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COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 3rd JULY 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Present:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton
Ms Jennifer McCann
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Sean Neeson

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 Paul Butler
Mr Leslie Cree
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Robin Newton

The meeting opened at 10.40am in public session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Declaration of Interests.

Sean Neeson advised that he has been appointed to the Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships.

3. Draft minutes of the meetings held on 19 and 24 June, 2008.

Agreed: - The draft minutes of the meeting on 19 and 24 June, 2008 were agreed.

4. Matters arising.

Members noted further information supplied by Firmus Energy regarding decisions pending in relation to conversion to natural gas by councils and other public sector estates.

The Chairperson updated members on the recent Committee visit to Magee Campus and the Waterside Credit Union.

5. Briefing from DETI Officials on Tourism: Strategic Framework for Action.

Officials joined the meeting at 10.55am.

DETI officials Noel Cornick and Fiona Hepper briefed the Committee on Tourism – Strategic Framework for Action. Key issues discussed included, the findings and recommendations of the evaluation of the Tourism Strategic Framework for Action, plans to address the report’s recommendations and how the successor to the strategic framework will be developed.

Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.00am
Sean Neeson rejoined the meeting at 11.36am

Officials left the meeting at 11.40am

The meeting went into closed session at 11.45am

6. Briefing from Construction and Property Steering Group.

Steering Group members joined the meeting at 11.45am.
Steering Group members briefed the Committee on the problems currently facing the construction and property industry.

Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 12.33pm

Steering Group members left the meeting at 12.40pm.

Agreed: That the Chairperson would write to the Minister and the main banks on this topic.

The meeting went into public session at 12.47pm

7. Committee Motion on Rising Energy Prices.

Agreed: That the Committee would maintain a watching brief on this subject.

8. RPA and Transfer of DETI Functions to Local Government.

The Committee noted a briefing paper from the Department.

Agreed: That oral briefing should be sought in the next session.

Agreed: To ask the Department to delay any decision on the Start a Business Programme until the Committee have had an opportunity to consider.

9. SL1: Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations.

Agreed: That the Committee are content with SL1: Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations.

10. SL1: The Energy (Amendment) Order.

Agreed: That the Committee would seek further clarification on the implications of the banding proposals for Northern Ireland.

11. Credit Union Inquiry

Members were supplied with copies of all the responses in relation to the Credit Union Inquiry. Members noted that they will be provided with a thematic summary of the responses after recess.

12. Forward Work Programme.

Members considered items for inclusion in the next Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: That the Committee would seek oral briefing from Assembly Researcher Aidan Stennett on his paper ‘ Europe’s Innovation Landscape’.

13. Correspondence

Members noted the following item of correspondence:

Executive Summary of the Consultation Document - UK Renewable Energy Strategy

Letter from the Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer regarding the implementation of the Consumers, Estate Agent and Redress Act.

INI Corporate Plan 2008 – 2011

Letter from the Social Economy Network

Letter from BT regarding their Sustainability Report

Invitation from the Marine Taskforce to an event in Exploris on 4 September

Agreed: That the Committee would accept the invitation and would seek additional briefing on the Seagen Tidal Wave Project.

Letter from the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Letter from BERR regarding the Post Office Network Change Programme.

Booklet from the National Trust regarding the proposed new Giant’s Causeway Visitors Centre.

Utility Regulators Annual Report 2007 – 2008

14. Any Other Business

Agreed: That, during recess, authority would be delegated to the Chairperson and deputy Chairperson regarding submitting views on the releasing or withholding of information in any non-routine or contentious Freedom of Information requests.

15. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 11 September in Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30am.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.10pm.

Mark Durkan
Chairperson, Committee for Enterprise, Trade & Investment.
July, 2008.

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