COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE & INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 3 JULY 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 MP
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
Mr Sean Neeson
In Attendance: Mr John Torney (Principal Clerk)
Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Joanne Adair (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Alister Strain (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Robin Newton
Mr David Simpson MP
The meeting opened at 2.05 p.m. in closed session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Consideration of Draft Response to Varney Review.
The Committee considered revised working notes provided by Mr Mike Smith as the basis of a final draft response to the Varney Review on Tax Policy in Northern Ireland. Mr Mike Smyth attended the meeting to brief members and answers. Mr Graeme Hutchinson (Senior Principal Economist) provided an update on the departmental position with regard to the Review.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 3.00 p.m.
Agreed: - That the final draft response would be circulated to members for comment.
Agreed: - That the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would approve the final draft response on behalf of the Committee.
Officials and Mr Smyth left the meeting at 3.19 p.m.
The meeting moved into public session at 3.20 p.m.
3. Declaration of Interests.
There were no further declarations.
4. Draft minutes of meeting held on 26 June.
Agreed - the draft minutes were agreed.
Agreed: - that the draft minutes of 3 July would be circulated to members for comment.
Agreed: - That the Chairperson would approve the minutes of 3 July on behalf of the Committee.
5. Matters Arising.
The Committee considered correspondence from the Northerny Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) regarding plans for equality screening of policy areas.
Agreed: That the Clerk would provide a draft response for consideration at the first meeting of the session in September 2007.
The Committee noted the Examiner of Statutory Rule’s Report on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
6. Briefing from InterTradeIreland.
Mr Liam Nellis (Chief Executive Officer), Mr Barry Fitzsimons (Deputy Chair) and Mr Fergal McCormack (Managing Partner, FPM Accountants) attended the meeting at 3.25 p.m. and gave a presentation and answered members’ questions.
The meeting was suspended at 3.29 p.m. to allow members to vote in a plenary division.
The meeting was reconvened at 3.44 p.m. in public session.
Mr Maskey rejoined the meeting at 3.46 p.m.
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 3.54 p.m.
Key issues discussed included the profile and corporate governance of the organisation, its current strategies and key programmes, performance highlights and future priorities.
Officials left the meeting at 4.13 p.m.
7. Briefing from Economic Development Forum.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 4.14 p.m.
Mr Declan Billington (Chair of the Skills Sub-Group), Mr Mark Sweeney (Chair of the Enterprise Sub-Group), Bob Barbour (Member of the Innovation Sub-Group) and Mr Seamus McAleavey (Chair of the Medium Term Strategic Priorities Sub-Group) joined the meeting at 4.14 p.m and gave a presentation and answered members’ questions. Key issues discussed included the Forum’s relationship with government and the current key issues and future priorities for the four existing sub-groups.
The representatives of the Economic Development Forum left the meeting at 5.01 p.m.
8. Consideration of Response to CSR.
Members considered a draft response to the Department on its PSA proposals under CSR 2008/09 – 2010 – 2010/11.
Agreed: - The draft response was agreed as amended.
9. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the Consumer, Estate Agents and Redress Bill.
The Committee considered requests to meet and invitations to undertake visits from the Quarry Association Northern Ireland and Premier Power.
Agreed: That letters should be sent advising the Quarry Association and Premier Power that the Clerk would be in contact with a view to such visits when a suitable opportunity arose.
Agreed: That correspondence received in the Committee Office during summer recess would be circulated to members on a weekly basis.
10. Any Other Business.
Mr McFarland requested information regarding Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment buildings affected by Workplace 2010.
Agreed: - That the information on this matter would be requested from the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
The Committee considered its potential involvement in the forthcoming US Investment Conference in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: - That the Chair would write to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment indicating the Committee’s interest in this event.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting.
Members considered the most appropriate day and time on which to meet following the summer recess.
Agreed: The next meeting following summer recess is scheduled to be held at 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday 4 September in Room 135 Parliament Buildings.
Agreed: That the Clerk would investigate alternative meeting days and times during the summer recess.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.18 p.m.