Public Accounts Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 20 November 2025
Public Accounts Committee - Minutes of Proceedings - 20 November 2025.pdf (161.05 kb)
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Diane Forsythe, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Stephen Dunne, MLA
Tom Buchanan, MLA
Cathal Boylan, MLA
David Honeyford, MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Jon Burrows, MLA
Pádraig Delargy, MLA
Apologies:
Daniel McCrossan, MLA (Chairperson)
Colm Gildernew, MLA
In Attendance:
Lucia Wilson (Committee Clerk)
Victoria Bourquin (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Karen Barry (Clerical Supervisor)
Yannie Mahood (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 2.07pm.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Draft minutes
Agreed: Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting on 13 November 2025.
3. Declaration of Interests
The Chairperson reminded members of the requirement to register their interests under Standing Order 69(5).
Stephen Dunne, MLA declared an interest as APS to the Communities Minister.
Padraig Delargy, MLA declared an interest due to being a former teacher and family members being GPs and BMA members. He further declared an interest in being a Member of the Committee for the Economy and Party Spokesperson for the Economy.
David Honeyford, MLA declared an interest in being a Member of the Committee for the Economy and Party Spokesperson for the Economy.
4. Chairperson's Business
No Chairperson's Business.
5. Matters Arising
Members noted correspondence from Mike Farrar, Accounting Officer, Department of Health regarding the Northern Ireland Audit Office's report on Restricted Procedures.
Agreed: Members agreed to refer the NIAO report and letter from Mike Farrar to the Health Committee.
Members noted the Clerk's memo on the Committee's recent visit to PAC BIMR Network Meeting, Jersey on the 7 November 2025.
Agreed: Members agreed to share with the C&AG.
6. Correspondence
Members noted correspondence from Neurology Recall.
Agreed: Members agreed to seek advice on how the crown indemnity scheme operates in practice and whether this matter properly sits with PAC before reconsidering.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Chairperson should refer the issue of how to address cross-cutting correspondence, including whistleblowing, health concerns and governance issues.
7. Memorandums of Reply
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from Neil Gibson, Accounting Officer, Department of Finance regarding the Memorandum of Reply on the Major Capitals Project: Follow-up Report and agreed to review it in more detail before the evidence session scheduled for January 2026.
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from Hugh Widdis, Accounting Officer, Department of Justice regarding the Memorandum of Reply on Reducing Adult Reoffending in Northern Ireland and agreed to request a further update in 12 months' time, with and update on outcome dashboard progress (recommendation 2) and a strategy timeline and consultation readiness (recommendation 3).
8. Disclaimed DfE Accounts
Members noted the report by the C&AG on 2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts of Department for Economy and the correspondence from Ian Snowden, Accounting Officer, Department for Economy regarding the 2024/25 DfE Group Annual Report and Accounts.
Agreed: Members agreed to forward the letter and C&AG's annual report to the Committee for the Economy.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk will seek advice from colleagues to ensure primacy is applied without delaying scrutiny.
9. Inquiry on 'Homelessness in NI' - Preparation Session (Evidence Session 2)
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.50pm.
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General; and
Tomas Wilkinson, Director, NIAO;
Members undertook a preparation session in advance of the evidence session scheduled to take place on 27 November 2025.
Members noted correspondence from Homelessness Connect and a potential conflict of witness of one of the witnesses due to attend the evidence session on 27 November.
Agreed: Members agreed that they were content for Jim Dennison to attend next week, having noted the potential conflict of interest.
10. Inquiry on 'Access to GPs in NI' - First Consideration of Draft Report
Members considered the draft report on 'Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland'.
Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 4.02pm
Cathal Boylan rejoined the meeting at 4.08pm
Stephen Dunne left the meeting at 4.09pm
Stephen Dunne rejoined the meeting at 4.11pm
Agreed: Members agreed that any changes should be incorporated into the draft report.
Members considered the draft press release.
11. Excess Votes - Report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2024-25 and late accounts from 2023-24
The following officials from the Northern Ireland Audit Office joined the meeting at 4.33pm:
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General
Members received a briefing from the C&AG on the Draft report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2024-25 and late accounts from 2023-24.
Agreed: Members agreed the draft report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2024-25 and late accounts from 2023-24.
Agreed: That a copy of the final report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2024-25 and late accounts from 2023-24 be forwarded to the Finance Committee and Treasury Officer of Accounts.
Agreed: Members agreed that the final report on Excess Votes (Northern Ireland) 2024-25 and late accounts from 2023-24 be laid in the Assembly Business Office. A statement of Excess can then be presented to the Assembly and voted into the Budget Act.
The Chairperson thanked the C&AG.
12. Draft Forward Work Programme
Agreed: Members agreed the draft forward work programme to December 2025.
13. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will take place in the Senate Chamber on Thursday 27 November 2025 at 2.00pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.40pm.
Diane Forsythe
Deputy Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
20 November 2025
