Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / NORTHERN IRELAND
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Wednesday, 21 November 2007, 15:56 GMT

Concert company in dire straits

Elton John at Stormont A government-funded body which brought many high-profile events and concerts to Northern Ireland is understood to be £1.2m in debt.

MLAs are to debate the Northern Ireland Events Company's future on Thursday.

It has also attracted acts like Sir Elton John and Pavarotti, and has also been involved in sporting events.

The company's board and the Culture Department are investigating how it got into so much debt and whether it can avoid being declared bankrupt.

Funding for the company has been cut in recent years, and the debt thought to be £1.2m amounts to half its annual budget.

Pavarotti at Stormont in 1999 Some sources suggest the government might bail out the company.

However, Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, argues that the company has demonstrated poor financial management and should be wound-up immediately.

The company has brought big-name musical acts like the Eagles and Rod Stewart to Stormont.

More recently it has been involved in sporting events like the North West 200 motorcycle race.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
NI Events defend Moneyglass site (10 Aug 07 |  Motorbikes )
NI housing body facing shake-up (21 Mar 06 |  Northern Ireland )
Concert hospitality bill revealed (19 Jun 02 |  Northern Ireland )
Stewart show backed by public cash (11 Apr 02 |  Northern Ireland )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Northern Ireland Events Company
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©