COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE & INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2007
Room 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Mark Durkan (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Maskey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Francie Molloy
In Attendance:
Mr Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Mrs Kathy O’Hanlon (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr David Simpson
The Deputy Chairperson opened the meeting at 10.35am in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Assistant Clerk extending condolences on the death of his father.
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Declaration of Interests
There were no new interests declared.
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Matters Arising from the Meeting held on 29 November 2007
Agreed – the minutes of the meeting of 29 November 2007 will be considered at the meeting of 13 December 2007.
The Committee noted the final versions of the Committee’s response to the draft Budget and the draft Programme for Government and draft Investment Strategy.
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Items carried forward from 29 November 2007
Members noted the invitation from the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation to its Annual Stakeholder Reception and the invitation from BT Ireland to the BT Christmas Reception.
Agreed – that members wishing to attend either event will notify the Clerk.
Members noted the draft terms of reference on a Review of Credit Unions.
Agreed – that members’ would further consider the draft terms of reference at next week’s meeting.
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Briefing from the Heritage Lottery Fund on the Development and Management of World Heritage Sites
Mr Ronnie Spence (Chairman, Committee for Northern Ireland) and Mr Paul Mullan (Country Manager) joined the meeting at 10.40am to give a presentation and answer members’ questions on the work of the Heritage and Lottery Fund and its involvement in the plans for a visitors’ centre at the Giant’s Causeway.
Key issues discussed included development along the North Antrim Coast and the potential for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.02am.
The witnesses left the meeting at 11.07am.
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Briefing from Moyle District Council and the National Trust on the Giant’s Causeway Visitors Centre
Helen Harding (Vice-Chairperson) and Richard Lewis (Chief Executive) from Moyle District Council and Hilary McGrady ( Northern Ireland Director) and Graham Thompson (Project Director, Giant’s Causeway), from the National Trust, joined the meeting at 11.08am. The witnesses briefed the Committee on recent developments regarding plans for a visitors’ centre and answered members’ questions.
Key issues discussed included the partnership arrangement between the Council and the National Trust, and the access to and use of the Heneghan Peng designs for the site.
The witnesses left the meeting at 11.46am.
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Briefing from DETI and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) on the Giant’s Causeway Visitors Centre
Noel Cornick (Head of Tourist Policy), Alan Clarke (Chief Executive NITB) and Ciaran McGarrity (Tourism Special Projects) joined the meeting at 11.47am to brief the Committee and answer members’ questions on recent developments regarding a visitors’ centre at the Giant’s Causeway.
Mr Durkan joined the meeting at 12.03pm.
Key issues discussed included conditions attached to the release of the Heneghan Peng designs from the Department to Moyle District Council and the National Trust and the ownership of the image rights of the Causeway.
The officials left the meeting at 12.49pm.
Mr Durkan took the Chair at 12.49pm.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 12.50pm.
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Consideration of Developments at Giant’s Causeway Visitors Centre
The Committee considered the updates provided on the plans for a Giants’ Causeway Visitors Centre.
Agreed – that the Committee will write to the Minister to request full sight of the conditions that the Department has specified must be met before the Heneghan Peng designs will be provided to the National Trust and Moyle District Council. The Committee will ask that the partnership is given full working use of the papers.
Agreed – that the Clerk would seek clarification on the ‘image rights’ of the Giant’s Causeway.
Agreed – that the Clerk would write to the Department requesting a copy of the ‘June Memo’ which details a meeting between Minister Dodds and Minister Foster on a private sector development of the Giant’s Causeway Visitor’s Centre.
Agreed – that the Clerk would seek clarification on the membership of the GCVF Ltd.
Agreed – that the Clerk will request an update from the Clerk for the Committee of the Environment on progress towards obtaining a full copy of papers in relation to the Seaport Planning Application.
Ms McCann left the meeting at 1.07pm.
Ms McCann rejoined the meeting at 1.11pm.
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 1.12pm.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 13 December 2007 in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.24pm.