Public Accounts Committee

Minutes of Proceedings - Thursday, 15 October 2026

Public Accounts Committee - 15 October 2026.pdf (190.53 kb)

Present:

Daniel McCrossan MLA (Chairperson)

Cathal Boylan MLA                                

Stephen Dunne MLA

Colm Gildernew MLA

David Honeyford MLA

Áine Murphy MLA                       

Mike Nesbitt MLA

Gareth Wilson MLA

 

Apologies:

Tom Buchanan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

                              

In Attendance:

Lucia Wilson (Committee Clerk)

Angela McParland (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Karen Barry (Clerical Supervisor)

Yannie Mahood (Clerical Officer)

 

The meeting opened in public session at 2.08pm.

 

1.    Apologies

As above.

 

2.    Draft minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft minutes of the meeting on 8 th October 2026.

 

3.    Declarations of Interest

Cathal Boylan MLA and Stephen Dunne MLA declared an interest as Members of the Committee for Infrastructure.

 

4.    Chairperson’s Business

There was no Chairperson’s Business.

 

5.    Matters Arising

There were no Matters Arising.

 

6.    Correspondence

The Committee considered correspondence from an individual concerning the Northern Ireland Audit Office report ‘Governance, accountability and oversight arrangements relating to the Voluntary Grammer and Grant-Maintained Integrated Sectors’.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Northern Ireland Audit office (NIAO) for comment, on approval by the individual.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer possible further consideration of the issues raised until 22 October 2026 when the Committee will decide on its next inquiry. 

 

7.    Committee Inquiry on A Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission: Oral Evidence from the Department for Infrastructure

The following officials joined the meeting at 2.11pm:

  • Emer Morelli, Permanent Secretary, Department for Infrastructure (DfI);
  • Rosemary Daly, Chief Planner and Director of Regional Planning, Governance and Legislation, DfI; and
  • Dr. Kathryn McFerran, Director of Regional Planning Policy and Casework, DfI.

In attendance:

  • Dorinnia Carville, Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland (C&AG);
  • Conor McGeown, Director, NIAO; and
  • Tomas Wilkinson, Director, NIAO.

And

  • Stuart Stevenson, Treasury Officer of Accounts (TOA), Department of Finance (DoF).

The Committee heard evidence from the DfI officials for the inquiry.

Gareth Wilson MLA joined the meeting at 2.15pm

Cathal Boylan MLA left the meeting at 2.42pm

Cathal Boylan MLA returned to the meeting at 2.43pm

Áine Murphy MLA joined the meeting at 2.57pm

David Honeyford MLA left the meeting at 2.59pm

David Honeyford MLA returned to the meeting at 3.05pm

Gareth Wilson MLA left the meeting at 3.13pm

Gareth Wilson MLA returned to the meeting at 3.14pm

The Chairperson thanked the officials for attending.

The meeting was paused for a short refreshment break at 3.17pm.

The meeting resumed at 3.37pm.

 

8. Committee Inquiry on A Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission: Oral Evidence from the Department of Justice, and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service

The following officials joined the meeting at 3.38pm:

  • Hugh Widdis, Permanent Secretary, Department of Justice (DoJ).
  • Karen Ward, Acting Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS); and
  • Astrid Hamilton, Director of Tribunals and Corporate Services, NICTS.

In attendance:

  • Dorinnia Carville, C&AG;
  • Conor McGeown, Director, NIAO; and
  • Tomas Wilkinson, Director, NIAO.

And

  • Stuart Stevenson, TOA, DoF.

The Committee heard evidence from the Permanent Secretary and NICTS officials for the inquiry.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for attending.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the officials forward to the Committee:

  • the essential criteria asked for in the recruitment of commissioners;
  • detail regarding the resignations of seven commissioners, including confirmation of the period in which the resignations occurred, and the reasons given; and
  • confirmation of any instances in which a commissioner received training and left during or shortly after receiving the training.

Áine Murphy MLA left the meeting at 4.22pm

David Honeyford MLA left the meeting at 4.32pm

Áine Murphy MLA returned to the meeting at 4.33pm

Colm Gildernew MLA left the meeting at 4.34pm

 The meeting moved into closed session at 4.45pm.

 

9. Committee Inquiry on A Strategic Review of the Planning Appeals Commission: Consideration of Session

The following officials joined the meeting at 4.46pm:

  • Dorinnia Carville, C&AG;
  • Tomas Wilkinson, Director, NIAO; and
  • Conor McGeown, Director, NIAO.

The Committee considered the oral evidence heard for the inquiry.

The Committee noted the deadline for written submissions for the inquiry is Friday 30 th October 2026.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for attending.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission research for the inquiry on approaches adopted in other jurisdictions by Planning Appeals Commissions especially in regards to transferring functions to other agencies.

 

10. Draft Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered a draft Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.

 

11. Any Other Business

There was no other business.

 

12. End of Session Report

The Committee considered an draft End of Session Report for 2025/2026.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the End of Session Report and that it be published on the Committee web pages.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold a ‘Take Note’ debate in the Assembly in January 2027.

 

13. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next Committee meeting will take place on Thursday 22 nd October 2026 at 3.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 5.10pm.

 

Chairperson

Public Accounts Committee

22 October 2026