Assembly Committee Scrutiny
The Northern Ireland Assembly should consider what steps are needed to strengthen its scrutiny role, particularly as conducted by Assembly Committees, in the light of lessons from the RHI. While it will be for the Assembly itself to decide, the Inquiry recommends that such a consideration might include significantly increasing the resources available to statutory committees and, generally, identifying what steps are needed to improve the effective scrutiny of Departments and their initiatives, whether in Assembly Committees or in the Assembly Chamber itself.
- The NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024) did not assess this recommendation, stating that it is directed at the NI Assembly (to strengthen Committee scrutiny), not at the NI Executive or the Department of Finance (NIAO Second Progress Report, October 2024).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartResponsibility of the NI Assembly. Chairpersons' Liaison Group published 'Report on Strengthening Committee Scrutiny' in March 2022. Work continuing post-February 2024 assembly resumption.
Progress Timeline
NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024): Not assessed by NIAO. This recommendation is directed at the NI Assembly (to strengthen Committee scrutiny), not at the NI Executive or DoF. The Chairpersons' Liaison Group has considered how the Assembly Committees' scrutiny role can be strengthened in response to this recommendation.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Assembly committee scrutiny has not been structurally strengthened despite active engagement by PAC. No formal reform of committee powers or research capacity implemented.
View detailed findings
RHI-38 recommended strengthening Assembly committee scrutiny including reviewing the balance between legislative and scrutiny work and increasing research capacity. The Chairpersons' Liaison Group published a Report on Strengthening Committee Scrutiny in March 2022, but structural reforms to scrutiny powers have not been clearly implemented. PAC has been active but this reflects individual committee engagement rather than systemic reform.