Public Accounts Committee

Minutes of Proceedings - 23 April 2026

Public Accounts Committee - Minutes of Proceedings - 23 April 2026.pdf (152.5 kb)

Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

 

Present:                   

Daniel McCrossan, MLA (Chairperson)

Tom Buchanan, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Stephen Dunne, MLA

Gareth Wilson, MLA

David Honeyford, MLA

Colm Gildernew, MLA

Jon Burrows, MLA

 

Present by Video or Teleconference: 

Jemma Dolan, MLA

 

Apologies:              

Cathal Boylan, 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 2.08pm.

 

1.    Apologies

Apologies were noted from Cathal Boylan, MLA.

 

2.    Draft minutes

Agreed:         Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting on 16 April 2026.

 

3.    Declaration of Interests

Jemma Dolan, MLA declared an interest as a member of the Finance Committee.

 

4.    Chairperson’s Business

 

5.    Matters Arising

 

6.      Inquiry into Major IT Projects in Northern Ireland: Evidence Session

The following witnesses and officials joined the meeting at 2.10 pm.

  • Neil Gibson, Permanent Secretary, Department of Finance;
  • Paul Duffy, Deputy Secretary, Department of Finance;
  • Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;
  • Rodney Allen, COO, Northern Ireland Audit Office;
  • Stuart Stevenson, Treasury Officer of Accounts, Department of Finance

The Chair welcomed the witnesses to the Committee.

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

The Chair thanked the witnesses for attending and thanked the Northern Ireland Audit Office and Committee Team and Officials for their work in the inquiry to date.

Witnesses left the meeting at 4.04 pm.

The meeting moved into closed session at 4.04 pm.

 

7.    Inquiry into Major IT Projects in Northern Ireland: Discussion following Evidence Session

The following witnesses and officials joined the meeting at 4.04 pm.

  • Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;
  • Suzanne Jones, Director, Northern Ireland Audit Office;
  • Suzanne Murphy, Audit Manager, Northern Ireland Audit Office

Members considered the evidence provided.

Jon Burrows, MLA left the meeting at 4.15 pm.

Witnesses left the meeting at 4.28 pm.

 

8.    Draft Forward Work Programme

The Clerk briefed members on the forward work programme.

Agreed:         Members agreed the draft forward work programme.

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

Agreed:         Members agreed to decline the invitation.

 

9.    Any Other Business

Members considered an invitation from the Department of Health for the Committee Chair to join a visit to a GP Practice in London with the Health Committee.

Agreed:         Members agreed to decline the invitation as the inquiry on Access to General Practice has been completed.

 

10. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will take place in the Senate Chamber on Thursday 30 April 2026 at 2.00pm.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4.30 pm.

 

Daniel McCrossan

Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee

30 April 2026