PROCEEDINGS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE (PORT OF BELFAST)

TUESDAY 29 JUNE 1999 AT 2.00 PM

IN ROOM 115, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Mr A Maginness(Joint Chairperson)

Mr R Beggs

Mr PJ Bradley

Mr J Byrne

Ms J Morrice

Mr M Murphy

Mr M Morrow

Mr D McClarty

Mr S Neeson

Mr P Roche

Mr J Tierney

Mr S Wilson(Joint Chairperson)

In attendance:Mr G MartinMrs D Williams

Mr D HarkinMs V SurplusMrs K Ferran

Apologies: Mr PJ BradleyMr B Hutchinson

Mr P RocheMr J Tierney

Mr A Maginness took the Chair.

1.Minutes of the Previous Three Meetings.

The Committee agreed the minutes of the meetings of 18, 22 and 23 June 1999.

2.Matters Arising

i. The Joint Chairperson Mr Wilson briefed the Committee on his recent visit to Belfast Harbour where Mr Gordon Irwin, chief executive of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, gave him a detailed breakdown of the usage of "Port related land", followed by a tour of the County Antrim side of the Harbour Estate.

Mr Wilson advised that he was satisfied that the land was, indeed, currently being used for Port related activities, such as the discharging of cargo, craneage and warehousing. Although there were some empty sites in close proximity to timber and coal storage areas, Mr Irwin stated that they would not be suitable for commercial development because of dust-related problems.

Mr Wilson did, though, express some concern about a Port related area on the County Down side, a part of which Esso intend to vacate shortly for a site closer to the Harbour itself. Although this area was still being referred to by the BHCs as "Port related", there was no guarantee about its future usage.

Mr Irwin had argued strenuously for the retention of Port regulatory functions, such as shipping controls, dredging and the maintenance of buoys, to remain under the control of the Harbour Master. The Committee agreed that this was the best means of ensuring clear accountability in this regard.

ii. The Clerk met with a representative from a Belfast firm of stockbrokers for an assessment of the potential for a flotation of the Port under the Committee's proposal. The representative was in no doubt that the Port could be successfully floated based on the BHCs' latest (1997) annual account figures.

iii. As Lord Dubs's letter to the Committee outlining the BHCs'revised proposals for the sale of the Port was only received during the meeting, discussion on it was deferred until members had time to digest its content in full. Several members did note, though, that the paper did not envisage the Government's retaining the freehold of all of the land, as the Minister had previously suggested.

3.Draft Report

The Clerk issued members with draft 4 of the report, which included initial conclusions and recommendations. Members agreed to examine the report prior to the final Committee meeting when any suggested changes could be tabled for discussion.

Assembly Member Wilson provided the Committee with the summary of the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Accounts's conclusions and recommendations relating to the sale of Belfast International Airport. The Committee will reflect on the document, which may be used to inform the recommendations in the draft report.

4.AOB

The next Meeting (which is expected to be the final one) will take place on Friday 2 July at 10.15am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

MR A MAGINNESS