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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 12 September 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Willie Clarke MLA
Cathal Boylan MLA
John Dallat MLA
William Irwin MLA
John McCallister MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
Stephen Moutray MLA
George Robinson MLA
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Gillian Lyness (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Tom Skelton (Clerical Officer)
Jill McCoubrey (Clerical Officer)
Stephanie Galbraith (Researcher)

Apologies: Jim Wells MLA

The meeting opened at 10.36 am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

Members noted the Chairperson’s recent meetings with:

Members noted the recent advertisement for the post of Permanent Secretary in the Department for Regional Development.

Members noted an invitation to a seminar on Monday 17 September 2007 – ‘The Assembly’s Role in the Annual Budget Process’.

Members thanked Tom Skelton, who is returning to his Department, for his work in the Committee Office, and welcomed a new staff member Jill McCoubrey.

3. Draft Minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 5 September 2007 were agreed.

John McCallister and William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.37 am.

4. Matters Arising

The Committee noted the judgement on Friday 7 September 2007 on the judicial review of Planning Policy Statement 14. Members agreed to write to the Department seeking clarification of the status of the judgement, the Department’s response to the current situation and the immediate and wider implications for the Department and the planning process in Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted receipt of a summary of the Measure Investment Proposals (MIPs) originally considered at its meeting of 23 June 2007. The Committee decided to return to consider the MIPs at the draft budget and ISNI 2 stage of Budget 2007.

George Robinson joined the meeting at 10.39 am.

Raymond McCartney joined the meeting at 10.40 am.

Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.43am.

5. Briefing from the Bill Office – Primary Legislation

Kevin Shiels, of the Assembly Bill Office, briefed the Committee on the primary legislation process and the assistance available to Committees and Members wishing to take forward a Bill.

Department Officials joined the meeting 11.00am.

John Dallat left the meeting 11.01 am.

6. Donaghadee (Harbour Area) Order ( Northern Ireland)

Garry McKenna, Head of Policy and Legislation Branch, Ports and Public Transport Division and John Angus, Senior Principal, Ports and Public Transport Division, briefed the Committee on the proposed Donaghadee (Harbour Area) Order ( Northern Ireland).

Department Officials left the meeting at 11.04 am.

7. Draft Work Programme.

The Clerk briefed the Members on the content of the draft work programme, following which:

Members agreed a draft work programme for the period to December 2007.

The Committee identified the Review of Water and Sewerage, Ports Policy and Roads as its key priorities going forward.

Members decided to hold a number of Committee meetings outside Parliament Buildings and across Northern Ireland and to visit the four main Trust Ports in the coming months.

Members agreed to defer a decision on a Committee inquiry until later in this session, pending developments in the Review of Water and Sewerage services.

Members decided to forward any suggestions for a potential Committee inquiry to the Clerk for development into inquiry proposals.

Members resolved to visit Belfast Harbour on 3 October 2007.

8. Subordinate Legislation.

The Committee was content with the policy merits of the following SL1s noted at its

meeting of 5 September 2007.

The Committee noted the following newly received SL1s:

Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure but for Members’ information only.

Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules subject to negative resolution.

9. Correspondence.

Members noted the following correspondence:

Members decided to ask Northern Ireland Water to the Committee following the Strand 1 report of the Independent Review Panel of Water and Sewerage Services.

10. Any Other Business.

Members noted aninvitation to a seminar in Dublin on Tuesday 18 September 2007 – ‘Gateways to an All-Island Economy – Developing Ports and Airports Infrastructure’.

Members were content thatChairperson, Fred Cobain and Committee Member, Raymond McCartney would both be attending the seminar.

11. Date, venue and time of next meeting.

The Committee agreed that the next meeting be held on Wednesday 19 September 2007 at 10.30 am in Room 144.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.30 pm.

Signed:

FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development.

Dated:

05 September 2007 / Menu