ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Attwood
Mr G Campbell
Mr W Clyde
Ms P Lewsley
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr D Shipley Dalton

In attendance: Mrs C White
Mr J Nesbitt
Miss M Higgins
Miss J Presho
Mr W Lavery

In attendance for part of meeting: Sir Reg Empey (Minister for DETI)
Mr B Robinson (IDB)

The minutes of the meetings of the 13 December and the 14 December were agreed.

There were no apologies.

There were no matters arising.

i. A letter from the Minister on overseas visits was discussed - it was agreed that some further information was needed from the Department on this matter.

ii. Request from Councillor Christopher McGimpsey for a Belfast City Council delegation to meet the Committee - it was agreed that such a delegation could be invited to a meeting of the Committee when Strategy 2010 was due to be debated.

iii. Webforia - Dr McDonnell mentioned that Webforia was an internet based company and it might be useful if Mr Cassidy, the owner of the company, was invited to meet the Committee; it was agreed that Mr Cassidy could be invited to give a short presentation at a future meeting.

iv. Request from Regional Development Committee for a copy of the Committee's first day brief - it was agreed that a copy could be forwarded to Regional Development Committee; it was also agreed that a copy of the Regional Development Committee's first day brief should be requested.

v. Climate Change Levy - it was agreed that the Committee should send a letter to Stephen Timms, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, expressing the Committee's concerns about the proposed introduction of a Climate Change Levy in NI.

vi. Strategy 2010 - it was agreed that Strategy 2010 should be the subject of a first inquiry by the Committee and should commence in the near future.

vii. Future meetings - it was agreed that the CBI, Ofreg, and the NI Textiles & Apparel Association should be invited to attend meetings of the Committee in the near future.

The Minister thanked the Chairperson for the opportunity to meet the Committee and expressed his wish to see the Department and the Committee working together. He mentioned that the Department would be developing a programme of work over the next few months and would welcome early indications from the Committee of any issues it might be examining. The Minister, in his presentation, covered a number of areas including Strategy 2010, energy, textiles, R&D, Information Technology, tourism, TSN, fuel differentials in border areas and Health and Safety. The Minister mentioned that a report would be issued shortly on the Information Age Initiative. The Chairperson thanked the Minister for his presentation and for his clear and full responses to the questions posed by the members.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 19 January 2000 at 9.45am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.

Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)