COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr David Simpson MP
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Stephen Moutray
Ms Jennifer McCann
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sean Neeson
The meeting began at 10.36am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 12 November
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 12 November were agreed.
3. Matters arising
Members noted a letter from NI Energy Holdings highlighting topics and issues they would like to raise with the Committee.
Agreed: To write to the Department to obtain its views on issues raised.
Members noted a press article relating to Invest NI and the Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP).
Members discussed the executive summary of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skill’s consultation document on proposed credit card reform.
Agreed: To receive an update from the Department following the outcomes of the consultation.
Members discussed a letter from the Department regarding the Stakeholder Advisory Group on Extremely Low Electro Magnetic Fields (SAGE) First Interim Assessment, and the full report.
Agreed: To await the Minister’s letter when implications for NI’s electricity network and local communities have been identified.
Members noted responses from the four main banks on the Economic Development Sub-group proposals.
Agreed: For the Committee office to make enquiries to the 4 main banks regarding the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) Scheme.
Agreed: For the Committee to bring up the EFG during the NI Manufacturing oral briefing on 26 November.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.42am.
Mr Gregory Campbell joined the meeting at 10.46am.
Members noted a response from the Department on funding issues relating to the INTERREG IVA Programme.
Agreed: To forward the Department’s paper to the groups concerned, and also state that the Chair and deputy Chair are happy to meet to discuss further issues, if necessary.
Members noted new information regarding the Tourism (NI) Order (Amendment) Bill 2010.
Members noted the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: To hold the Next Generation Broadband oral briefing from the Minister, in closed session, on 3 December and for the meeting to start at 10.15am.
4. Draft Caravans Bill – Oral Briefing
Mr John McCallister MLA and Annette Holden joined the meeting at 11.00am.
The Committee received an oral briefing from John McCallister MLA and Annette Holden. Key issue discussed was the Draft Caravans Bill: indicative timings, current situation of the Bill, and topics of concern for the Committee.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 11.19am.
Mr McCallister and Ms Holden left the meeting at 11.45am.
Agreed: For the Chair to request a meeting with the Social Development Committee Chair to discuss the Bill.
5. Northern Ireland Renewable Obligation – Oral Briefing
Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 11.46am.
The Committee received an oral briefing from Malachy McKernan and Olivia Martin, DETI Sustainable Energy Division. Key issue discussed was the NIRO: indicative timings for implementation, feed-in tariffs, and anticipated impact.
Mr Gregory Campbell left the meeting at 12.06am.
Mr Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 12.15pm
Departmental Officials left the meeting at 12.17pm.
Agreed: To await the outcome of the consultation.
6. Amendment of the Insolvency (NI) Order 1989 by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2009 – Written Briefing
The Committee discussed a written briefing from the Department on the Amendment of the Insolvency (NI) Order.
The Committee noted the written briefing.
7. Post Project Evaluations – Written Briefing
The Committee discussed a written briefing from the Department on Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: To clarify certain points with the Department regarding the Energy Efficiency Levy/Programme and the CAM Benchmarking Service for NI.
Agreed: To further scrutinise a number of Projects from the list of those PPEs which have been completed and from the list of those where a target date for completion has been provided.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- Memo from Regional Development Committee on their inquiry into the issues of sustainable transport.
Agreed: For the Committee Office to draft a response to RD Committee and bring it to members next week for approval. - Invitation to Chair from Utility Regulator to its Annual Stakeholder Reception on the 9 December.
- Letter from NIO on their consultation on increasing the penalties for section 55 (Data Protection Act) offences.
- Press release from the Utility Regulator’s office on the Green New Deal.
- Letter from Mark Durkan MP MLA, requesting a meeting between Ministers/senior officials from DETI, DEL and DE and Chairpersons of respective committees to discuss School and Employer Connections (formerly FOSEC).
Agreed: For the Chair to write to Mark Durkan to state that he would be happy to attend such a meeting. - Letter to Chair from BT CEO, Chris Clark regarding new contact centre sites in Northern Ireland (Derry and Enniskillen).
Agreed: To write to Chris Clark to welcome the new sites. - Letter to Chair from David Sterling, new Permanent Secretary to DETI, requesting a meeting with Chair and deputy Chair.
Agreed: For the Chair to write to David Sterling, congratulating him on his new appointment and to arrange a meeting. - Memo from OFMDFM Committee Clerk regarding an objection to Invest NI funding for the proposed Rose Energy Incinerator Project at Glenavy.
Agreed: To request a written briefing from the Department regarding an update on the current situation of the Project, including possible Invest NI funding. - Email from the CAL Committee Clerk regarding the impact of incorrectly coded IP addresses on local businesses.
- Invitation to the launch of the Government response to the MATRIX Report, on 20 November.
Agreed: To ask the Department why invitations come to the Committee on such short notice.
9. Any Other Business
Mr David Simpson made an apology for the 26 November meeting.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be on Thursday 26 November at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.34pm .