COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 19 JUNE 2002 AT 10.24AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr P Doherty MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Mr J Wells
Apologies:
Mr E McMenamin
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
In attendance:
Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr R Anderson (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr S Ball (Clerical Officer)
Miss A Fowler (Clerical Officer)
In attendance for public evidence session at 10.36am: Dr M Twomey, Consultant in Partnership Law.
In attendance for public evidence session at 11.12am: Mr M Bohill, Mr J Johnston and Ms J Bryans (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI)).
The Committee agreed to open the meeting in public at 10.24am.
1. Review of the Northern Ireland Economic Council and the Provision of Economic Advice and Research
Agreed - to defer until next weeks meeting.
2. Minutes of the Meetings of 11 and 12 June 2002
Agreed - the Minutes of the meetings held on 11 and 12 June 2002.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.30am.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Tourism Inquiry
The Committee discussed possible venues for holding the tourism conferences to take oral evidence.
Agreed - to discuss further at next week's meeting.
4. Limited Liability Partnerships Bill
The Committee took Oral evidence from Dr M Twomey and Departmental Officials regarding the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill and answered a number of questions put by the Committee on the implications of the Bill in Northern Ireland.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 10.45am.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.52am.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.12am.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 11.26am.
Agreed - that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would meet with the Minister as soon as possible to discuss the Committee's concerns with regard to the Bill.
Mr Armstrong re-joined the meeting at 11.40am.
5. Executive Programme Funds Bid
The Committee discussed the Executive Programme Funds Bid to the Social Inclusion/ Community Regeneration Fund.
Agreed - to note the Bid.
6. AOB
6.1. EC Directive Seminar
Correspondence regarding the EC Directive Seminar being held in Netherleigh on 1 July 2002 was given to members.
Agreed - that Members would contact the Committee Office to confirm their attendance by Tuesday 25 June 2002.
6.2. Chairpersons' Liaison Group Meeting
Members were asked if they had any issues they wanted to be raised at the Chairpersons' Liaison Group Meeting.
Agreed - to raise the issue of staffing for research for the Committee and Committee meetings held on sitting days.
7. Date of next meeting
7.1. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday 25 June 2002 at 10.15am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12 noon.
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Chairperson