COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 22 January 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton
Mr Jim Wells
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
none
The meeting opened at 10.07 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies.
There were no apologies.
2. Declaration of Interests.
There were no new interests declared.
3. Minutes of meeting held on 15 December 2008.
Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting on 15 January 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members considered a draft letter of invitation for issue to key stakeholders in relation to the STEM briefing on 18 February.
Agreed : The draft letter was agreed.
Members discussed issues arising from their recent meeting with representatives from the main local banks and the British Bankers’ Association.
Gerry McHugh joined the meeting at 10.13 a.m.
Alan McFarlandjoined the meeting at 10.15 a.m.
Agreed : That the Committee would write seeking views from the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Northern Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. In addition members agreed to write to HM Treasury, BERR and the Business and Enterprise Committee.
Simon Hamilton joined the meeting at 10.17a.m.
5. SR 507/2008 – Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Members considered the above Statutory Rule.
Agreed : That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 a nd has no objection to the rule.
Jim Wells joined the meeting at 10 .26 a.m.
The meeting went into closed session at 10.45 a.m.
6. Credit Union Inquiry Report
Members discussed the latest draft of the report into the Committee’s Inquiry into Credit Unions and other related matters.
Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.20 p.m.
The meeting returned to public session at 12.48 p.m.
8. UK Marine Bill
Members noted a briefing paper from the department concerning this matter.
9. Post Project Evaluations
Members noted a Clerk’s briefing paper on this topic.
Agreed: That further information should be sought from the department.
Agreed: That similar reports be sought from the department on a regular basis.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 1.05 p.m.
10. Forward Work Programme
Members noted the content of the most recent version of the Forward Work Programme.
Jim Wells rejoined the meeting at 1.05 p.m.
11. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence which had been issued for their information prior to the meeting:
- Press Release from the Quarry Products Association.
- Copy of the Utility Regulators draft Social Action Plan.
- Agreed: To ask the department for written briefing on this issue.
- Memo from the Finance & Personnel regarding the Financial Provisions Bill 2009.
- Letter from Phoenix Gas regarding pre-payment meters.
- Agreed: To write to NIAUR on this matter.
- Copy of a response from the Minister to the Chair of the Employment & Learning Committee regarding the West Belfast & Greater Shankill Employment Services Board.
- Memo from the Clerk to the Committee for Health, Social Services & Public Safety regarding that Committee’s Inquiry into obesity.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Minister.
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 29 January 2009 at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.18 p.m.