COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 16 October 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr Paul Butler
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Ms Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at10.36 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies.
There were no apologies.
2. Declaration of Interests.
There were no new interests declared.
Sean Neeson joined the meeting at 10.39 a.m.
3. Minutes of meeting held on 9th October 2008.
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 9 th October 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted an update from the Department on the Gobbins Cliff Path.
Members noted the Committee response to the Finance and Personnel Committee’s Inquiry into the budget process.
Members considered a draft Committee response to the Minister regarding the review of Invest NI
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send a response to the Minister.
5. Credit Union Inquiry - Briefing from Mark Lyonette, Financial Inclusion Taskforce (HMT).
Mr Lyonette joined the meeting at 10.53 a.m.
Mark Lyonette from the Financial Inclusion Taskforce briefed the Committee on their written submission. Key issues discussed included the impact of regulation on Credit Unions in GB and the range of services being provided by them.
Paul Butler joined the meeting at 11.15 a.m.
Mr Lyonette left the meeting at 11.35 a.m.
6. Debt Relief Bill
Officials joined the meeting at 11.37 a.m.
Departmental Officials Reg Nesbitt, John Hinds and Jack Reid briefed the Committee on the Departments’ proposal to introduce a Debt Relief Bill. Key issues discussed included the rationale behind the proposal, how the scheme might operate and the timeframe for its introduction.
Leslie Cree left the meeting at 12.07 p.m.
Robin Newton left the meeting at 12.13 p.m.
Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 12.21 p.m.
Officials left the meeting at 12.36 p.m.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission research from the Assembly Research and Library Services on the introduction of the Bill in GB.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to write to stakeholders in the Advice sector about the proposed bill.
7. Individual Voluntary Arrangements Bill
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer this item of business to a later meeting.
8. Committee Response to the Utility Regulator’s Consultation on Sustainable Development.
The Committee considered a draft response on the Utility Regulator’s Consultation on Sustainable Development.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue the response to the Utility Regulator.
9. Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy
The Committee noted that due to late arrival of papers this item had been deferred until next week.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the content of the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold its meeting on 6 November in the Northern Ireland Tourist Boards’ premises.
11. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence which had been issued for their information prior to the meeting:
- Letter and booklet entitled ‘Closing the Energy Gap’.
- Press Extract on the rental costs of Invest NI’s premises.
- First Annual Report of Matrix.
- DETI Resource Accounts for year ending March 2008.
12. Any Other Business.
There were no other items of business.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 24 October at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.15 p.m.