COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 5 June
2008
Room 21, Parliament buildings
Present:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
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 Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Gerry McHugh
The meeting opened at 10.35am in public session.
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Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
It was agreed that the Chair would write to the Minister extending the Committee’s condolences on the death of his father.
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Declaration of Interests.
There were no new interests declared.
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Draft minutes of the meeting held on 29 May, 2008.
Agreed: - The draft minutes of the meeting on 29 May, 2008 were agreed.
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Matters arising.
Members discussed research requests and any issues which they would like to have included in next week’s presentation from Invest NI.
Members considered the Committee Motion on rising energy prices.
Agreed: That the Chair and Deputy Chair would meet with the Clerk and agree the wording of the motion.
Agreed: That the Clerk would supply the recently produced Departmental paper on the UK Marine Bill to the NI Marine Taskforce.
Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.47am
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Briefing from Rose Energy.
Representatives from Rose Energy joined the meeting at 11.19am.
Rose Energy representatives Tony O’Neill, Managing Director O’Kane Poultry Group and Chairman Rose Energy, Eric Reid, Production Director, Moy Park and Director Rose Energy, Mike Alcorn, Director, Rose Energy and Osvaldo Mauro Hun, Chief Executive Rose Energy briefed the Committee. Key issues discussed included their proposals to build a biomass power plant at Glenavy. They briefed the Committee on the background to their proposals, the reasons for choosing Glenavy as a preferred location, environmental issues and the need to meet EU Nitrate Directive targets.
David Simpson left the meeting at 11.53am.
Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 12.12pm.
Representatives from Rose Energy left the meeting at 12.20pm.
Agreed: That the Clerk would source the briefing materials provided by interested groups to other Committees; Members would then consider the need for oral briefing from those opposing the project.
Agreed: That briefing papers presented to this Committee are shared with other interested Committees.
Agreed: That the Clerk should discuss the overlap of business with other Committee Clerks.
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Briefing from DETI and INI Officials on Rose Energy Power Plant
Officials from DETI and INI joined the meeting at 12.30pm
INI officials Maynard Mawhinney and Andrew Horne and DETI officials Alison Clydesdale and Dan Sinton briefed the Committee on the Rose Energy Power Plant. Key issues discussed included the background to Rose Energy’s application for funding of the project and the latest position of same and the possible implications for the poultry industry if the proposal did not proceed.
Officials left the meeting at 12.57pm.
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Briefing from DETI and INI Officials on the Audit of Enterprise Support in Northern Ireland.
Officials from DETI and INI joined the meeting at 1.00pm
DETI officials Fiona Hepper, Head of Strategic Policy Division, Mark Pinkerton, Economic Strategy Unit and Invest NI officials Graham Davis, Head of Local; Economic Development and Sharon Polson briefed the Committee on Audit of Enterprise Support in Northern Ireland.
Officials left the meeting at 1.29pm.
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SL1 – The Insolvency (Voluntary Winding Up) (Forms) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Members considered the above SL1 which is subject to negative resolution.
Agreed: That the Committee had no comment at this stage.
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Forward Work Programme.
Members considered the most recent Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Forward Work Programme was agreed.
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Correspondence
Members noted the following item of correspondence:
Letter from Organics Matters Ltd.
Letters from the Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer regarding proposed UK provisions for dealing with the import of dangerous chemicals and the Health and Safety Offences Bill.
Letter from the World Wildlife Fund
Letter from Clerk of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.
Letter from the Community Foundation.
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Any Other business
Members noted the content of DETI paper on the Telecoms Industry – Next Generation Network Services.
Members noted a table of SL1’s which will be presented to the Committee before summer recess.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Friday, 13 June at 12.30am in Invest NI Headquarters, Belfast.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.43pm.