Assembly Committee Scrutiny
The Inquiry recommends that the Northern Ireland Assembly should strengthen the scrutiny role of Assembly Committees, reviewing whether the existing balance between legislative and scrutiny work is appropriate, and considering whether Committees should have greater research capacity and whether there is more that Committee Chairpersons could do to ensure Committee members are properly briefed.
- 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.