Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 22 APRIL 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann
Mr Daithí McKay
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Gerry McHugh

In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
Mr David Simpson MP
Mr Sean Neeson

The meeting began at 10.35am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes of meeting held on the 15 April 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 15 April were agreed.

3. Matters Arising

Members discussed a Departmental briefing paper regarding the Energy Bill.

Agreed: To consider the briefing paper during the Committee stage of the Bill.

Members discussed a letter from the Minister to the Chair regarding the NIRO and the Small Wind Energy Group (SWEG).

Agreed: To copy the letter to SWEG.

Agreed: To await the outcomes of the meeting with Departmental officials and SWEG

Members discussed a Departmental briefing paper regarding the NI Science Park.

Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.42am.

Agreed: To keep the issue under review.

Members discussed a response from the Department to the Committee’s query regarding NI Electrical Standards.

Agreed: To forward the information to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.

Agreed: To copy the information to the NI Electrical Standards Lobbying Group.

Members discussed a Departmental briefing paper regarding European Funding for Research and Development.

Agreed: To forward the information to the Committee for OFMDFM.

Members noted that the debate on INTERREG IVA funding and extension for the Committee stage of the Debt Relief Bill motion has been scheduled for debate in Plenary on 26 April.

Members discussed the information pack for MLA’s for the INTERREG IVA funding debate.

Agreed: Content for the Committee Office to issue the pack.

Members noted a draft motion to extend the Committee stage of the Unsolicited Services Bill.

Agreed: Content with the extension.

Members noted a briefing paper regarding the details and costs of the Committee’s business breakfast at the Balmoral Show.

Agreed: Content with the details and costs.

Members noted a briefing paper regarding the details and costs of the Committee’s event for SME’s in the Renewable Energy Sector.

Agreed: Content with Maurice Maxwell to speak at the event.

Agreed: Content with the details and costs.

Members discussed details and costs for the Committee’s European Visit.

Agreed: Content with the details and costs.

Agreed: For members to contact the Committee Office regarding transportation needs from Parliament Buildings to Dublin Airport.

4. Employee Representatives from Quinn Insurance – Oral briefing

Officials joined the meeting at 10.51am.

Members received an oral briefing from Mona Bermingham, Colum Courtney, David O’Donnell, Pat Rooney, and Shane Wilson. Key issues discussed included the insolvency matters of Quinn Insurance, employment at Quinn Insurance and the current situation at Quinn Insurance.

Officials left the meeting at 12pm.

Gerry McHugh left the meeting at 12pm.

Agreed: To write to the Regulator, the Administrator and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to request urgent meetings with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee.

Agreed: To write to the FSA to request that they meet urgently with employee representatives of Quinn Insurance.

Agreed: To issue a press release stating the Committee concerns regarding the situation at Quinn Insurance.

Agreed: To establish a sub-committee to agree urgent matters as they arise regarding Quinn Insurance.

Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 12.15pm.

5. SL1: The Units of Measurement Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Members discussed the Units of Measurement Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010).

Agreed: Content with the SL1 and no comment.

6. SL1: The Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Members discussed the Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010.

Agreed: Content with the SL1 and no comment.

7. Assembly Research Paper on Debt Relief Bill –Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing as well as written responses on the Bill, from Advice NI, FSB, Consumer Credit Counselling Service and the NI Courts and Tribunals Service.

Agreed: To copy Advice NI’s response to the Department to request its views on Advice NI’s concerns.

Agreed: To receive the Department’s views in time for consideration at the next meeting, 13 May.

Agreed : To have Departmental officials on stand-by at the meeting of 13 May to address the Committee’s questions (if any) during consideration of the response.

8. Review of NI Better Regulation Strategy – Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing and a letter from the Minister regarding the Strategy.

Agreed: To note the Review and receive future annual reports outlining progress against actions in the action plan. 

9. Proposals for Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 – Consultation Document) –Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing.

Agreed: To note the document and receive a written briefing from the Department on the outcomes of the consultations, when they become available

10 . Correspondence

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

I. Correspondence from the Finance and Personnel Committee regarding the draft of the ‘Engagement with Committees’ section, for inclusion in the 2010-2011 in-year monitoring guidelines.

Agreed: Content with the draft guidelines.

II. Correspondence from the Finance and Personnel Committee regarding the Performance and Efficiency Delivery Unit (PEDU).

Agreed: To forward the query to the Department for response and for the Department to respond directly to the Finance and Personnel Committee and copy to this Committee.

Agreed: To write to the Finance and Personnel Committee to suggest that, where any statutory committee considers that an aspect of its department’s remit would benefit from intervention by PEDU, the committee should make recommendations to the department to that effect.

III. Letter from the Minister to the Chair regarding the reform of credit unions.

Agreed: To issue a press release regarding credit union reform.

IV. Letter from the Minister to the Chair regarding new enforcement by Trading

Standards Service of a European Directive relating to consumer goods.

V. Information on a seminar regarding strengthening research in the EU Regions.

Agreed: Committee Office to contact the Head of European Commission Office in NI for his views on the seminar and if it would be beneficial for members.

VI. Details of policies/legislation from the Department which have been considered and screened out for equality impact assessment (EQIA).

VII. Letter from the Environment Committee to the Department regarding the North-South Interconnector.

Agreed: To forward the letter to the Department.

VIII. Email from a member of the public regarding a request for an extension of the consultation period for the draft NI Tourism Strategy.

Agreed: To forward the email to the Department for response.

IX. Email from the Northern Ireland Theatre Association (NITA) regarding an interview with the Chair.

X. Email from the Institution of Engineering and Technology inviting the Committee to attend a lecture on the topic of “Consequences if NI does not have sufficient Engineers and Scientists” on Monday, 24 May.

XI. Invitation from the CBI to the Chair to their annual economic briefing and lunch on Tuesday, 18 May.

XII. Invitation from The Colleges NI to the Committee to the launch of the College STEM Initiative on Saturday, 1 May.

XIII. Members discussed a letter from Ireland Luxury Tours to David McClarty, MLA, regarding tourism and cruise ships.

Agreed: To copy the letter to the NI Tourist Board for response.

11. Any Other Business

Members raised the issue of NIE making compensation payments to those customers who lost power during the Easter weekend.

Agreed: To write to NIE and the Utility Regulator to enquire why compensation payments are only being made to those NIE customers who lost power on Saturday 3 April, and not to those who were without power before that date.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 13 May at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.29pm.

Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
May 2010

15 April 10 / Menu