COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE & INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Maskey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Ms Jennifer McCann
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: Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
The meeting opened at 10.05 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
Mr Hamilton joined the meeting at 10.06 a.m.
2. Declaration of Interests.
There were no new interests declared.
3. Minutes of meeting held on 6 & 8 November 2007.
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 6 November were agreed.
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 8 November were agreed as amended.
4. Matters Arising.
The Committee noted detailed information on the Invest NI Trade Events Programme 2008.
Agreed: That the Committee would consider possible lines of questioning regarding the Invest NI Corporate Plan 2008 – 2011 and would be discussed at next week’s meeting.
Members noted a planning appeals schedule and associated map of the Giant’s Causeway area.
Mr Neeson joined the meeting at 10.14 a.m..
The Chairperson advised members that a letter had been sent to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment raising the Committee’s concerns over the proposed closure at the Seagate Plant in Limavady.
The Committee noted that, as agreed at last week’s meeting, arrangements were being made to have the four research papers commissioned by the Committee posted on the Assembly website.
The Chairperson responded to concerns raised by Mr Hamilton regarding aspects of his speech during the Plenary debate on the draft Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland. The Chairperson assured members that any speech made on behalf of the Committee would reflect the views of the Committee.
5. Briefing by DETI Officials on Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
Ms Jenny Pyper (Head of Energy Division), Mrs Barbara Swann (Sustainable Energy Division) and Mr Malachy McKernan (Energy Division) attended the meeting at 10.20 a.m. and gave a presentation and answered members’ questions on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations.
Mr Newton joined the meeting at 10.25 a.m.
Key issues discussed included the background and provisions of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, its provisions and legislative aspects and the likely impact on Northern Ireland and the Assembly.
Mr McFarland joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m.
Agreed: That officials would provide information on the terms of reference of the current scoping study on the use of bio-fuels in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Swann left the meeting at 10.50 a.m.
Ms Olivia Martin (Energy Co-ordination Unit) joined the meeting at 10.50 a.m. Mr McKernan gave a brief update on progress in discussions with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the outcome of the Review of the Renewables Obligation in Great Britain.
6. Briefing by DETI Officials on UK Energy Bill.
Ms Jenny Pyper and Ms Olive Martin briefed the Committee on likely provisions of the UK Energy Bill and its implications for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That officials would brief the Committee on this issue at a future meeting.
Officials left the meeting at 11.04 a.m.
7. Briefing by DETI Officials on Draft Programme for Government & Draft Budget.
Mr Stephen Quinn (Permanent Secretary), Mr Noel Lavery (Head of Management Service Group) and Mr Graham Hutchinson (Finance Division) joined the meeting at 11.07 a.m. and answered members’ questions on draft Programme for Government and the draft Budget.
Mr Henry Bisharat (Deputy US Consul General) and Mr Mark Powell (US Department of State) joined the meeting as observers at 11.40 a.m.
Agreed: That officials would provide information on the comparative levels of financial support provided to indigenous and foreign direct investment companies in Northern Ireland
Mr Lavery gave a brief progress report on DETI bids under the October Monitoring Round. Officials left the meeting at 12.07 p.m.
Ms McCann left the meeting at 12.07 p.m.
Mr Bisharat and Mr Powell left the meeting at 12.07 p.m.
8. Consideration of Committee Response to the Draft Programme for Government & Draft Budget.
The Committee noted that, as agreed at the meeting on 8 November, the Clerk had written seeking the views and comments of key stakeholders on the DETI draft Budget.
Members considered a letter from the Chairperson to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister setting out timescales and suggested themes for response to the draft Programme for Government.
Ms McCann rejoined the meeting at 12.14 p.m.
Mr Simpson left the meeting at 12.18 p.m.
The Committee identified a number of key issues and concerns which should be included in a committee response to the draft Programme for Government and draft Budget.
Agreed: That the Clerk would provide draft responses to the draft Programme for Government and draft Budget for consideration at the meeting on 22 November.
9. Subordinate Legislation.
Members considered information on SL1 – Measuring Instrument (Use for Trade) (Amendment) Regulations.
Agreed: That the Committee had no comment to make at this stage.
The Committee considered the Company and Business Names (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Agreed: That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Company and Business Names (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and, subject to the ESR’s Report, recommends that it be confirmed by the Assembly.
The Committee considered a consultation document published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive for Offshore Electricity Developments.
Agreed: To commission research on this issue with a view to consideration of a committee response at a future meeting.
10. Forward Work Programme.
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme November – December 2007.
11. Any Other Business.
The Committee noted an invitation from RPS Consulting Engineers based in Boucher Road in Belfast.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting is will be held on Thursday 22 November 2007, in room 21, Parliament Buildings.