Committee Criticises Department for Cancelling Monitoring Round Briefing

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 16 December 2020

Reference: CfI 02/20/21

Michelle McIlveen MLA, Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Assembly Infrastructure Committee, has criticised Nichola Mallon, Minister for Infrastructure, for cancelling a briefing on the January Monitoring Round the day before it was due to take place.

The Monitoring Round process provides a formal system for reviewing spending plans and priorities. As the Committee’s role is to scrutinise the Minister and the Department, it is important that it is kept abreast of the Minister’s priorities for the coming months.

The Minister’s cancellation followed a briefing to the Committee by the Taxi Operators on 9 December, which highlighted the lack of support for their sector. The Minister refused to allow her officials to brief the Committee on why a funding scheme for Taxi Operators has not been established to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the sector. 

Ms McIlveen MLA said,

“I am dismayed at the cavalier attitude of Minister Mallon and her lack of regard for the function of the Committee for Infrastructure that she would refuse two important briefings to the Committee in one week.

“Not only does it show a lack of regard in the Committee but also a lack of regard for an important part of our economy which has asked the Committee to seek clarity from the Department for why a mitigation scheme has not been agreed.”

ENDS

 

For media enquiries, please contact:

Debra Savage
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Tel: 028 90 521405
Mobile: 07920 864221
Email: Debra.Savage@niassembly.gov.uk

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