Northern Ireland's most senior health officials were called before the Assembly's Health Committee on Thursday following Mike Nesbitt's resignation as health minister.
Mike Farrar, permanent secretary at the Department of Health, and Tracey McCaig, interim chief operating officer of the Strategic Planning and Performance Group, were due to appear at the 1.30pm public session in Parliament Buildings.
The meeting placed the department's leadership and immediate priorities under scrutiny two days after Mr Nesbitt left the Executive portfolio. As permanent secretary, Mr Farrar is the department's senior civil servant and accounting officer. Ms McCaig's role covers the planning and performance of health and social care services across Northern Ireland.
Mr Nesbitt resigned amid a dispute within the Ulster Unionist Party over the future of emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital. UUP leader Jon Burrows had publicly opposed the removal of the service from the Coleraine hospital, while the department has been considering how emergency surgery should be organised across the Northern Trust area.
The resignation came at a demanding point for the health service, with waiting lists, hospital capacity, workforce pressures and the pace of reform all continuing to occupy the committee's programme. Political responsibility for the department rests with the UUP under the Executive's allocation of ministerial offices, leaving the party to nominate a successor.
Thursday's appearance gave MLAs an early opportunity to question the officials responsible for running the department and wider system during the transition. The committee has a formal role in scrutinising the work of the Department of Health and bringing officials before it in public session.
The meeting was held in Room 29 at Parliament Buildings and carried on the Assembly's online television service. An official record will provide the authoritative account of the evidence given once it is published.