Summary

  • Assembly committees sit in wake of Stormont's collapse, with election set for 2 March

  • Senior civil servant tells Economy Committee of RHI scheme cost mitigation plan

  • Beneficiaries of RHI scheme outline opposition on proposed legislation to cut subsidies

  • Health Committee is briefed by department officials on autism strategy

Live Reporting

Robin Sheeran and Iain McDowell

  1. 'Sad that committee can't address GP crisis further'

    First up, the committee members discuss the problems at the Bannview Medical Practice in Portadown, County Armagh, and the wider GP crisis in Northern Ireland.

    Chair Paula Bradley says it is "rather sad" that the committee has reached the end of its lifespan with the dissolution of the assembly looming, and is therefore unable to do more to address the crisis.

    Files in a GP's surgeryPA

    "I do fear for the time ahead for all GP and all surgeries because none of us know what lies ahead," she tells members.

    But Ms Bradley adds: "We have a little bit of comfort that we did work together on it, all of us."

  2. In the Health Committee chair

    Paula Bradley of the DUP is chairing this morning's health Committee meeting.

    Paula Bradley

    As with every other assembly committee meeting in the past fortnight apart form the Public Accounts Committee's RHI inquiry session yesterday, Sinn Féin members are absent.

  3. Good morning

    What a week it's been at Stormont... and it's not finished yet.

    After yesterday's revelations at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), we have some brief respite from the scandal around the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

    This morning's meeting of the Health Committee is concentrating on the department's autism strategy and on professional qualifications.

    Stormont's Parliament BuildingsAP

    Dr Andrew McCormick's testimony to the PAC yesterday has reverberated around the political scene, and as if a five-hour grilling wasn't enough he's back this afternoon for a session with the Economy Committee.

    It will also be hearing from representatives of the biomass boiler operators who have benefitted from the RHI scheme.

    We'll be hearing from the Economy Committee at 15:00.