Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 19 October 2011
Venue: Camowen Room, Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh
10.42am The meeting commenced in public session
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
None
3. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2011
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 12 th October 2011.
5. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
i. Correspondence from the Minister in relation to governance at Northern Ireland Water.
ii. Correspondence from the Minister for Finance and Personnel Mr Sammy Wilson in relation to October Monitoring .
iii. Correspondence from Northern Ireland Water in relation to the monitoring plan for PC10.
iv. Correspondence from Friends of the Earth in relation to the A5 including a copy of its submission to the public inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from the Committee for Education on school transport health & safety issues, and agreed that it would forward any relevant information to the Committee for Education.
Agreed: The Committee considered an invitation from Guide Dogs inviting the Committee to view the trial of audio visual information on the Metro bus and agreed that it would accept this invitation and would it be scheduled it into its Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group on the review of the Regional Development Strategy and seeking to brief Committee and agreed that a briefing would be included in the Committee’s forward work plan.
Agreed: The Committee considered correspondence from Northern Ireland Water regarding the mock Major Incident to be undertaken on 26 October 2011. The Committee agreed that it was content to nominate the Clerk as the point of contact for the exercise.
6. Departmental briefing: Roads Service: A5 Western Transport Corridor
10.47am The following Roads Service officials joined the meeting:
John White - Director of Strategic Programmes
Pat Doherty - A5 WTC Project Owner
Conor Loughrey - A5 WTC Project Sponsor
The officials briefed the Committee on the proposed A5 Western Transport Corridor. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would request that Roads Service provide the Committee with details of individual meetings with residents whose homes would be displaced on the proposed A5 route.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would request research on consultation methods and the legislation that is used to vest land.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for the briefing.
11.29am The officials left the meeting
7. Oral briefing: Alternative A5 Alliance – views on the A5 proposals
11.30am The following representatives from the Alternative A5 Alliance joined the meeting:
Robin Bruce – Alternative A5 Alliance
Hamilton Hassard – Alternative A5 Alliance
Ciaran McClean – Alternative A5 Alliance
Colm McGinn – Alternative A5 Alliance
The representatives briefed the Committee on the proposed A5 Western Transport Corridor. This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Roads Service to seek clarification and details of the role of McIlmoyle Associates during the inquiry process.
12.04pm The representatives left the meeting.
12.04pm Mr Dickson left the meeting.
8. Oral briefing: Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry
12.04pm The following representatives from the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry joined the meeting:
Sinead McLaughlin – Chief Executive, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
Christopher Kelly – President, Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Gerard O’Hanlan – Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mr Joe Byrne MLA declared an interest as a member of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The representatives briefed the Committee on the proposed A5 Western Transport Corridor. This was followed by a question and answer session.
12.05pm Mr McCrea left the meeting.
12.07pm Mr Dickson joined the meeting.
12.12pm Mr McCrea rejoined the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that written copies of the briefing delivered by Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Omagh Chamber of Commerce should be provided to the Committee.
The Chairperson thanked the representatives for the briefing.
12.40pm The representatives left the meeting.
11. Any Other Business
None
12. Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be Wednesday 26 October 2011 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
12.40pmThe meeting was adjourned
