COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE & INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 19 JUNE 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Maskey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr David Simpson MP
In Attendance: Mr John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Joanne Adair (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Dr Peter Gilleece (Senior Researcher)
Ms Jodie Carson (Researcher)
The meeting opened at 2.03 p.m. in public session.
1. Apologies.
There were no apologies.
2. Declaration of Interests.
The Committee noted Members’ interests which had been declared to the Clerk.
The Chairperson offered Members the opportunity to declare any further interests or to make changes to their declaration. There were no further declarations.
3. Draft minutes of meeting held on 12 June.
Agreed - the draft minutes were agreed.
4. Matters Arising
Ms McCann joined the meeting at 2.06 p.m.
The Chairperson advised members that a draft response to the Varney Review of Tax Policy in Northern Ireland was being prepared.
Agreed: That the draft response would be considered at the meeting on 26 June 2007.
5. Consideration of Research paper on Invest NI and Industrial De-Rating
Ms Jodie Carson briefed members on a research paper on key issues surrounding industrial de-rating.
Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
Mr Simpson joined the meeting at 2.18 p.m.
Dr Peter Gilleece briefed the Committee on a research paper on the performance of Invest NI since its establishment.
Ms McCann left the meeting at 2.29 p.m.
6. Briefing from Invest NI
Stephen Kingon (Chairman), Leslie Morrison (Chief Executive) and Colin Lewis (Managing Director, Corporate Services) joined the meeting at 2.40 p.m. and gave a presentation and answered members’ questions on the performance of Invest NI.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 2.44 p.m.
Key issues discussed included the role and performance of Invest NI since 2002, reform and modernisation plans and future challenges.
Agreed: - That Invest NI would respond in writing to any answered questions.
Mr Newton left the meeting at 3.50 p.m.
Mr McLaughlin left the meeting at 3.55 p.m.
Officials left the meeting at 3.55 p.m.
7. Briefing from Northern Ireland Manufacturing Focus Group (NIMFG)
Nial Irwin (Managing Director, Irwins’ Bakery), Con O’Neill (Financial Director, Harland and Wolf), Michael Wightman (Chief Executive, Salmor Industries), Terry McDonagh (McDonagh Furnishings) and Peter Williams (Amicus) joined the meeting at 3.56 p.m. and gave a presentation and answered members’ questions on the impact of the phasing out of industrial de-rating on the manufacturing industry and on the wider economy in Northern Ireland.
The meeting was suspended at 4.04 p.m. to allow members to vote in a plenary division.
The meeting was reconvened at 4.20 p.m. in public session
Mr Newton rejoined the meeting at 4.22 p.m.
Mr Hamilton rejoined the meeting at 3.32 p.m.
Ms McCann rejoined the meeting at 4.46 p.m.
NIMFG representatives left the meeting at 4.51 p.m.
Agreed: - That the Clerk would consider how the Committee could best contribute to the independent assessment of industrial rates currently being carried out by the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland (ERINI).
8. Briefing from Health and Safety Executive
Peter McKie (Chairman) and Jim Keyes (Chief Executive) joined the meeting at 4.54 p.m. and gave a presentation and answered members’ questions on the performance of the Health and Safety Executive in Northern Ireland (HSENI).
Key issues discussed included the key objectives and challenges of HSENI, key actions taken in response to those challenges and plans for future developments.
The Chairperson left the meeting and Mr Maskey assumed the chair at 5.12 p.m.
9. Subordinate Legislation
The Committee considered Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Agreed: That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and, subject to the ESR’s Report, has no objection to the Rule’.
Mr McKie and Mr Keyes left the meeting at 5.17 p.m.
The Committee noted a Report by Examiner of Statutory Rules, which referred to a breach of the 21-day rule with regard to the Electricity (Applications for Licences and Extensions of Licences) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Mr Durkan rejoined the meeting at resumed the chair at 5.21 p.m.
Members also considered the following SL1 – The Measuring Instruments (Material Measures of Length) (Use for Trade) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Agreed: - That the Committee has no comment to make on the proposed Regulations at this stage.
10. Correspondence.
Members considered a request by Belfast Media Group for the Committee to host the presentation of the Developing Belfast Top 50 Awards.
Agreed: - That the Principal Clerk would investigate precedent with regard to similar events hosted by Committees during the previous mandate.
Agreed: - That the event would be held in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings on a date to be arranged.
11. Forward Work Programme
Members noted the revised committee work programme.
12. Any Other Business.
Mr Neeson left the meeting at 5.37 p.m.
The Chairperson advised members that he had acknowledged, in behalf of the Committee, correspondence regarding the attendance of an Invest NI official at a meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Mr Maskey left the meeting at 5.39 p.m.
The Committee noted correspondence regarding the attendance of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) at a meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
Members noted that representatives from the Food Strategy Implementation Partnership (FSIP) would attend a meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 26 June at 2.00 p.m. in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.42 p.m.