COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE & INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Paul Maskey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr David Simpson MP
In Attendance: Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Miss Joanne Adair (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Mr Francie Molloy
The meeting opened at 2.08 p.m. in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the chair.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Declaration of Interests.
There were no new interests declared.
3. Briefing by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on draft Programme for Government and draft Budget 2008 – 2011.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr. Nigel Dodds MP MLA, joined the meeting at 2.10 p.m. and briefed members on the draft Programme for Government and draft Budget 2008 – 2011. The Minister was supported by Mr. Stephen Quinn (Permanent Secretary) and Mr. Noel Lavery (Head of Management Services Group).
Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 2.17 p.m.
Mr Neeson left the meeting at 2.25 p.m.
Key issues discussed included the principles, strategic priorities and cross-cutting themes under the draft Programme for Government and DETI’s key budgetary challenges, priorities and spending plans 2008 - 2011.
Mr Quinn and Mr Lavery left the meeting at 2.40 p.m.
4. Briefing by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Closure of Seagate Technologies, Limavady.
The Minister was joined by Mr Leslie Morrison (Chief Executive, Invest NI) and Mr Brian Dolaghan (Director, Client Group, Invest NI) at 2.41 p.m. The Minister and his officials gave a presentation and answered members’ questions on issues surrounding the closure of the Seagate Technologies Plant at Limavady.
Ms McCann left thee meeting at 3.00 p.m.
Key issues discussed included the reasons for the closure of Seagate Technologies Plant at Limavady, the current position regarding Invest NI’s discussions with Seagate, the support likely to be made available to employees facing redundancy, the steps required to find a replacement for Seagate in Limavady, the impact on the local and wider Northern Ireland economy and tradable services and the current position regarding grant assistance to Seagate.
The Minister and his officials left the meeting at 3.25 p.m.
5. Briefing by Roevalley Chamber of Trade and Commerce on the closure of Seagate Technologies, Limavady.
Mr Aubrey Sherrard (President, Roevalley Chamber of Trade and Commerce) and Mr Malcolm Hyde (Roevalley Chamber of Trade and Commerce) joined the meeting 3.26 p.m. to give a presentation and answer members’ questions on issues surrounding the closure of the Seagate Technologies Plant at Limavady.
Key issues discussed included the support likely to be made available to employees facing redundancy; the steps required to find a replacement for Seagate in Limavady; the impact on the local and wider Northern Ireland economy and tradable services; and the need for Invest NI to support new local business start-ups and encourage the growth of existing local businesses.
The witnesses left the meeting at 3.50 p.m.
Following the briefing, members considered how the Committee should take this matter forward.
Ms McCann rejoined the meeting at 4.07 p.m.
Mr Newton joined the meeting at 4.12 p.m.
Mr Neeson rejoined the meeting at 4.15 p.m.
Agreed: That the Chairperson should write to the Minister highlighting concerns raised during the meeting regarding the closure of Seagate, Limavady and the need to provide support to Seagate employees facing redundancy.
Agreed; That the Committee office would issue a press release highlighting the Committee’s concerns regarding the closure of the Seagate Technologies Plant at Limavady.
Agreed: That the Clerk would develop proposals for research into the role, policies and priorities of Invest NI for consideration at a later meeting.
6. Any Other Business.
The members noted that, in the Chairperson’s absence, the Deputy Chairperson will chair the next committee meeting on Thursday 8 November 2007.
The Deputy Chairperson reminded members that he will launch an event to be hosted by Prime at 11 a.m. on the Long Gallery on Thursday 8 November. The Committee also noted that there will be a Service of Remembrance in the Senate Chamber at 10.45 a.m. on Thursday 8 November.
Agreed: That the committee meeting on Thursday 8 November will begin at 10.00 a.m. and will be suspended from 10.40 a.m. to approximately 11.20 a.m. to facilitate members who may wish to attend the Service of Remembrance.
Mr Hamilton raised concerns about aspects of the Chairperson’s speech during the Plenary debate on the draft Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That the Chairperson would be asked to respond to Mr Hamilton’s concerns.
7. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 8 November 2007 in room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.21 p.m.