024 were agreed.
3. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson reminded members of their requirement to register their interests under Standing Order 69(5).
Pádraig Delargy declared an interest as Sinn Fein spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, and a participant in the Skill Up Programme.
4. Matters Arising
Members noted a letter from Peter May, Accounting Officer, Department of Health, in response to queries raised by the Committee on the completion of the Royal Maternity Hospital.
Agreed: Members agreed to note the correspondence and forward to the Northern Ireland Audit Office for consideration in the inquiry into Major Capital Projects.
Members noted a letter from Jayne Brady, Head of Civil Service (HOCS) in response to the committee’s request for her attendance and that of Mr Gibson (Accounting Officer, DoF) at a further evidence session in the inquiry into Major Capital Projects. Ms Brady confirmed both her availability and that of Mr Gibson’s for either 16th or 30th January 2025.
Agreed: Members agreed to request HOCS and Mr Gibson to attend on 16th January 2025 to address outstanding issues around Major Capital Projects and the implementation of the RHI Public Inquiry recommendations.
5. Chairperson’s Business
6. Correspondence
7. Evidence session for ‘Developing the Skills for Northern Ireland’s Future’ inquiry.
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.11 pm.
Ian Snowden, Accounting Officer, Department for the Economy
Graeme Wilkinson, Director, Skills Division, Department for the Economy
Moira Doherty, Deputy Secretary, Skills and Education Group, Department for the Economy
Stuart Stevenson, Treasury Officer of Accounts
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General, NIAO
The Committee heard evidence from the witnesses.
David Honeyford left the meeting at 3.28 pm
David Honeyford rejoined the meeting at 3.30 pm.
Cheryl Brownlee left the meeting at 3.44pm.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Snowden, Mr Wilkinson, Ms Doherty, C&AG and Mr Stevenson for attending.
Officials left the meeting at 4.09 pm.
The meeting moved into closed session at 4.09 pm.
8. Discussions following Evidence session for ‘Developing the Skills for Northern Ireland’s Future’ inquiry.
The following officials from the Northern Ireland Audit Office joined the meeting at 4.09 pm:
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General, Northern Ireland Audit Office;
Patrick Barr, Director, Northern Ireland Audit Office;
Suzanne Murphy, Director, Northern Ireland Audit Office;
Kyle Bingham, Assembly Support Officer, NIAO
Members discussed the evidence heard.
Diane Forsythe left the meeting at 4.32 pm
9. Forward Work Programme
The Clerk briefed the Committee on the final arrangements for the BiMR and CAPAC annual conference.
Agreed: Members agreed the draft Forward Work programme.
The Chairperson thanked officials for their attendance today.
NIAO officials left the meeting at 4.41 pm.
10. Any Other Business
11. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The Chairperson thanked officials for their attendance and advised members that the next meeting will take place in the Senate Chamber on Thursday 5 December 2024 at 2.00 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.43 pm.
Daniel McCrossan MLA
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
21 November 2024
