Northern Ireland Assembly

The Committee received 3 Oral Evidence sessions at todays meeting. - Climate Change Bill - Oral Evidence from Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association - Climate Change Bill - Oral Evidence from Dairy Council NI - Climate Change Bill - Oral Evidence from UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre.

Public Accounts Committee Meeting Thursday 24 June 2021 by Northern Ireland Assembly

The Committee received briefings on Historical Institutional Abuse from a member of the Assembly Research and Information Service; from Stakeholder Groups; and from the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board.

The Committee received Department of Education briefings on the Special Educational Needs Framework; on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); and on Budget/In-Year Monitoring Update, Childcare Strategy and Common Funding Formula.

The Committee received 2 Oral Evidence sessions at todays meeting, the first evidence briefing was from Ulster University – Economic Policy Centre: Covid Recovery and Business Rates Reform and the second from Expert Advice NI Protocol: Generalists The Committee also discussed the Committee considerations of its draft Report on an independent Fiscal Council for Northern Ireland.

The Committee received a Departmental Briefing on the Review of Planning Act and a Briefing from Taxi Operators – Current Issues Facing the Sector.

The Committee receive a briefing on Tourism Recovery from representatives of the Department for the Economy, Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland.

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey answers Members questions.

AERA Minister Edwin Poots answers Members questions.

Justice Minister Naomi Long answers Members questions.

Health Committee starts at 9:15AM Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill - Briefing from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists • Dr Carolyn Bailie, • Dr Jonathan Manderson Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill - Briefing from Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Christian Action Research & Education, Both Lives Matter, Evangelical Alliance NI • Miss Karen Jardine, Pre...

In open session, the Committee received briefings on the Inquiry into Generating Electricity and Ministerial Directions from Renewable Energy from Department for the Economy officials.

Te Committee received an Update on Oral Evidence sessions on the Damages (Return on Investment) Bill. The Committee also discussed Addressing Anti-Social Behaviour - Proposed Legislative Powers and Non Legislative Initiatives and the Report into the Legislative Error in the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 - Update on Implementation of the Recommendations.

In open session the Committee discussed a number of items of Committee business before moving into an informal session to discuss deliberations on a preamble.

The Committee received a Ministerial Briefing on Welfare Reform Mitigations from Deirdre Hargey, Minister for Communities.

The Committee received 3 Oral Briefings; Special Educational Needs Framework – Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Children’s Law Centre. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – Children’s Law Centre

The Committee received a briefing on the Climate Change Bill from NI Environment Link and from Climate NI. The Committee also received a briefing on the Horse Racing (Amendment) Bill from an Assembly Research Officer.

The Committee met and discussed the Committee Inquiry into the Decarbonisation of Road Transport in Northern Ireland - Briefing from RaISe – Analysis of survey results. The Committee also received two Departmental Briefings, the first one on Driver & Vehicle Agency - MOT's & Driving Testsand the other on DVA Lift Action Plan & Public Accounts Committee Report.

The Committee received a Departmental Briefing - June Monitoring and also discussed the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill.

The Concurrent Committee received a briefing on Covid Recovery from the Interim Head of the Civil Service and a briefing from the High Streets Task Force.

The Committee received a briefing on the Review of Private Members' Bills from the Assembly's Research and Information Service.

Members of the Assembly Commission answer queries during Question Time.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon answers Members' questions.

Mike Nesbitt MLA asked the Minister for the Economy, following the withdrawal of Stobart Air from George Best Belfast City Airport, to outline the steps that he is taking to secure the employment of workers and the continuation of the affected routes. The Minister, Paul Frew, answered the question and related supplementary questions.

Health Minister Robin Swann answers Members questions.