COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
Mr David Simpson MP
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Leslie Cree
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen Magee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Gerry McHugh
The meeting began at 10.33 am in closed session.
The meeting opened in public session at 10.47am.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 17 September.
Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting on 17 September were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
Members noted DETI’s briefing paper on accommodation capacity in NI and RoI, and the increase in hotel capacity in Belfast from 2008-2009.
Members noted a response from DETI regarding a motor home tourism strategy.
Agreed : To share this response with the NI Motor Home Association, and await the overall tourism strategy.
Members noted DETI’s statement regarding financial inclusion stating that OFMDFM is the Department which has the policy lead on this matter.
Agreed : To write to OFMDFM and ask if they have a financial inclusion strategy in place.
Members discussed DETI’s response regarding the Committee’s concerns with the Causeway Coast and Glens tourism Masterplan.
Agreed : To receive a written briefing from the Department when new actions have been identified and have materialised.
Members noted letters to DETI Minister regarding Stream and Nortel, and letter to DEL Minister regarding Nortel.
Members noted a written briefing from DETI on the Short Term Aid Scheme relating to their oral briefing to the Employment and Learning Committee on 30 September.
Agreed: To forward the written briefing to the Employment and Learning Committee.
Members discussed possible Committee visits.
Agreed: To defer to next week’s meeting.
4. Study on Natural Gas Industry to the West
The Committee discussed a written briefing on the Study on Natural Gas Industry to the West.
Agreed: To request a written briefing from the Department following completion of this study.
Agreed: To commission research regarding the level of uptake of Firmus energy gas by public sector organizations across Northern Ireland.
5. Energy Costs 2009
Members received an oral briefing from Jenny Pyper, Head of DETI Energy Division, Fred Frazer and Paul Dolaghan, DETI Energy Division. Key issues included DETI’s role in energy, Strategic Energy Framework, electricity costs and gas costs.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 12.30pm
Gregory Campbell left the meeting at 12.35pm
Members discussed a private members motion to be debated in plenary on 29 September on social tariffs.
Agreed: That some facility should exist for social tariffs.
6. Carbon Trust Project/CT Annual Report – Written Briefing
The Committee discussed a written briefing on the DETI Carbon Trust Project/CT Annual Report.
Agreed: To await the 2009/2010 figures for the Project.
7. EDF Sub-Group Report – Written Briefing
The Committee discussed a written briefing on the EDF Sub-Group Report on economic downturn proposals.
Agreed: To write to the four main banks regarding the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFGS), to DETI regarding advertising for EFGS, and to Invest NI regarding the E2 Programme.
8. Law Society Report into Third Party Capture –Written Briefing.
The Committee discussed a written briefing on the Law Society Report into Third Party Capture.
Agreed: To defer to next week’s meeting.
9. Correspondence.
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
- Executive summary of the OFMDFM’s Gender Equality Strategy.
- Invest NI 2009-2010 operating plan.
Agreed: To write to Invest NI to enquire why their operating plan for this financial year was only finalised well into the year to which it relates.
- DETI evaluation programme for 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.
- DETI press release regarding the Minister’s announcement for enhanced support for landfill gas generation projects.
Agreed: To discuss this at next week’s meeting during the Committee’s consideration of the NIRO briefing paper.
- A covering letter to the Chair from the Enterprise Council introducing the “Think Enterprise Regeneration Programme.”
- A covering letter from NITB introducing its programme of events for 2009/2010.
- A letter from Social Development Committee requesting to forward a letter to the Department regarding the Pensions Regulator: Code of Practice.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Department.
10. Any Other Business
There were no other items of business.
11. Date of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 1 October @ 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.49pm