Committee to outline terms of CIE inquiry

The Oireachtas Committee investigating the controversial CIE rail signalling system will outline the extent of its public inquiry later today.

In an opening statement, Fianna Fail's Sean Doherty, the chairman of the Sub-Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport, will outline what issues the committee will investigate in relation to the embattled mini-CTC signalling system.

The ambitious project is currently behind schedule and is expected to cost the taxpayer three times the original estimate of £14m.

Three senior CIE executives involved in negotiating the contract to install the system resigned after the process and joined the company which was awarded the contract - Modern Networks Ltd.

The inquiry is expected to call up to 100 witnesses when public hearings begin in September.