Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 24 JANUARY 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Paul Maskey (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr David Simpson MP

In Attendance:
Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann

The meeting opened at 10.37 a.m. in public session.

  1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. Declaration of Interests.

There were no new interests declared.

  1. Minutes of meeting held on 17 January 2008.

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 17 January 2008 were agreed.

  1. Matters Arising.

The Committee were advised that comments on the Regional Innovation Strategy draft Action Plan had been sought from Matrix and the Economic development Forum.

Agreed: That the Clerk would provide members with an update regarding possible research for next week’s meeting.

Members noted a recent press release regarding Seagate Technologies. Clerk advised that, as agreed, correspondence had issued and that she would further update members at next week’s meeting.

Agreed: That the Clerks for the Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Employment and Learning Committees would share information on Seagate.

Members were provided with an update on the Renewables Obligation.

Agreed: That further briefing should be sought from officials and that the Clerk would circulate a note to members in relation to the sale of Airtricity.

Members noted copies of correspondence between the Department and HM Treasury regarding difficulties being experienced by small businesses in relation to delays VAT Registration.

  1. Varney Report.

Members noted papers, supplied by the Department, regarding the outcome of the first Varney Review and the terms of reference of the second Varney Review.

Agreed: That officials should be asked to provide briefing to the Committee.

  1. Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre

Members noted that, as agreed, Freedom of Information requests had been sent by the Chairperson to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

  1. The Energy Order 2003 (Supply of Information) Regulations ( Northern Ireland

Members discussed the papers provided by the Department on this issue.

Agreed: That, pending a satisfactory report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee had no comment to make.

  1. Correspondence

The Committee noted the following correspondence which had been issued for their information prior to the meeting:

  1. Forward Work Programme.

The Committee considered the current Forward Work Programme and discussed topics which might be the subject of Committee Inquiries.

Agreed: That, as a first priority, the Committee would consider an Inquiry into Innovation and would then consider the possibility of an Inquiry into Energy.

  1. Any Other Business.

The Committee discussed the draft Operating Plans for DETI and its NDPB’s.

Agreed: That the Committee would accept a shorter timeframe for considering these plans.

Members noted a request from ‘The Future Together Initiative’ to brief the Committee.

Agreed: To invite this group to brief the Committee on 7 February 2008.

The Clerk undertook to expedite the responses from the Minister and the Department in relation to the US/NI Investment Conference.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.12 a.m.

Paul Maskey
Deputy Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

January 2008.

17 January 08 / Menu