COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 2002 AT 10.52AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mrs A Courtney Mr D McClarty
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Apologies:
Mr P Doherty MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr W Clyde
Dr A McDonnell
Mr E McMenamin
Mr J Wells
In attendance:
Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr R Anderson (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr S Ball (Clerical Officer)
In attendance for the public evidence session at 12.13pm: Ms G McAteer, Mr E Foster, Mr J Redpath and Baroness M Blood (West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Forces)
The meeting opened in public at 10.52am.
1. Minutes of the Meeting of 8 May 2002
Agreed - the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 May 2002.
2. Matters Arising
2.1. Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre: The Committee Clerk gave an update on the responses received to the Committee's invitations to round-table discussions.
Agreed - that the Committee would continue with its plans to facilitate round-table discussions but to defer the detailed planning to the next meeting.
3. Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland - Consultation Documents
3.1. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations.
Agreed - to accept the proposals as drafted.
3.2. Asbestos at Work Regulations.
Agreed - to accept, in principle, the interim proposals as drafted but to highlight the Committee's concerns about the delays in introducing preventative legislation and appropriate Approved Codes of Practice and the need to include employee rights (including compensation payments) in any education and awareness programme.
4. Any Other Business
4.1. Fuel Efficiency Levy.
The Committee considered correspondence received from Bryson House regarding a recent meeting of the Committee and a draft reply.
Agreed - to send the reply as amended.
4.2. Committee Requests for Assembly Research Papers.
Agreed - to request research papers on the Review of Northern Ireland Economic Council and the Provision of Economic Advice, any Executive Programme Funds Bids received and the Executive Position Report.
4.3. Visit to Coolkeeragh Power Station.
Agreed - to accept an invitation to visit the Coolkeeragh Power Station before the Summer Recess.
4.4. Natural Gas Pipeline Extensions.
Dr O'Hagan gave a report from the meeting of the Committee for Finance and Personnel which she had attended.
4.5. Committee Office Correspondence.
Agreed - that correspondence sent on behalf of the Committee by the Committee Clerk would be copied, on a weekly basis, to those Committee Members who indicated they wished to receive copies.
4.6. Written Evidence for DETI Bills.
The Committee Clerk advised the Committee on actions taken to obtain written evidence for the four Bills the Committee would soon be considering. The Committee was also advised that oral evidence would be taken on 19 June in respect of the Limited Liabilities Partnership Bill.
The Committee Clerk advised the Committee that the Chairperson had requested Assembly Research to prepare a paper comparing the legislation on limited liability partnerships in Canada, Australia and the USA with the proposals for Northern Ireland for consideration before the 19 June.
4.7. Bonds Financing for Infrastructure Projects.
Agreed - to defer consideration of Jamie Delargy's video to a later date when considering the proposed Energy Bill.
4.8. Forthcoming Committee Business.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.35am.
The Committee Clerk advised the Committee on business planned until the end of July.
Agreed - to hold an additional meeting on Tuesday 25 June 2002.
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11.44am.
4.9. Proposed Enterprise Bill.
The Committee Clerk and the Deputy Chairperson explained the background to this issue.
Agreed - to accept the Minister's proposal but also to seek the views of the General Consumer Council prior to the debate in the Assembly on Wednesday 5 June.
4.10. Research Paper on the Open-Ended Investment Companies (OIECs) Bill.
The Committee Clerk advised the Committee that their approval was required for Assembly Research to refer to the Policy Memorandum in the Bill Paper on the OIECs Bill.
Agreed - that the Assembly Research paper could refer to the Policy Memorandum.
4.11. Conference on the Social Economy.
The Deputy Chairperson advised the Committee that a conference on the Social Economy was due to be held in Prague in October 2002.
Agreed - to circulate details of the conference for consideration at the next meeting.
4.12. Rating Policy Review.
The Committee was advised that DFP had embarked on a consultation exercise in relation to the review on Rating Policy.
Agreed - to issue a Public Notice seeking views on industrial de-rating and to write to relevant organisations for their comments.
Agreed - to seek a list of relevant organisations and companies from Assembly Research for consideration at a future meeting.
Agreed - to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel advising them to the Committee's intensions.
The Committee agreed to a recess at 12.00 noon.
Dr O'Hagan left the meeting 12.00 noon.
The meeting resumed at 12.13pm.
4.13. Essential Skills for Living.
Agreed - to note the consultation paper from the Department of Employment and Learning.
5. Long Term Unemployment in West Belfast
5.1. A delegation representing the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Forces gave a presentation to the Committee on the recommendations made by the Task Forces and on future action required. There followed a brief session when the Committee had an opportunity to question the delegation.
Agreed - to visit West Belfast before the Summer Recess to see the work of the Partnership Boards.
6. Date of next meeting
6.1. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 5 June 2002 at 10.15am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Meeting closed at 1.10pm.
Mr Seán Neeson MLA
Deputy Chairperson