COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2001 AT 10.05AM IN
ROOM 144 AND THE SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty MP (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mrs A Courtney
Mr W Clyde
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Dr D O'Hagan
Apologies: Mr A Attwood
Ms J Morrice
Mr J Wells
In attendance: Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs J Murdoch (Executive Support)
Miss A Fowler (Administrative Support)
Mr P Johnston (Assembly's Legal Adviser)
In attendance for private evidence session at 10.05am: Mr B Robinson, Mr G McConnell, Mr D McAuley and Mr P Dologhan (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, DETI).
In attendance for public evidence session at 11.22am: Mr G McConnell, Mr D McAuley and Mr P Dologhan (DETI).
The meeting opened in private at 10.05am.
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1 The Chairperson welcomed Mr Armstrong to his first meeting of the Committee as a replacement for Mr Shipley Dalton, following his resignation from the Committee.
2. Restructuring of the Development Agencies
2.1 The Committee discussed the restructuring of the development agencies with officials from the department.
The meeting was suspended at 11.10am while Members transferred to the Senate Chamber.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.10am.
The meeting reconvened in public at 11.22am.
3. Industrial Development Bill
3.1 Departmental officials gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Industrial Development Bill. The officials outlined the reasons for the introduction of the Bill and answered a number of questions put by the Committee on the implications of the Bill in Northern Ireland.
Mr Neeson left the meeting at 11.30am.
3.2 The Committee carried out a detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Industrial Development Bill. The clauses were read along with the related commentary in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum.
The Long Title was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the long title as drafted.
Clause 1 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 1 as drafted.
Clause 2 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 2 as drafted.
Clause 3 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 3 as drafted.
Clause 4 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 4 as drafted.
Clause 5 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 5 as drafted.
Clause 6 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 6 as drafted.
Clause 7 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 7 as drafted.
Clause 8 was considered.
Agreed - that the Committee is content with the clause 8 as drafted.
3.3 Agreed - that the Report should include the oral evidence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment together with the written submission from the Committee on the Administration of Justice.
Public Session ended and meeting suspended at 11.50am.
Meeting reconvened in private at 12.07pm.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 12.07pm.
Mr Neeson rejoined the meeting at 12.07pm.
Mrs Courtney left the meeting at 12.07pm.
4. Minutes of the last meeting
4.1 Agreed - the minutes of 19 September.
5. Matters arising
5.1 Job Cuts at Bombardier/Shorts: The Chairperson reported that an estimated 2,000 jobs were expected to be lost at Shorts following an announcement later today by the parent company, Bombardier Aéronautique.
Agreed - that the Committee should issue a press release expressing concern at the job losses and the effect of the down-turn in the global economy on Northern Ireland.
5.2 Energy Inquiry: The Committee considered a number of locations within Northern Ireland producing energy from renewable sources.
Agreed - to arrange visits to agreed locations as soon as practical.
6. Committee for Education Inquiry
6.1 The terms of reference for the Committee for Education's inquiry into early years provision were considered by the Committee.
Agreed - to note the correspondence.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 12.30am.
7. OFREG Consultation Papers
7.1 Accelerating Trading of Renewable Energy.
7.2 Proposals for a Change in NIE's Charges for New Connections.
The Committee considered the consultation papers received from OFREG.
Agreed - to invite Mr McIldoon to a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the OFREG documents.
8. Consumer Strategy
8.1 Agreed - to defer this issue until the next meeting.
9. Statutory Rule 295/2001 - Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
The Committee discussed the Statutory Rule.
Agreed - to approve the Rule as laid.
10. Any other business
10.1 Urban Regeneration - Consultation Document from DRD.
Agreed - to note the correspondence.
10.2 London Hub Airports.
Agreed - to note the correspondence received from the Committee for Regional Development.
10.3 Invitation to Attend an Event at the Science Park in Coleraine.
Agreed - to refer the invitation to Mr McClarty to see if he would be available to represent the Committee.
10.4 The effects of an economic downturn following the events in the USA on 11 September 2001.
Agreed - to consider this issue at a future meeting of the Committee.
The meeting closed at 12.53pm.
Pat Doherty MP
Chairperson