ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 2 MAY 2001 AT 10.25AM
IN ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs A Courtney
Mr W Clyde
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Mr J Wells
In attendance: Mrs C White
Mr J Nesbitt
Miss J Presho
Mr D Donaldson
Apologies: Mr A Attwood
Dr D O'Hagan
In attendance for the public session at 10.45am: AuIron Energy Ltd - Mr N Arthur, Mr W McClay & Mr J Quigg
In attendance for the public session at 11.15am: Antrim Coal Company Ltd - Mr R Chadwick & Mr D Watt
In attendance for the public session at 11.45am: Energy Saving Trust - Mr G Bell, Mr D Staniaszek & Mr A Biermann
In attendance for the public session at 12.10pm: National Energy Action - Ms M McCloskey, Miss A Heaney
In attendance for the public session at 12.40pm: Worldwide Fund for Nature - Mr M Campbell & Mr R Marsh
In attendance for the public session at 1.05pm: Friends of the Earth (NI) - Mr J Woods & Dr T Jenkins
The meeting opened, in private, at 10.25am
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1 The sub-Committee issue was discussed - it was agreed not to take this forward.
1.2 Product Liability Bill - a copy of a letter from the Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel to the Speaker was circulated to members for their information.
Agreed - to write to the Minister of Finance and Personnel who originally sponsored the Bill suggesting that he should seek the Assembly's approval for accelerated passage of the Bill. A copy of this letter will be sent to the Speaker as Chairpeerson of the Business Committee and Mr Molloy, Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
1.3 Energy Inquiry - possible visit to Brussels & Denmark. The Committee discussed further a possible visit to Brussels & Denmark as part of its energy inquiry.
Agreed - a provisional date for the visit as week commencing 2 July 2001, and that the Committee Clerk seeks further information from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in relation to organising the visit. The Committee also agreed that Mr P Gilleece, Assembly Researcher should accompany the Committee on the visit.
Mr Neeson joined the meeting at 10.30am
1.4 Social Economy - the Committee Clerk reported that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has organised a seminar on the Social Economy for Committees to be held on 15 May at 12.45pm in the Long Gallery, when the consultants will present their draft report.
Agreed - that the members should advise the Committee Clerk if they will be attending the seminar.
1.5 Energy Inquiry - the Committee Clerk reported that an individual who provided both written and oral evidence to the Committee has requested that such evidence be withdrawn from the inquiry.
Agreed - that the evidence submitted to the Committee could not be withdrawn.
1.6 Visit by the Clerk Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, Scottish Parliament.
Agreed - provisional date for the visit as 26 & 27 June.
2. Minutes of the last meeting
Agreed - the minutes of 25 April.
3. Public evidence session at 10.45am - AuIron Energy Ltd
3.1 The witnesses from AuIron Energy Ltd gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
4. Public evidence session at 11.15am - Antrim Coal Company Ltd
4.1 The witnesses from Antrim Coal Company Ltd gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
Mr Wells declared an interest as he had undertaken work for the previous owners of the company BP Coal in 1988.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.20am
5. Public evidence session at 11.45am - Energy Saving Trust
5.1 The witnesses from the Energy Saving Trust gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
6. Public evidence session at 12.10pm - National Energy Action
6.1 The witnesses from National Energy Action gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
7. Public evidence session at 12.40pm - Worldwide Fund for Nature
7.1 The witnesses from the Worldwide Fund for Nature gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
8. Public evidence session at 1.05pm - Friends of the Earth (Northern Ireland)
8.1 The witnesses from Friends of the Earth (NI) gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee
Ms Morrice joined the meeting at 1.15pm
9. Date of Next Meeting
9.1 The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 9 May at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 1.30pm
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)