COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 17 JUNE 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Daithí McKay
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Sean Neeson
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Ms Jennifer McCann
The meeting began at 10.39am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 10 June 2010 meeting
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 10 June were agreed.
3. Matters arising from 10 June meeting
Members discussed a letter to the Chair from the Minister regarding the Strategic Energy Framework (SEF) for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: To write to the Minister to inform her of the Committee’s inquiry into renewable energy.
Members discussed the pro- forma, letter and public notice for the renewable energy inquiry pro-forma and public notice.
Agreed: To send the pro-forma to business stakeholders for response to the inquiry.
Agreed: To send the letter to non-business stakeholders for response to the inquiry.
Agreed: Content with the public notice and the 6-week consultation period.
Members noted a press article in relation to a new service launched by Action Renewables and the University of Ulster.
Members noted a briefing paper from the Department regarding the Executive Sub- Committee on the Economy.
Members noted a presentation regarding the Executive Sub-Committee on the Economy.
Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 10.44am
Members discussed letters from Firmus Energy to the Chair and the Utility Regulator regarding a customer switching mechanism for gas in greater Belfast.
Agreed: To write to the Utility Regulator to ask when in 2011 a switching mechanism for pay-as-you-go customers will commence.
Daithí McKay joined the meeting at 10.45am
Agreed: To write to the Utility Regulator and ask when the switching mechanism for pay-as-you-go customers will be in place.
Members discussed a briefing from the Department regarding EU Energy Policy.
Agreed: To explore with the Department the possibility of introducing a renewable heat incentive (RHI) through amendments to the Energy Bill, as the work on RHI was to be complete in April.
Members noted an email from Silverford Renewables requesting clarification on what is considered to be a new installation under the 2010 Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs).
Agreed: To forward the email to the Department for clarification and request that the Department to respond directly to Silverwood Renewables and copy the answer to the Committee.
Members noted a letter and papers from Ireland Luxury Tours (ILT) to David McClarty MLA regarding cruise ship operations in Northern Ireland.
Members noted an update from the Department on Project Kelvin.
Members noted an Assembly Research paper regarding Third Party Capture.
Members noted a letter from the Minister to the Chair of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding the Milk Cup.
4. Biogas Alliance: Oral briefing
Officials joined the meeting at 10.57am.
Members received an oral briefing from Victor Christie, Robert Brennan, Reuben McFarland and John McLenaghan, Biogas Alliance. Key issues discussed included ROCs for anaerobic digestion, the technology behind anaerobic digestion, and security of energy supply.
Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.00am.
Officials left the meeting at 11.55am
Agreed: To welcome comments from Biogas Alliance to the Committee’s inquiry into renewable energy.
Daithí McKay left the meeting at 11.56am
Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 11.56am
5. Consideration of the Debt Relief Bill – 1st Draft of Report: Written briefing
The Committee formally scrutinised each paragraph of the report.
Agreed: That the executive summary at paragraphs 1-7 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the introduction at paragraphs 8-12 stands part of the report.
Daithí McKay rejoined the meeting at 11.58am
Agreed: That the summary of consideration of the Bill by the Committee at paragraphs 24-43 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill at paragraphs 44-46 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the entire report with minutes of proceedings, minutes of evidence and written evidence will be considered at next week’s meeting.
Daithí McKay left the meeting at 12.01pm.
6. Consideration of the Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill: Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing. There were no issues raised in relation to the Bill.
Officials from the Department joined the meeting at 12.09pm to answer member’s questions – Philip McClenaghan and Patrick Neill.
Agreed: Content with the Bill, as drafted, and to proceed to formal clause-by-clause scrutiny of the Bill.
Gregory Campbell left the meeting at 12.12pm.
7. Formal Clause-by-Clause Scrutiny of the Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill
The Committee formally scrutinised, clause-by-clause, The Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill and agreed the following:
Clause 1 – Control of Charges for directory entries
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 1, as drafted.
Clause 2 – Charge permitted if order form signed
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 2, as drafted.
Clause 3 – Charge permitted if note of agreement to charge signed.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 3, as drafted.
Clause 4 – Charge permitted in certain cases of electronic communication
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 4, as drafted.
Clause 5 – Charge permitted in certain cases of renewed or extended contract
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 5, as drafted.
Clause 6 – Offence to demand payment where section 1 contravened
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 6, as drafted.
Clause 7 – Power to amend the schedule
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 7, as drafted.
Clause 8 – Amendment and repeals
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 8, as drafted.
Clause 9 – Short title and commencement
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 9, as drafted.
Schedule
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with the schedule, as drafted.
Long Title
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with the long title, as drafted.
Agreed: To consider a first draft of the report next week.
Alasdair McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 12.13am.
8. Invest NI – Operating Plan: Written briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: Content to refer to the document during consideration of the quarterly review reports from Invest NI.
Agreed: To write to Alastair Hamilton to thank him for the document
9. DETI Draft Operating Plan 2010/2011– Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: Content to refer to the document during consideration of the quarterly updates on the PSA targets.
10. Crescent I Final Evaluation and Action Plan and Crescent II Interim Evaluation and Action Plan: Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: In relation to Crescent; to ask the Department for details of the lessons learned from Capital Crescent I and how the recommendations will impact on Crescent Capital II and future, similar programmes.
Agreed: In relation to Crescent II; to ask the Department for details of the lessons learned from Capital Crescent II to date and how the recommendations will impact on Crescent Capital II in the future and on future, similar programmes. Members agreed to receive details in the following areas:
Agreed: In relation to Crescent II:
- To receive the given the findings of the evaluation mentioned in the evaluation and what developments will be undertaken to ensure that the Fund is delivering value for money for the public purse.
- To receive comment on the finding that the gap being filled by Crescent is slightly different from the one Government needs to fill.
- In relation to displacement, to receive information on what will be done to ensure that any future Fund focuses its investments more specifically in those companies that are not able to secure finance from elsewhere.
- To receive information on what consideration is being given now to any further Fund that may be needed
11. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence.
- Email from the Utility Regulator regarding Research on Helping Customers to avoid/manage debt.
- Correspondence from the Committee for the Environment regarding Kintyre Offshore Wind Farm.
Agreed: To forward to the Department for response. - Invitation from the All Party Group on Children and Young People to its Seminar on Children’s Budgeting on Thursday 24 June.
Agreed: Members to contact the Committee Office if they wish to attend.
12. Any Other Business
There were no other items of business.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 24 June at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.25pm.