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COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Paul Givan
Mr William Irwin
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr Gerry McHugh
Ms Claire McGill
Mr Sean Neeson

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

Apologies:
Mr Leslie Cree

The meeting began at 10.35am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.36am.

2. Minutes of meeting held on the 30 September 2010

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 30 September were agreed.

3. Matters arising from meeting on 30 September 2010

Members discussed a response from the Department regarding broadband coverage in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: To clarify matters relating to the subsidy provided for satellite broadband users, specifically what is meant by the subsidy, who provides the subsidy, the nature of the subsidy, and to whom it applies.

Members noted a briefing paper from the Department regarding tourism assistance for West Belfast.

Members noted a letter from the Finance and Personnel Committee giving its consent to share papers from the concurrent meeting on banks with DETI.

Members discussed a letter from the Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee to the Chairperson regarding NI electrical standards.

Gerry McHugh joined the meeting at 10.46am.

Agreed: To forward the information received to the member of the public that originally raised the enquiry.

Agreed: To forward the information to the Department and ask that it responds to the original enquirer and copy this Committee on the response.

Members noted an update from the Finance and Personnel Committee regarding the INTERREG IVA programme.

Members were advised that the Consideration Stage of the Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill is scheduled for 11 October.

Members discussed the possibility of a take note debate in Plenary on the Strategic Energy Framework.

Agreed: Committee Office to ascertain suitable dates for a debate from the Business Office.

Agreed: To consider a draft motion at next week’s meeting.

4. Legislative Consent Motion – Terrorist Asset-Freezing Bill: Oral briefing

Departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.50am.

Members received an oral briefing from Cathal McLaughlin, Principal, Company Law Branch and Paul Bingham, Staff Officer, Credit Union Team. Key issues discussed included the implications for credit union legislation in Northern Ireland as a result of the legislative consent motion and the indicative timings for credit union legislation reform in Northern Ireland.

Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.55am.
Paul Givan joined the meeting at 11.01am.

Agreed: To support the legislative consent motion.

Departmental officials left the meeting at 11.05am.

5. Tourism (Amendment) Bill: Preliminary view

Members discussed the Tourism (Amendment) Bill.

John Simms from DETI’s Tourism Policy Branch joined the meeting at 11.14am to answer members’ questions.

Members went through each clause of the Bill and posed questions to the Departmental official regarding the Bill.

Paul Frew left the meeting at 11.20am.
William Irwin left the meeting at 11.25am.
Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 11.27am.

Agreed: Content with the clauses in the Bill.

Agreed: To commence the formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Bill at next week’s meeting.

John Simms left the meeting at 11.34am.

6. Renewable Energy Inquiry – Research Paper: Research briefing from Assembly Research

Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.33am.

The Assembly Research Officer joined the meeting at 11.35.

Members received a research briefing from the Assembly Research Officer. Key issues included Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) and Feed-in Tariffs (FITs).

William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 11.45am.
Paul Frew rejoined the meeting 11.48am.
Paul Givan left the meeting at 12.06pm.

The Assembly Research Officer left the meeting at 12.07pm.

Agreed: Committee Office to organise an informal meeting for members and Departmental officials regarding the Strategic Energy Framework.

Agreed: To receive the organisational structure of the DETI Energy Branch in advance of the meeting.

Paul Frew left the meeting at 12.08pm.

7. Offshore Renewable Energy: Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing.

Paul Givan rejoined the meeting at 12.16pm

Jennifer McCann rejoined the meeting at 12.19pm.

Agreed: To receive the details of any revisions to the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan 2009-2020 arising as a result of the consultation process.

8. Caravans Bill: Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing.

Paul Frew rejoined the meeting at 12.34pm.

Agreed: To write to the Social Development Committee with the Committee’s views on the proposed amendment to the Caravans Bill.

9. Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland: Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing.

Paul Frew declared an interest as a member of the Ballymena Borough Council.

Agreed: To write to NITB to enquire how Slemish Mountain could be made more prominent in the St Patrick’s Trail Project.

10. DETI 2009-2010 Final Outturn: Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing.

Agreed: To write to receive further details of bids after consideration by the Strategic Investment Board.

11. EU Third Energy Package (IME3) – Proposals for consultations on the Gas and Electricity Directives: Written briefing

Members discussed the written briefing.

Agreed: To receive a summary of the responses to the Consultation when they become available.

12. Draft Forward Work Programme

Members discussed the forward work programme.

Agreed: Content with the forward work programme.

13. Correspondence

Members noted the following items of correspondence:

  • Letter from the Minister regarding a proposed amendment to the Price Marking Order (NI) 2004 and the consultation document.
  • Invitation to the Chair from Agenda NI to an event regarding planning and economy.
  • Information regarding the annual NI Energy Conference on Thursday, 11 November.
  • Invitation from the NI Assembly and Business Trust (NIABT) to a dinner for the construction industry.
  • Press release announcing resignation of Utility Regulator.

13. Any other business

There were no other items of business.

13. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 14 October at 10.30am, Parliament Buildings, Room 30.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.00pm.

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

30 September 10 / Menu

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