COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr David Simpson MP
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Leslie Cree
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Alan McFarland
The meeting began at 10.33am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
David Simpson joined the meeting at 10.34am.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 11 February 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 11 February were agreed.
3. Matters arising
Members discussed a letter from the Minister regarding timing for credit union legislation.
Agreed: To await the joint Treasury/DETI consultation on the proposals for legislation.
Members noted a letter from the Chair to Ian Pearson seeking a firm commitment from Treasury to bring forward credit union legislation during the first session of the next Parliament.
Members noted a letter from the Chair to the FSA requesting representatives from the FSA to attend on 4 th March to provide oral evidence to the Committee regarding the process required for credit union legislation.
Paul Butler joined the meeting at 10.36am.
Members discussed a letter from the Minister regarding an operating plan for the Social Economy Enterprise (SEE) Strategy.
Agreed: To await the annual operating plan.
Members noted a letter from the Minister regarding funding to UCIT.
Agreed: To await the outcome of UCIT’s case to Invest NI.
Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.37am.
Members noted a list of Invest Northern Ireland’s rental properties.
The Chair informed members that the Committee has received the Unsolicited Services Bill from the Department.
Agreed: To receive an oral briefing from Departmental officials on the Bill at the meeting of 4 March.
The Chair updated members regarding his meeting with Deep Blue Renewables on 16 February.
The Chair advised members that a provisional date for a video conference between Lurgan College pupils and members has been scheduled for 18 March after the Committee meeting.
Agreed: The video conference to take place after the Committee meeting of 18 March in room 30, Parliament Buildings.
Members noted and discussed the Treasury Select Committee’s Report into the Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS).
Agreed: DETI officials to give an oral briefing on the Report at next week’s meeting.
Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 10.56am.
4. Debt Relief Bill: Oral Briefing
The Officials joined the meeting at 10.58am.
The Committee received an oral briefing from Reg Nesbitt, Director DETI Insolvency Service and Jack Reid DETI Insolvency Service. Key issues included the proposed timing for the legislation, current status of the Bill and key aspects of the Bill.
The Officials left the meeting at 11.21am.
Agreed: Content for the Department to submit the Bill to the Executive for approval.
Agreed: To receive a full list of consultees and consultation responses from the Department.
Agreed: To write to the Social Development Committee to welcome DSD’s strategy for an integrated advice service across Northern Ireland and suggest that DSD remain mindful of the DETI proposals for debt relief in the Debt Relief Bill.
5. Proposals for European SME week: Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To host various events during European SME week including a breakfast for SMEs at the 2010 Balmoral Show, a renewable energy SME themed workshop at Parliament Buildings and a STEM sector mini lecture in city centre.
Agreed: A Committee visit to Europe to commence at the start of the European SME week launch (25 May 2010).
Agreed: To consider and agree other sites to visit during the Committee’s visit to Europe at a future meeting and to use the Assembly Research paper on renewable energy to inform their consideration.
6. Post Project Evaluation on Hanwood Economic Resource Centre: Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To write to Hanwood Economic Resource Centre to congratulate them on meeting and exceeding the objectives in their project plan.
7. Business Opportunities and Challenges Presented by Carbon Emissions Targets – Research paper from DETI: Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To receive the Department’s views on the policy recommendations from the report.
Agreed: To receive the Department’s views to the challenges identified in the report and also receive the definition of SMEs in NI versus Europe.
Agreed: To forward the paper to the OFMDFM Committee to obtain its views.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
- Department of Environment’s policy proposals on marine licensing, marine planning and marine conservation.
Agreed: To note t he progress in the policy proposals that will inform an NI Marine Bill and also that it is proposed that the DOE Minister will ask the Executive to agree to a public consultation of these proposals.
- Letter from the Chair of the Committee for Employment and Learning to the Minister regarding automated communications systems.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Minister.
- Letter from HSENI regarding their Equality Impact Assessment on four key policy areas.
- An email from the Environment Committee requesting a meeting with the Chair of the OFMDFM Committee and the Chair of this Committee to discuss sustainable development.
Agreed: Chair to attend this meeting.
- Invitations to the Chair, Deputy Chair and DETI Permanent Secretary to a lunch hosted by the Employment and Learning Committee.
Agreed: Chair and Deputy Chair to attend this lunch.
Agreed: To forward the invitation to the Permanent Secretary.
- A request from the Northern Ireland Energy Agency to brief the Chair on the Warm Homes Scheme.
Agreed: Chair and Deputy Chair to meet with the organisation.
9. Any Other Business
Members raised the Northern Ireland Economic Reform Group’s (ERGNI) report entitled ‘The Case for a Reduced Rate of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland.’
Agreed: To invite ERGNI to provide an oral briefing to the Committee.
David Simpson left the meeting at 12.04pm.
Members raised the issue of a renewable heat incentive in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: To consider this at next week’s meeting.
Members raised the issue of banks’ policies in relation to automated teller machines in rural areas.
Members raised the issue of a possible Committee renewable energy event later in the year.
Agreed: Committee Office to investigate this matter and update the Committee at a future meeting.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 25 February at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.20pm.