COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2001 AT 10.25AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty MP (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr W Clyde
Ms J Morrice
In attendance: Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs J Murdoch (Executive Support)
Miss A Fowler (Committee Assistant)
In attendance for the public evidence session at 10.30am: Mr WR Nesbitt, Mr L Gawley, Mrs J Broadway & Mr J Reid, Officials from Insolvency Service, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).
The meeting opened in public at 10.25am.
1. Chairperson's business
1.1 Mr Neeson, Deputy Chairperson briefed the Committee on the issues raised and discussed at a meeting of the Chairpersons Liaison Group on Tuesday 13 November 2001.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.26am
1.2 The Committee discussed further an issue raised at the Chairpersons Liaison Group meeting in relation to Committees receiving European Commission proposals for Legislation.
1.3 The Committee discussed the issue of representation of Assembly Committees in Brussels.
Agreed - that the Committee would write to the Assembly Commission proposing that Assembly Committees should have representation in Brussels.
2. Minutes of last meeting
2.1 Agreed - the minutes of 12 November 2001.
3. Proposed Insolvency Bill, Company Voluntary Arrangments Procedures - Public Evidence Session
3.1 Officials from the Insolvency Service, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment briefed the Committee on the proposed Insolvency Bill. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed - to accept the proposed bill.
4. Proposed Insolvency Bill - A New Company Directors Disqualification Act
4.1 The Committee considered the above proposal along with a summary document prepared by the Committee Office staff.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.57am
Agreed - to accept the proposed bill.
5. Matters arising
5.1 Programme for Government (PfG) - the Committee considered further the draft response letter to the Office of the First and the Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) along with additional points from Committee members.
Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 11.05am
Agreed - that the additional points discussed should be amalgamated into the draft response letter for the Committee's approval at the next meeting.
Agreed - that further questions identified on Programme for Government should be forwarded to the Department for a response.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 11.30am
5.2 Small Business Development Strategy
Agreed - draft response letter.
6. Consultation document - Audit & Accountability in the Public Sector in Northern Ireland
6.1 The Committee discussed the consultation document and a draft response letter.
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 11.45am
Agreed - to defer this item until the next meeting of the Committee.
7. Department of Trade and Industry/Department of Employment and Learning - Proposals to change Industrial Tribunals/Fair Employment Tribunals
7.1 The Committee discussed the proposals and considered the draft response letter to the Committee for Employment and Learning.
Agreed - the draft response letter as amended.
8. Any other business
8.1 Subject for Future Inquiry - the Committee considered a list of suggestions and member's included further ideas.
Agreed - that the Committee should consider the issue further and discuss it again at the next meeting.
8.2 Forward Work Planner - the Committee considered the forward planners up until Christmas recess and up to the end of the current session July 2002.
Agreed - that the Committee should note.
8.3 Committee Visits/Meetings - the Committee Clerk sought the views of the Committee on the make up of Committee delegations for future domestic visits and meetings.
Agreed - that the current practice in relation to the cross party representation at such meetings should remain.
Agreed - that cross party representation is desirable but not essential on fact-finding visits within Northern Ireland.
8.4 Report of the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament on a European Union Directive in relation to consulting with employees on redundancies.
Agreed - that the Committee should note.
8.5 Rescheduled meeting with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey to discuss the downturn in the global economy and the impact on Northern Ireland. The Chairperson reminded Committee members of the arrangements for this meeting. A copy of the agenda was circulated to members.
9. Proposed Statutory Rule - Health & Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) Biocidal Products Regulations (NI) 2001
9.1 The Committee considered the proposal.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 12.10pm
Agreed - the proposed Statutory Rule.
The meeting went into closed session at 12.11pm
10. Energy Inquiry
10.1 Letter to Mr S Neeson from Mr Frazer, Hillmount Properties regarding Hydropower Schemes - a copy of the letter was circulated to members.
Agreed - to acknowledge the concerns raised in the letter and the Committee to note.
10.2 Documents/papers to be included in the Committee's Report on the Energy Inquiry
Agreed - in principle to a list of documents/papers to be printed as part of the report.
10.3 Report of Committee visit to Denmark and Brussels. The Committee Clerk asked members to consider the report, which will be discussed in more detail during the Committee deliberations of their report on the Energy Inquiry.
Agreed - the report in principle.
10.4 Timing of the publication of the Energy Inquiry Report - the Committee Clerk briefed the Committee on the timing implications for publication and the debate in the Assembly.
Agreed - to concentrate exclusively on the Energy Inquiry draft report at a Committee meeting on Wednesday 21 November.
11. Date of next meeting
11.1 The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Monday 19 November 2001 at 10.45am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.45pm.
Pat Doherty MP
Chairperson