COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER 2001 AT 10.14AM
IN ROOM 144, Parliament Buildings
Present: Mr P Doherty MP (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr A Attwood
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Dr D O'Hagan
In attendance: Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs J Murdoch (Executive Support)
Miss A Fowler (Administrative Support)
In attendance for public evidence session at 10.34am: Mr G McConnell, Mr W Hamilton & Mr M Pinkerton (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, DETI).
The meeting opened in private at 10.14am.
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1 The Chairperson reported to members of the Committee that a letter of sympathy had been sent on behalf of the Committee to Mr & Mrs Donaldson on the recent death of their son Derek, a former member of the Committee staff.
Ms Morrice joined the meeting at 10.17am
2. Minutes of the last meeting
2.1 Agreed - the minutes of 26 September 2001.
3. Matters arising
3.1 Energy inquiry visits within Northern Ireland - the Committee Clerk informed the Committee members that the provisional dates for visits have been arranged for 24 October and 7 November 2001.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.20am
Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 10.20am
3.2 Meeting with Douglas McIldoon, Ofreg - the Committee Clerk reported to the Committee that a meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 10 October between 10.30am - 12.30pm to discuss the current Ofreg consultation documents.
4. A Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland
4.1 The Committee discussed the consultation document.
Agreed - to take note.
5. Improving Civil Rights for Disabled People
5.1 The Committee discussed the consultation document.
Agreed - to take note.
6. Victims Support Strategy
6.1 The Committee discussed the consultation document, including two action points relating to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Agreed - to take note.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 10.25am
The meeting went into public session at 10.25am
7. Industrial Development Bill (NIA Bill 18/00) - Public Session at 10.25am
The draft report on the Industrial Development Bill was read.
Agreed - the draft report on the Industrial Development Bill and ordered it to be printed.
Agreed - the extract from the Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 September 2001 relating to the Industrial Development Bill.
8. Draft Budget 2002/03 & draft Programme for Government - Public Session at 10.34am
8.1 Officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment gave the Committee a short presentation on the draft Budget 2002/03 and draft Programme for Government 2002/03. This was followed by a question and answer session during which members put a number of questions to the officials.
Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 10.46am
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.20am
Mr Wells rejoined the meeting at 11.31am
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.46am
The meeting went into private session at 12.13pm
9. Matters arising (continued)
9.1 Consumer Strategy Consultation paper - the Committee discussed the consultation paper.
Agreed - to write to the Department welcoming the strategy and ask how consumer and advice bodies would be represented on the interdepartmental working group to be established.
Mrs Courtney left the meeting at 12.19pm
10. Small Business Development Strategy
10.1 A copy of a summary document on the Small Business Development Strategy was handed out to members.
Agreed - to invite departmental officials to a future meeting to discuss this document further.
11. Any other business
11.1 Letter from Mr D Millar, Blue Circle Cement regarding Northern Ireland Electricity Supply Market, previously issued to members.
Agreed - a draft response letter.
11.2 Letter and correspondence from Mr H McCracken, Northern Ireland Electricity regarding Electricity Market Opening, previously issued to members.
Agreed - a draft response letter.
Mrs Courtney rejoined the meeting at 12.40pm
11.3 Chairperson's Liaison Group - A copy of a paper on the Role and Purpose of the Liaison Group was circulated to the Committee for comments.
Agreed - to defer this until the next meeting.
12. Date of next meeting
12.1 Agreed - the next meeting would take place on Wednesday 10 October 2001 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.54pm.
Pat Doherty MP
Chairperson