COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE & INVESTMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY, 29 MAY 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Maskey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr David Simpson MP

In Attendance: Mr John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Joanne Adair (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Dr Peter Gilleece (Senior Researcher)
Mr Denis Arnold (Clerk of Bills)

The meeting opened at 2.04 p.m. in public session.

1. Apologies.

There were no apologies.

2. Declaration of Interests.

The Chairperson reminded members that under Standing Order 64(4) ‘before taking part in any debate or proceeding of the Assembly or its Committees, a member shall declare any interest, financial or otherwise, which is relevant to that debate or proceeding, where such interest is held by the Member or an immediate relative.’ Proceedings of the Assembly include meetings of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

The Committee noted Members’ interests which had been declared to the Clerk.

The Chairperson offered members the opportunity to declare any further interests or to make changes to their declaration. Mr David Simpson made the following additional declarations:

Orange Order
Black Institution
Apprentice boys of Derry
Killyneil Rifle and Pistol Club
Economic Development Committee, Craigavon Borough Council

3. Draft minutes of meeting held on 22 May.

Agreed - the draft minutes were agreed.

4. Matters Arising

The Chairperson reminded members that he and the Deputy Chairperson had met with Sir David Varney and the Review Team appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to undertake a review into the role of tax policy in Northern Ireland. The Chairperson advised that the Review Team had invited written submissions from key stakeholders by the end June 2007.

Members discussed options on taking forward work on this matter.

Mr Maskey joined the meeting at 2.11 p.m.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 2.13 p.m.

Agreed: - That the Clerk would develop options on the most appropriate mechanism to respond the Review Team for consideration at the meeting on 5 June 2007.

Members noted a Committee Press Release, which issued on Friday 25 May regarding the meeting with the Varney Review Team.

The Clerk advised members that research had been commissioned on the performance of Invest NI from its establishment to date; key issues arising from recent reports on tourism in Northern Ireland and on industrial de-rating.

Members noted that the Clerk had sought advice on the format and content of SL1s and that this information had been relayed to the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

5. Briefing from Bill Clerk on Primary Legislation

Mr Denis Arnold, Clerk of Bills, attended the meeting at 2.40 p.m. to give a presentation and answer members’ questions on the legislative process in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Key issues included types of primary legislation; key stages in the legislative process; the Committee’s role in the legislative process, procedures for introducing Committee Bills and resources available to Committees.

Mr McLaughlin joined the meeting at 3.03 p.m.
Mr Arnold left the meeting at 3.05 p.m.

6. Briefing with Senior Officials on Strategic Policy

Mr Wilfie Hamilton (Head of Policy Group) and Ms Fiona Hepper (Head of Strategic Policy) joined the meeting at 3.06 p.m. to give a presentation and answered members’ questions on Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment strategic policy.

Key issues discussed included the three elements of the Economic Vision for Northern Ireland – Innovation/R&D, Enterprise and Infrastructure; the role of the Economic Development Forum and its sub-groups; the need to strengthen links between Northern Ireland universities and the business community; North-South economic co-operation and the role of telecommunications in supporting business in Northern Ireland.

7. Consideration of Draft DETI Operating Plan 2007/08

Mr Wilfie Hamilton (Head of Policy Group) and Mr Noel Lavery (Head of Management Services Group) gave a presentation and answered members’ questions on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s draft Operating Plan 2007/08.

Key issues discussed included the departmental budget 2007/08; key departmental priorities in tourism and energy; the potential for additional EU support; the social economy and the DETI efficiency and reform agenda.

Agreed: - That the Committee was content for the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to publish its Operating Plan 2007/08 on the departmental website.

Agreed: - That the Department would provide the Committee with a Report on Tourist Spend in Northern Ireland which is due to be published in the near future.

Agreed: - That the Department would provide the Committee with four research reports that were near to completion.

Officials left the meeting at 4.21 p.m.

8. Subordinate Legislation – Electricity (Applications for Licences and Extensions of Licences) (No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2007

• Ms Jenny Pyper and Mr George McNally attended the meeting at 4.22 p.m. to brief members on the Electricity (Applications for Licences and Extensions of Licences) (No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2007 and to advise members on the circumstances which led to these Regulations being in breach of the 21-day rule which states that departments should allow at least 21 days between the laying of a Statutory Rule in the Assembly and the date on which it comes into operation. Members noted that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment had written to the Committee regarding the breach of the 21-day rule.

Agreed: - That the Chair would write thanking the Minister for his letter and advising that the Committee had no comment on the Regulations.

Officials left the meeting at 4.26 p.m.

9. Correspondence

• The Chairperson advised members that correspondence had been received from the CBI highlighting their key priorities.

Agreed: - That the Chair would write thanking the CBI for their letter and advising that the Committee looked forward to working with the Confederation in the future.

The Committee considered a request from a journalist from the Dow Jones to interview members of the Committee on Northern Ireland’s economy in the wake of devolution.

Agreed: - That the Clerk would provide further information to allow members to make an informed decision.

10. Draft Work Programme – Consideration of Potential Inquiry Issues

Members provided initial views on subjects, which could form the basis of any future Committee inquiry.

Mr Newton left the meeting at 3.31 p.m.

11. Any Other Business.

Members noted papers relating to the Energy White paper, which had been provided in the meeting packs.

Members discussed an announcement by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the Executive’s support for a £25m application to the Big Lottery Fund to develop a Titanic Signature Project. The Committee noted that the Minister had written offering to provide the committee with a briefing on this project.

Agreed: - That the Chair should write to the Minister’s offer and to confirm a suitable date.

The Committee noted that a Press Release had been issued on behalf of the Committee welcoming the proposed application.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 5 June at 2.00 p.m. in Room 135 Parliament Buildings. It will include consideration of DETI finance issues including June 2007 Monitoring Round and CSR 2007 and a briefing by senior officials on EU Programmes.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.35 p.m.

Mark Durkan MP MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
5 June 2007.

 

22 May 2007 / Menu