Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITEE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THURSDAY, 31 MAY 2007
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr John O’Dowd (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Mr John Dallat
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr David Hilditch
Mr Trevor Lunn
Mr Patsy McGlone
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Ms Dawn Purvis

In Attendance:
Mrs Cathie White (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Gillian Lewis (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Pauline Hunter (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr John Lunny (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Willie Clarke

The meeting opened at 2.00pm in public session.

  1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. The Committee met in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, where it was considering the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on ‘The Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line’ (HC 343). The Chairperson welcomed Mr John Dowdall, Comptroller & Auditor General and Mr David Thomson, Treasury Officer of Accounts to the meeting.

 

  1. Evidence on the NIAO Report ‘The Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line’.

The Committee took oral evidence on the NIAO report ‘The Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line’ from Mr Gerry McGinn, Accounting Officer, Department for Regional Development (DRD); Mr David Carson, Director of Public Transport Performance Division, DRD; Mr Jim Aiken, Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company; and Mr Clive Bradberry, Translink. The witnesses answered a number of questions put by the Committee.

2.04pm Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting.
2.45pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.

The Committee requested that Mr McGinn should provide additional information on issues raised by members during the evidence session to the Clerk.

4.04pm Mr McLaughlin left the meeting.
4.06pm Mr McGlone left the meeting.
4.20pm The evidence session finished and the witnesses left the meeting.

  1. Minutes of the meeting on 24 May 2007.

Agreed: The minutes were agreed.

  1. Any other business.

Members noted that the Minutes of Evidence would be forwarded as soon as possible and issues arising would be discussed at the next meeting.

Members noted that the first draft of the Committee’s report is expected to be considered at its meeting on 28 June 2007.

Members noted that the Chairperson had agreed to sponsor a reception on 5 July 2007 by the Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group and that members would be invited to the event.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 7 June 2007 at 2.00pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.23pm.

John O’DowdChairperson,
Public Accounts Committee.
7 June 2007

 

24 May 07 / MENU