COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE 2002 AT 10.40AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr W Clyde Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Dr D O'Hagan Mr J Wells
Apologies:
Mr P Doherty MP
Mr E McMenamin Ms J Morrice
In attendance:
Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr R Anderson (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss A Fowler (Clerical Officer) Dr P Gilleece (Assembly Researcher) Ms C McGivern (Assembly Legal Adviser)
In attendance for the public evidence session at 10.42am: 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 10.40am.
Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson.
1. Open-Ended Investment Companies Bill
1.1. Departmental officials gave evidence to the Committee on the 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.
1.2. The Committee carried out a detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Open-Ended Investment Companies 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.
2. Limited Liability Partnerships Bill
2.1 The Deputy Chairperson reported on the meeting with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment held on 25 June.
Agreed - to accept the proposals outlined in the Limited Liability Partnerships Bill subject to the proviso that a complete review of company law will be carried out within two years.
Agreed - to inform Dr Michael Twomey of the Committee's decision.
Agreed - to carry out a detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Bill at next weeks meeting.
3. Minutes of the last meeting
Agreed - the minutes of the meeting held on 19 June.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 The Committee discussed the review of the Northern Ireland Economic Council and the Provision of Economic Advice and Research.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.10am.
Agreed - to issue a response.
4.2 The Committee deliberated on locations to visit during its Tourism Inquiry.
Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 11.25am.
Agreed - to arrange a visit to the French, Swiss and Italian border regions in November 2002.
Agreed - that Members would advise the Committee Office of items to be placed on the brief for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
4.3 The Committee discussed venues for its two Tourism Conferences.
Agreed - to hold the conference on 19 September 2002 in the Bushtown House Hotel in Coleraine. The Burrendale Hotel and Country Club in Newcastle will be used as the venue if the first option is unavailable.
Agreed - to hold the conference on 26 September 2002 in the Mellon Country Inn in Omagh. The Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen will be used as the venue if the first option is unavailable.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.45am.
5. Draft Equality Impact Assessments
5.1 The Committee discussed the Equality Impact Assessment on the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment's policy relating to Company Development Programme and Explorers Programme.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 11.50am.
Agreed - to issue a response.
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 12.00noon.
5.2 The Committee discussed the Equality Impact Assessment on the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment's policies relating to Support for Companies to Undertake Research and Development Activity.
Agreed - to issue a response.
5.3 The Committee discussed the Equality Impact Assessment on LEDU's policy in relation to Achieving Higher Levels of Business Growth (of small businesses in Northern Ireland) through Increased Competitiveness.
Agreed - to issue a response.
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 12.03pm.
6. Executive Position Report
6.1 The Committee considered the Executive Position Report.
Agreed - to issue a response to OFMDFM and the Department of Finance and Personnel.
7. Any Other Business
7.1 Monitoring of Expenditure June Return
Agreed - to note the return.
7.2 Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Oil Federation
Agreed - to meet the Northern Ireland Oil Federation after summer recess.
7.3 Letter from Aisling Productions
Agreed - to issue the Minister's response to Aisling Productions
7.4 Review of Post Primary Education
Agreed - to note the review.
7.5 Correspondence from Ballynahinch by-pass Committee
Agreed - to send a representative from the Committee to the meeting of the Ballynahinch by-pass Committee.
7.6 Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre
Agreed - that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson will attend a further meeting on Monday 1 July at 3pm in Parliament Buildings.
7.7 Committee meeting to be held on 3 July
Agreed - to invite Sir George Quigley and Premier Power to give a presentation to the Committee on the bonds issue.
Agreed - to extend the meeting into the afternoon.
8. Date of next meeting.
8.1 The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 3 July 2002 at 10.15am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.40pm.
Mr Seán Neeson MLA
Deputy Chairperson