COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2009
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr David Simpson MP
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Alan McFarland
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Gerry McHugh
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
The meeting began at 10.07am in public session.
Gerry McHugh joined the meeting at 10.09am.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.13am
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 1 October.
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 1 October were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
Members noted a letter from the Chair to OFMDFM seeking a financial inclusion strategy.
Members noted letters from the Chair to the four main banks seeking views on the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.
Members noted a letter from the Chair to Invest NI regarding the suspension of the graduate export development programme, E2. Also noted was the letter from the Chair to Invest NI regarding the delayed presentation of their operating plan for 2009/2010.
Members noted a Departmental response to a query from the Clerk relating to comments in the EDF Sub-Group report that bids for additional funds for renewable energy saving projects were unsuccessful.
Members discussed a briefing note from the Assistant Clerk detailing the concerns of the Employment and Learning Committee on the Short Term Aid Scheme.
Agreed: To raise the issue with the Department when a review of the Short Term Aid Scheme is commissioned in the future.
Members noted a letter to the Chair seeking feedback on the Economic Conference on the 30 September.
The Chair advised members that copies of the speeches/written material from the Economic Conference can be made available to only those members that attended the Conference.
Members noted background information on the Sustainable Energy Association (SEA).
Agreed: To write to SEA to suggest that they participate in the NI Renewable Obligation (NIRO) Consultation and to request a written briefing in the meantime.
Members noted a response from the Department advising that estimated new actions for the Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism Masterplan are not likely until early 2010.
Members confirmed that the 5 th November is a suitable date for a Committee visit to AVX, Coleraine and Wrightbus, Ballymena.
Agreed: For the Committee office to arrange transport for the trip, if needed.
Members noted a letter from Antoinette McKeown, CEO of the Consumer Council regarding media coverage of the payment of invoices within the 10-day target, and that the figures in the coverage were not the most up-to-date figures.
4. Independent Review of Economic Policy –Oral Briefing.
Professor Richard Barnett joined the meeting at 10.20am.
The Committee received an oral briefing from Professor Richard Barnett on the Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP). Key issues included context of the Report, findings and key recommendations.
Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting 11.20am.
Agreed: To await the outcome of the public consultation and write to other committees to suggest that the ETI Committee leads the scrutiny of this issue.
Agreed: To await the outcome of the public consultation to hear from Departmental officials and Invest NI.
Professor Richard Barnett left the meeting at 11.35am.
Alasdair McDonnell rejoined the meeting 11.38am.
5. Proof of Concept Programme Update – Oral Briefing
Departmental Officials joined the meeting at11.37am.
The Committee received an oral briefing on the Proof of Concept Programme from Carol Keery, Director Innovation, Research and Technology Division and Roz Carson. Key issues included objectives/background of the program, projects and levels of funding for projects.
Agreed: To receive a list and detailed information on the Programme’s projects.
Agreed: To receive information on the success of the ideas in the 4 spinout companies mentioned in the briefing.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.38am
Departmental Officials left the meeting at11.45 am.
6. Tourism Branding Initiative - Written Briefing
The Committee discussed a written briefing from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on the Tourism Branding Initiative.
Agreed: To ascertain from NITB if a tracking system is in place to determine the success of the Initiative i.e. demonstration of cause and effect of the Initiative and an increase in tourism.
Agreed: To receive the update of the St. Patrick’s Signature Project & Downpatrick Urban Regeneration.
Agreed: To receive the terms of reference for the Giant’s Causeway & Causeway Coastal Route Project.
7. HSENI Consultation on the Uprating of Health and Safety Fees – Written Briefing
The Committee noted a briefing paper on the HSENI Consultation on the Uprating of Health and Safety Fees.
Agreed: To note and consider this further when the Regulation comes to the Committee at SL1 stage.
8. Correspondence.
The Committee noted the following correspondence.
- A Draft Sustainable Development Strategy from OFMDFM.
Agreed: To forward to Minister for the Department’s views.
- Letter from the Minister regarding public procurement to the work of the MATRIX and MATRIX report.
Agreed: To forward to the Finance and Personnel Committee.
- Letter from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) requesting a meeting with the Chair to discuss position of credit unions in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: For the Chair to meet with ILCU and the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions (UFCU) and for the Committee to request oral briefings from ILCU and UFCU after the Departmental briefing on the 15 October.
- Letter from Chair of the Public Accounts Committee with a copy of the PAC’s report on the Review of Assistance to Valence Technology.
- Letter and briefing paper from NI Energy Holdings.
Agreed: To receive a further briefing on specific issues they would like to raise with the Committee.
- Monitoring of Post Project Evaluations (PPEs) from Finance and Personnel Committee.
Agreed: To write to DETI to receive details of outstanding projects, including purpose, objectives, progress and cost, reasons for delay in conducting PPEs.
9. Any Other Business
Independent Review of Economic Policy.
Agreed: For the Committee Office to obtain details of Invest NI Structure and breakdown of programmes, to determine the Committee’s next way forward.
10. Date of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 15 October @ 10.30am in
Room 21, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.38pm.