COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Simon Hamilton
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Robin Newton
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Jim Wells

In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Diarmaid Elder (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Paul Butler

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

Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.00am.

Jim Wells joined the meeting at 11.55am.

1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 28 May.

Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting on 28 May were agreed.

3. Matters arising.

Members noted the memo to Committee on economic downturn.

Agreed: Assembly Research to provide a background paper on the economic downturn for the MLA’s.

Members noted the drafted motion.

Agreed: For motion to go forward.

Members noted a letter from Peter Mandelson from BERR.

Agreed: To share with local banks and businesses that raised the issue.

Members noted a briefing paper from the Department with regard to the Tourism Signature Projects.

Members noted a letter to the Minister regarding outstanding requests.

Members noted a consultation paper on the Unsolicited Services Bill.

Members noted a response from DETI regarding appointments to HSENI.

Agreed: To copy the letter to Tom Moore.

Members noted a briefing paper regarding DETI’s preparation for International Financial Reporting Standards.

Members noted a letter and statistics from DFP regarding invoices paid within the 10-day target and discussed the Clerk’s briefing paper.

Agreed: To share the letter, statistics, and Clerk’s briefing paper with the other Committees.

Agreed: To seek additional information on DETI’s associated agencies’ performance against the 10-day target.

Members discussed Invest NI’s Econometric Analysis of the Enterprise Development Programmes.

Agreed: To ask INI for details of outcome against the targets listed in the Annex when results become available.

Members noted the Houses of the Oireachtas’ Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security’s call for submissions on meeting Ireland’s electricity needs post 2020.

Agreed: Clerk will investigate the history and options available for a meeting with members of Oireachtas’ Committees.

Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 11.00am.

Members noted the request from the Institute of Directors to share the briefing papers from the oral briefing on 28 May on Next Generation Broadband Services.

Agreed: To share the papers with the Institute of Directors.

Members discussed sharing DETI’s response to the Utility Regulator’s Social Action Plan to the Social Development Committee and Regional Development Committee.

Agreed: To share DETI’s response to the Social Development Committee and Regional Development Committee.

Jennifer McCann rejoined the meeting at 11.05am.

Members discussed the meetings scheduled for later that afternoon.

Agreed: To write to the Treasury Secretary regarding Presbyterian Mutual Society.

Invest NI officials joined the meeting at 11.21am.

4. Invest NI 08/09 Results

Members received an oral briefing from Alastair Hamilton, CEO, Stephen Kingon, Chair of Invest NI Board and Mel Chittock, Acting Managing Director, Invest NI Corporate Services. Key issues included updated strategic plan, target updates as indicators for performance, and the Short Term Aid Scheme.

Agreed: to share the letter from BERR with INI, in regard to EFG.

Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 12.25pm.

Invest NI officials left the meeting at 12.27pm.

Simon Hamilton left the meeting at 12.28pm.