PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE LAUNCHES FIRST REPORT

Mr John O’Dowd, Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), will hold a press conference at 12 noon on Thursday, 5 July 2007 to launch the first Report of the Committee. The venue for the event will be the Press Conference Suite, Room B4, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

The committee’s first Report deals with The Upgrade of the Belfast to Bangor Railway Line and considers a number of issues raised in a report to the Assembly by the Northern Ireland Audit Office in March 2007 (HC 343).

The Northern Ireland Audit Office report focussed on the lack of appropriate control and oversight by the Department for Regional Development; the capability of Translink to undertake major capital investment projects; and the absence of proper records management and ineffective corporate governance.

The Public Accounts Committee produced its report after hearing evidence from the Accounting Officer from Department for Regional Development, the Director of Corporate Affairs, Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, and the Head of Infrastructure, Translink.

All members of the Press and Media are invited to attend.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Standing Orders under Section 60(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 have provided for the establishment of the Public Accounts Committee (the Committee). The main statutory function of the Committee is to consider accounts, and the reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland (C&AG) laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The C&AG is head of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) and is empowered to investigate any area of expenditure and has a statutory right of access to all files and papers in Departments and public bodies.

The Committee Membership is as follows:

Chairperson	Mr John O’Dowd (Sinn Féin)
Deputy Chairperson	Roy Beggs ( Ulster Unionist Party)
Alliance Party	Mr Trevor Lunn
Democratic Unionist Party	Mr Jonathan Craig Mr Simon Hamilton Mr David Hilditch
Progressive Unionist Party	Ms Dawn Purvis
Sinn Féin	Mr Willie Clarke Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Social Democratic and Labour Party	Mr John Dallat Mr Patsy McGlone

Information about today’s meeting can be obtained from the Information Officer –
Mr Paddy Price
Information Office
Room B2
Parliament Buildings
Belfast
028 90 521137