Public Accounts Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - Thursday 23 October 2025
Public Accounts Committee - Thursday 23 October 2025.pdf (156.86 kb)
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Daniel McCrossan, MLA (Chairperson)
Diane Forsythe, MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Stephen Dunne, MLA
Tom Buchanan, MLA
Colm Gildernew MLA
Cathal Boylan, MLA
David Honeyford, MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Jon Burrows, MLA
Apologies:
Pádraig Delargy, 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 2.08 pm.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from, Pádraig Delargy, MLA.
2. Draft minutes
Agreed: Members agreed the draft minutes of the meeting on 16 October 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 and a member of the Infrastructure Committee.
Daniel McCrossan, MLA declared an interest due to the A5 being within his constituency area.
Tom Buchanan, MLA declared an interest due to the A5 being within his constituency area.
Colm Gildernew, MLA declared an interest due to the A5 being within his constituency area, and in respect of bringing forward a Private Members Bill relating to Homelessness.
David Honeyford, MLA declared an interest as a member of the Economy Committee.
4. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson placed on record his thanks to the Clerking Team for the work that went into the qualitative analysis of the responses to the Citizen Space survey on access to GP Services.
The Chairperson congratulated Rodney Allan, Chief Operating Officer with the Northern Ireland Audit Office on his 40 years of service.
The Chairperson requested that those joining Committee meetings remotely remain on camera throughout the meeting.
5. Matters Arising
6. Correspondence
7. Memorandum of Reply: Developing the Skills for Northern Ireland's Future
Members considered correspondence providing updates to the memorandum of reply in respect of the report into Developing the Skills for Northern Ireland's Future.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department for the Economy to thank them for their response and seek further information.
8. Ministerial Direction: Licence Fee Payment to A5 Landowners
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.24pm.
Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;
Patrick Barr, Director, Northern Ireland Audit Office.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider the Ministerial Direction in closed session due to the ongoing legal proceedings relating to the A5.
The meeting moved into closed session at 2.28 pm.
Members considered a Ministerial Direction in respect of License Fee Payment to A5 Landowners.
Agreed: Members agreed to note the Ministerial Direction.
Members received an update on the A5 Case Study
Agreed: Members agreed to note the update on the A5 Case Study.
9. Inquiry: Homelessness in Northern Ireland
The following officials joined the meeting at 2.52pm.
- Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General;
- Tomas Wilkinson, Director, NIAO;
- Barry Mitchell, Audit Manager, NIAO.
Members undertook a preparation session in advance of the evidence session scheduled to take place on 13 November 2025.
Colm Gildernew, MLA left the meeting at 3.10 pm.
Members considered a letter from the Chartered Institute of Housing offering to provide evidence to the Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed to seek written evidence from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Agreed: Members agreed to invite Homeless Connect to give evidence to the inquiry.
Agreed: Members agreed the draft terms of reference for the inquiry.
10. Inquiry: Access to General Practice in Northern Ireland
Members received an update on the qualitative analysis of the Citizen Space survey results.
Agreed: Members agreed to bring forward a plan for the report launch.
11. Forward Work Programme
Members received a briefing from C&AG on the NIAO report on NI Energy Strategy.
Agreed: Members agreed to retain the report for further consideration.
Agreed: Members agreed that the C&AG will provide briefings on NIAO reports prior to publication in future.
Agreed: Members agreed the draft forward work programme to December 2025.
12. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members agreed the 2024/25 End of Session Report
Agreed: Members agreed a script for a video on the work of the PAC. Members will record their segments over the coming weeks.
13. Date, Time, and Place of the next meeting
Members will be attending the BIMR PAC Network event from 6th to 8th November 2025, therefore the next meeting will take place in the Senate Chamber on Thursday 13 November 2025 at 2.00 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.10 pm.
Daniel McCrossan
Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee
13 November 2025
