Public Accounts Committee

Minutes of Proceedings Thursday 16 April 2026

Public Accounts Committee Minutes of Proceedings Thursday 16 April 2026.pdf (157.04 kb)

Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Present:                

Tom Buchanan, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Stephen Dunne, MLA

Gareth Wilson, MLA

David Honeyford, MLA

Colm Gildernew, MLA

Present by Video or Teleconference: 

Daniel McCrossan, MLA (Chairperson)

Jon Burrows, MLA

Apologies:           

Cathal Boylan, MLA

Jemma Dolan, MLA

In Attendance:      

Lucia Wilson (Committee Clerk)

Kirsten McClelland (Assistant Committee Clerk)

Karen Barry (Clerical Supervisor)

Yannie Mahood (Clerical Officer)

 

The meeting opened in public session at 2.09pm.


1. Apologies

Apologies were noted from Jemma Dolan, MLA and Cathal Boylan, MLA.


2. Draft minutes

Agreed: Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting on 26 March 2026.


3. Declaration of Interests


4. Chairperson’s Business

The Chair welcomed members back following the Easter recess and reflected upon the busy schedule for the Committee ahead of Summer recess.


5. Matters Arising


6. Correspondence

Members noted correspondence from a member of the public alleging administrative malpractice and a failure of financial transparency within the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service and the Department of Justice.

Agreed: Members agreed to forward the correspondence to the C&AG as the appropriate independent authority to consider the matters raised in the correspondence.

Members considered correspondence from a member of the public raising concerns regarding alleged governance, transparency and structural gaps in Northern Ireland’s Energy and Public Accountability Framework.

Agreed: Members agreed to refer the correspondence to the Economy Committee for further consideration as it falls within the policy remit of this Committee.

The meeting moved into closed session at 2.13 pm.


7. Inquiry into Major IT Projects in Northern Ireland: Briefing and Preparation Session

The following witnesses and officials joined the meeting at 2.13 pm.

Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;

Suzanne Jones, Director, Northern Ireland Audit Office;

Suzanne Murphy, Audit Manager, Northern Ireland Audit Office

The Chair welcomed the witnesses to the Committee.

Witnesses briefed members on the issues arising from the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on Major IT Projects in Northern Ireland.

David Honeyford, MLA joined the meeting at 2.21 pm.

Members undertook preparation for the evidence session with DoF scheduled to take place on 23 April 2026.

Agreed: Members agreed to consider written submissions of evidence to the inquiry following the oral evidence session.

The Chair thanked witnesses for attending. Witnesses left the meeting at 2.42 pm.

8. Draft Forward Work Programme

The following witnesses and officials joined the meeting at 2.42 pm.

Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;

Members received a briefing from the C&AG on recently released NIAO reports and considered PAC primacy over these reports.

Agreed: Members agreed to release reports on Review of Waste Management in Northern Ireland and Waste Crime in Northern Ireland from primacy.

Agreed: Members also agreed to release Raising Concerns (March 2026): A Good Practice Guide for the Northern Ireland Public Sector

Agreed: Members agreed that the 12th PAC inquiry will be on the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy.

Agreed: Members agreed to issue a witness invitation to the Department for the Economy for the inquiry into the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy.

The Clerk briefed members on the forward work programme.

Agreed: Members agreed to attend the Balmoral show from 1.30pm to 3.00pm following a request from the Assembly’s Engagement Team.

Agreed: Members agreed the draft forward work programme.

Agreed: Members agreed to issue a ‘Save The Date’ for the CAPAC BIMR PAC Conference scheduled to take place on 24 September 2026.


9. Any Other Business

Members received a briefing on the invitation received to attend the CAPAC PAC conference on 9 and 10 June 2026.

Agreed: Members agreed to bring this matter back for consideration on 23 April 2026.


10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will take place in the Senate Chamber on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 2.00pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.15 pm.

Daniel McCrossan

Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee

23 April 2026