COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2008
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE HEADQUARTERS,
BELFAST
Present:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Mr John Torney (Principal Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Butler
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
The meeting opened at 10.38 a.m. in closed session.
The meeting went into public session at 11.00 a.m.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Declaration of Interests.
There were no new interests declared.
3. Minutes of meeting held on 13 November 2008.
Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting on 13 November 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members considered dates for an extra meeting of the Committee during Christmas recess.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to hold an additional meeting on Monday 15 th December at 2.00pm.
Members noted the Minister’s response to the Committee’s comments on the proposed terms of reference regarding the review of Invest Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to closely monitor progress on the review of Invest Northern Ireland.
5. SR 445/2008 - The Insolvency (Company Arrangement or Administration Provisions for an Industrial and Provident Society) Order (NI) 2008
Members noted the details of this subordinate legislation and the rationale for its fast-track introduction.
Agreed: That the Committee are content with The Insolvency (Company Arrangement or Administration Provisions for an Industrial and Provident Society) Order (NI) 2008.
6. Briefing from the Construction Industry Group
Construction Industry Group Representatives joined the meeting at 11.09 a.m.
Ciaran Fox, Colin McCarthy and Alfie Watterson briefed the Committee on the impact the downturn of the economy is having on the construction and support sector. Key issues discussed included the knock-on effect of a reduction in construction sector jobs in the wider economy, measures which could be taken to ameliorate this and the reduction of people taking up apprenticeships.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 10.48 a.m.
Construction Industry Group Representatives left the meeting at 11.52 a.m.
7. Draft Strategic Energy Framework 2009
Officials joined the meeting at 11.53 a.m.
DETI Officials Jenny Pyper, Head of Energy Division and Paul Dolaghan, Head of Energy Co-ordination Branch briefed the Committee on the draft Strategic Energy Framework. Key issues discussed included the background to the scoping consultation and the future consultation process, areas to be addressed and emerging issues.
Officials left the meeting at 12.42 p.m.
Agreed : Members agreed that it would be useful to track this ongoing work and that it should be scheduled into the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for the next Assembly session.
Agreed : It was agreed that the Committee would return to matter relating to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation at the Committee meeting on 11 December 2008.
8. Draft Response on proposed Debt Relief Bill
The Committee considered its initial response to the Department’s policy proposal on the Debt Relief Bill.
Agreed: A draft response, to issue from the Clerk, was agreed.
9. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the current Forward Work Programme.
10. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence which had been issued for their information prior to the meeting:
- Letter from NI Environment Link regarding Badger Culling.
- Bi-monthly return from the Department containing their outturn data.
- Letter from the Minister regarding amendments to the UK Energy Bill: Microgeneration Feed-In tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive.
- Copy of Departmental Press Release regarding help being provided by banks to help people in debt.
- Memo from the Clerk of the Chairperson’s Liaison Group regarding member’s attendance at committee meetings.
- Policy Memorandum from the Minister to the Committee regarding the implementation of the Consumer Credit Directive.
11. Any Other Business.
There were three items of other business.
Draft Statutory Rule: Energy (Amendment) Order (NI) 2009.
Agreed: It was agreed that the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Energy (Amendment) Order (NI) 2009and, subject to the ESR’s Report, recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.
Visit by Mr Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament
Members were provided with details of the above visit by the President on 24 th November 2008.
Committee Christmas Cards
Agreed : Members agreed to send Christmas Cards to those organisations and officials with whom the Committee has had contact with during the year.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 27 November at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.01 p.m.