COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 25 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 Gregory Campbell MP
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Leslie Cree
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 Alan McFarland
Mr Gerry McHugh
The meeting began at 10.35am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 18 February 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 18 February were agreed.
3. Matters arising
Members discussed a response from Invest NI in relation to financial commitments from the companies Avaya and Hughes Christensen.
Agreed: Department to keep the Committee informed on the issue as it relates to Nortel.
Members noted a letter from the Department of Education to the Clerk of the Education Committee regarding the draft Tourism Strategy.
Members noted the Utility Regulator’s consultation document entitled ‘Assisting with Affordability Concerns for Vulnerable Energy Consumers.’
Agreed: To raise this issue with the Utility Regulator when he comes to the Committee on 11 March.
The Chair advised members of the meeting with Firmus Energy.
Agreed: To invite Firmus Energy to give an oral briefing to the Committee.
Agreed: To raise this issue with the Utility Regulator when he comes to the Committee on 11 March.
Members noted a summary of the meeting between the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the ETI Committee and the Finance and Personnel Committee and representative of SEUPB.
David Simpson joined the meeting at 10.48am
Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.49am
Agreed: To arrange an informal meeting with representatives from the 5 local-authority led bodies to receive an update on the progress of INTERREG funding.
4. Tourism Spring Campaigns in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: Oral Briefing
The Officials joined the meeting at 10.52am.
Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 10.52am.
The Committee received an oral briefing from Susie McCullough, Director, NITB Marketing and Events, Ruth Burns and Jonny Smyth, NITB Destination Marketing and PR and Stephen Moore, Creative Director, AV Browne. Key issue included the Spring 2010 tourism campaign for Northern Ireland.
Paul Butler joined the meeting at 11.01am.
Agreed: To receive the research with figures on the number of NI visitors versus the rest of GB.
Agreed: To receive information on NI tourism figures compared to those for Scotland.
The Officials left the meeting at 11.33am.
5. Treasury Select Committee Report into the Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS): Oral Briefing
The Officials joined the meeting at 11.34am.
The Committee received an oral briefing from Arlene Foster MLA, Minister for DETI, Mike Bohill, Head of DETI Business Regulation Division, Cathal McLaughlin, DETI Company Law and Sandy Williamson, DETI Registry. Key issues included the details of the Treasury Select Committee’s report into PMS, DETI’s role in registration of industrial provident societies (IPSs), the status of the PMS Ministerial working group, likely solutions to PMS and the possibility of accelerated credit union legislation.
Gregory Campbell left the meeting at 12.19pm.
Sean Neeson left at 12.28pm.
Agreed: Members noted that the Minister agreed to revisit the option of supporting appropriate amendments to the Financial Services Bill which would remove the exemptions to NI credit unions being regulated by the FSA.
The Officials left the meeting at 12.30pm.
Agreed: To write to HMRC to ask what is being done to assist those PMS members who are facing tax problems because their funds are in the PMS.
6. SR 27/2010 Electricity and Gas (Billing) (No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2010
Members discussed the SR above.
Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 12.30pm.
Question put and agreed:That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Electricity and Gas (Billing) (No.2) Regulations (NI) 2010 and has no objection to the Rule.
7. Departmental Quarterly Performance (including NDPBs) against 10-day Payment Target: Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To receive the Department’s own performance on the 10-day payment target of invoices.
Agreed: To ask NITB for comments on their performance against the 10-day payment target of invoices.
Agreed: To write to other statutory committees to suggest that they may wish to obtain the figures for their departments.
8. Forward Work Programme
The Committee discussed the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: Meeting on the 18 March to begin at 10.00am.
Agreed: To hold an additional Committee meeting during recess.
9. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
(i) Letter to Deputy Chair from Nutherm Renewable Energy in relation to a renewable heat incentive
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Department for its views.
(ii) Email from a group of employees at Hughes Christensen to the Chair requesting a meeting in relation to the potential plant closure.
Agreed: Chair and Deputy Chair to meet with the group.
(iii) Letter from Northgate regarding the investigation into the loss of customers’ information at NIE Energy.
(iv) Invitation from the NI Assembly and Business Trust to members to a breakfast briefing on the public procurement process in NI.
Agreed: Members to contact the Committee Office if they wish to attend.
10. Any Other Business
There were no other items of business.
11 . Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 4 March at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.43pm.