Minutes of Proceedings

10.30am  The meeting commenced in public session

1. Apologies

Mr Joe Byrne MLA

Mr Cathal Ó hOisín MLA

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson welcomed Mr David McNarry as the newly appointed Member of the Committee.

Agreed: It was agreed that the Chairperson would write to the outgoing Member, Mr Michael Copeland, thanking him for his work on the Committee.

3. Draft Minutes

Agreed:  The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 1^st February 2012.

4. Correspondence

Members noted correspondence received.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the A26 Dualling – Glarryford to Drones Road Junction.

The Committee noted correspondecnce from the Department in relation to January Monitoring.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to Unadopted Roads in Northern Ireland and agreed to include it in the Committee’s Report.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the accident history of the A4.

Members noted a letter from Sustran thanking the Committee for its recent visit to Gilnahirk Primary School to see the Bike It Project. 

The Committee noted correspondence from Ms Killen in relation to the Old Church Road Abandonment Order.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Airport Amendments Bill.

The Committee noted correspondence from  the Clerk to the Committee for the Office of the First and deputy First Minister in relation to draft European Priorities 2012/13.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department inviting Members to attend the presentation of bursary awards to students from QUB and University of Ulster in Clarence Court on Wednesday 22 February 2012. Members noted that the closing date for replies was Tuesday 14 February.

5. Consumer Council Briefing: Work Programme 2012-12 – Transport & Water

10.33am  The following Departmental Officials joined the meeting:

Antoinette McKeown – Chief Executive

Aodhan O’Donnell – Director of Policy and Education

10.34am          Mr Beggs joined the meeting

10.42am          Mrs Kelly joined the meeting

The Officials presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Agreed: The Officials agreed to forward the following information to the Committee:

• A breakdown of the Consumer Council staffing structure;
• A breakdown of the £181,436.62 which has been returned to energy, transport and water customers as a result of complaints to the Consumer Council;
• A copy of the Consumer Councils bid, when finalised, for the 2012/13 year; and
• Information on the Consumer Council’s last procurement exercise relating to Design house consultancy.

11.19am The Officials left the meeting

6. Departmental Briefing – Belfast Rapid Transit – outcome of public consultation

11.20am  The following Officials joined the meeting:

Ciarán de Búrca – Director of Rapid Transit Branch

Robin Totten – Project Engineer, Rapid Transit Branch

Lindsay Rainey – Rapid Transit Branch

11.29am  Mr Moutray left the meeting

The officials presented to the Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

11.45am  The Officials left the meeting

7. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: Members noted the forward work programme.

8. Any other business

Members noted a list of organisations to whom the Committee intended writing to seek views on the Committee’s inquiry into Unadopted Roads in Northern Ireland.

9. Date of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be Wednesday 15^th February 2012 at 10.30am in Room 21 Parliament Buildings.

11.48am  The meeting was adjourned

Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development

15^th February 2012