COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2009
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Stephen Moutray
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr David Simpson MP
Mr Gerry McHugh
Ms Jennifer McCann
The meeting began at 10.39am in public session, with Mr Paul Butler in the Chair.
1. Apologies.
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 19 November.
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 19 November were agreed.
3. Matters arising.
Members discussed an email from Morrow Communications, on behalf of Rose Energy, seeking to brief the Committee on their Project.
Agreed: To write to Morrow Communications to state that the Committee is awaiting the Department’s update on the issue.
Members noted a briefing note from the Assistant Clerk regarding the NI Energy Forum on 12 November.
Agreed: For the Chair and Deputy Chair to raise the issue of wind farm connection fees at the meeting with the NIAUR Director of Electricity, Shane Lynch.
Members noted a briefing paper from the Department to the Employment and Learning Committee regarding the Short Term Aid Scheme.
Members discussed a letter from the Clerk to the Regional Development Committee regarding their inquiry into sustainable transport.
Agreed: To forward the Clerk’s response and briefing paper on Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to the Regional Development Committee.
Members noted, with regard to Statutory Rules, that there have been 2 occasions over the last 12 months where a breach of the 21-day rule has occurred and that in both instances, the Examiner of Statutory Rules was notified in advance.
Members noted that John McCallister had requested a copy of the tabled papers, provided to Members by outside bodies, on the draft Caravan’s Bill.
Agreed: To forward the papers to John McCallister.
4. SL1 – The Insolvency Practitioners and Insolvency Account (Fees) (Amendment No. 2) Order (NI) 2009.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.50am.
The Committee discussed the SL1: The Insolvency Practitioners and Insolvency Account (Fees) (Amendment No. 2) Order (NI) 2009, and had no comments
5. SL1 – The Provision of Services Regulations (Insolvency Practitioners) (NI) 2009.
The Committee discussed the SL1: The Provision of Services Regulations (Insolvency Practitioners) (NI) 2009, and had no comments.
Members raised the issue of insolvency law versus employment law.
Agreed: For the Clerk to contact the Employment and Learning Clerk regarding the issue and report back to the Committee.
6. Government Response to MATRIX Report – Written Briefing.
The Committee discussed Government’s response to the MATRIX Report.
Mr Gregory Campbell joined the meeting at 11.01am.
Agreed: To request, from the Department, details of when an action plan will be developed covering all recommendations of the Report.
Agreed: To write to those businesses which have engaged with the MATRIX process to seek their views.
7. Correspondence.
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
I. Letter from UCIT to the Chair requesting a meeting to discuss securing new capital investment into the social economy.
Agreed: For the Chair and Deputy Chair to meet with UCIT.
II. Information regarding a Dioxin Incident Review, commissioned by the Executive.
III. Information on the Irish Renewable Energy Summit 2010 on 21 January 2010.
Agreed: For Members to contact the Committee Office if they wish to attend.
IV. Invitation from the NI Lottery Forum to its 15 th anniversary event on the 3 December.
Agreed: For Members to contact the Committee Office if they wish to attend.
V. Invitation from the Minister to Committee Members to attend the announcement of the Next Generation Broadband Contract, on 3 December at noon, at Netherleigh.
Agreed: For members to contact the Committee Office if they wish to attend.
Mr Sean Neeson offered an apology for next week’s meeting.
8. Impact on Business of Rising Electricity Prices Oral Briefing
Officials joined the meeting at 11.10am.
Members received an oral briefing by NI Manufacturing and Almac. From NI Manufacturing: Bryan Gray, CEO and Con O’Neill, Secretary. From UNITE: Jackie Pollock. From Almac: Wayne McMeekin.
Key issues included the impact of rising electricity prices on business, industrial rates and the electricity industry in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: For Almac to provide profit margin figures of electricity generators in Northern Ireland, as published in the August 2009 issue of Ulster Business Magazine.
Mr Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.49am.
Officials left the meeting at 12.04pm.
Agreed: For the Chair and Deputy Chair to bring up issues from NI Manufacturing and Almac’s briefing at the meeting with Shane Lynch, NIAUR Director of Electricity, and report back to the Committee next week.
9. Overview of Invest NI Activities, Update Report –Oral Briefing.
Officials joined the meeting at 12.10pm.
Mr Alban Maginness joined the meeting at 12.12pm and took the Chair.
Members received an oral briefing from Alastair Hamilton, CEO of Invest NI, and Mel Chittock Managing Director, Invest NI Corporate Services Group. Key issues included the Invest NI’s performance from April-September 2009, progress against 2009/2010 PSA targets and recommendations from the Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP).
Mr Sean Neeson rejoined the meeting at 12.14pm.
Mr Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 12.32pm.
Mr Gregory Campbell left the meeting at 12.52pm.
Agreed: For Alastair Hamilton to provide information on how to make a bank-led system for small firm loans work.
Officials left the meeting at 1.06pm.
10. Any Other Business
Members discussed engagement with Europe.
Agreed : For the Clerk to liaise with the Assembly External Liaison Unit to ascertain issues from the Assembly Business Trust’s proposed visit to Europe.
Agreed: To commission research regarding renewable energy in Europe.
Members discussed the issue of Christmas cards.
Agreed: To issue Christmas cards to those organisations with whom the Committee had regular engagement during the year.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting.
The next meeting of the Committee will be on Thursday 3 December at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.14pm .
Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment