COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 19 June
2008
Room 21, Parliament buildings
Present: Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann
Mr Paul Butler
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Alan McFarland
In Attendance: Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Leslie Cree
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr David Simpson MP
The meeting opened at 10.38am in public session.
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Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above. Members noted with concern, that today’s low attendance was due to some members being required to attend a function organised by the Assembly Business Trust.
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Declaration of Interests.
There were no new interests declared.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 5 June, 2008.
Agreed: - The draft minutes of the meeting on 5 June, 2008 were agreed.
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Matters arising.
Members considered the Committee Motion on rising energy prices and noted that the motion has been listed for debate on 30 June.
Agreed: That members would attend an additional Committee meeting at 12.30pm on Tuesday 24 th June to receive briefing from Assembly Research on energy prices.
Members noted information on historical oil prices and tariffs which had been supplied by Phoenix Gas.
Members noted newspaper cuttings on the proposed Rose Energy Power Plant and the All-Party Assembly Group on Energy.
Agreed: That the Clerk would write to the Department seeking clarification on the timing of the June Quarterly Monitoring Round. The Clerk will also write to the Clerk of the Finance and Personnel Committee.
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Briefing from DETI Officials on a Refreshed Social Economy Strategy.
Officials joined the meeting at 10.53am.
DETI officials Mike Bohill, Head of Business Regulation Division and Anne-Marie Davidson, Social Economy Branch briefed the Committee on the Refreshed Social Economy Strategy. Key issues discussed included, the size, value and growth of the sector, strategic objectives, resources and challenges facing the sector.
Officials left the meeting at 11.36am
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Briefing from the Irish League of Credit Unions
Irish League of Credit Union Officials joined the meeting at 11.38am.
Irish League of Credit Union Officials, Uel Adair, Kevin Helferty, Kieran Brennan and Fiona Cullen briefed the Committee as part of the Committee’s Inquiry into Credit Unions. Key issues discussed included the legislative barriers preventing Credit Unions in Northern Ireland from being able to offer the same range of services as their counterparts in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Irish League of Credit Union Officials left the meeting at 12.30pm.
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Briefing from the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions
Ulster Federation of Credit Union officials joined the meeting at 12.33pm.
Ulster Federation of Credit Union officials Tommy Jeffers, Development and Share Protection Officer, John Junkin, Board Member, Gladys Copeland, Coordinator and Richard Copeland, Secretary briefed the Committee as part of the Committee’s Inquiry into Credit Unions. Key issues discussed included the legislative barriers preventing Credit Unions in Northern Ireland from being able to offer the same range of services as their counterparts in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and the need for training support from Government.
Ulster Federation of Credit Union officials joined the meeting at 12.56pm.
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SL1 Gas Order 1996 (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Members considered the above SL1 which is subject to negative resolution.
Agreed: That the Committee had no comment at this stage.
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Written Briefing from DETI on the Telecoms Industry – Next Generation Network Services.
Members noted a briefing paper from the Department.
Agreed: That the Committee would seek briefing from the industry after recess.
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Forward Work Programme.
Members considered the most recent Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Forward Work Programme was agreed.
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Correspondence
Members noted the following item of correspondence:
Letter from the Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer regarding the regulatory framework for handling animal pathogens.
Invitation from the Assembly External Liaison Unit to brief a delegation from the Parliament of the German Federal State of Baden Württenberg.
Agreed: That the Committee would accept the invitation.
Letter from the Chair of the Committee for Social Development regarding the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
Agreed: That the Clerk would reply as agreed by the Committee.
Information received from the Consumer Council regarding revised cost of living figures.
Letter from Chair of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee asking that the Committee pass a letter to the Minister regarding support for future Rally Ireland events.
Agreed: That the Committee would pass the letter to the Minister.
The meeting became inquorate and the Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.09pm.