PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held on
Wednesday 21 June 2000
in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of Last Meetings
2. Matters Arising
3. Port of Belfast
4. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr P J Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr C Murphy
Mr J Wells
In Attendance:
Mrs D Pritchard (Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay
Mrs P Fisher (Assistant Clerks)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young (Administrative Support)
Apologies:
Mr D Ervine
The meeting commenced at 10.36 am.
The Chairman drew the attention of the Committee to the forthcoming presentation by Translink on the rail transport issue which would be held in public in room 135 at 1 pm on Monday 26 June.
The Chairman reminded Committee members of the requirement to declare any relevant interest, particularly in relation to the evidence from Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 10.38 am.
Members welcomed the assistance now being given to the Committee by a secondee from Westminster and thanked the Committee staff for the support it was giving the Committee. The Chairman agreed to raise the general issue of Committee under-staffing at a future meeting of Chairs.
1. Minutes of Last Meetings
The minutes of the meetings held on 14 and 16 June were agreed.
Mr Murphy joined the meeting at 10.40 am.
2. Matters Arising.
(a) Cryptosporidium health scare.
The Committee noted the memorandum.
(b) Committee's programme of work.
Revised programme was agreed.
(c) The Committee considered the forthcoming evidence from Belfast Harbour Commissioners.
Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.56 am.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 10.56 am.
Mr McFarland left the meeting at 10.58 am.
He returned at 11.07 am.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.10 am.
3. Port of Belfast.
Evidence from Belfast Harbour Commissioners at 11.11 am.
The Committee took evidence from Mr Gordon Irwin, Chief Executive, and Mr Frank Cushnahan, Chairman, Belfast Harbour Commissioners. Mr Hay declared an interest as a Board Member of the Londonderry Port and Harbour.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 12.18 pm.
Mr Byrne left the meeting at 12.24 pm.
He returned at 12.26 pm.
The Chairman thanked Mr Irwin and Mr Cushnahan for their evidence. They left the meeting at 12.42 pm.
Mr McFarland left the meeting at 12.43 pm.
He returned at 12.45 pm.
Mr Murphy left the meeting at 12.55 pm.
He returned at 12.59 pm.
Agreed: That a statement on the preferred option would be issued before recess.
That the matter will be considered further at the meeting on Monday 26 June 2000.
Mr Hussey left the meeting at 1.32 pm.
4. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday 26 June at 1.00 pm in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 1.34 pm.