COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 24 JUNE 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Gerry McHugh
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Ms Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann
Mr Leslie Cree
The meeting began at 10.37am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above. The Chair welcomed Mr Paul Frew as a new Committee Member. Mr Frew declared the following interests:
* Chairman of the Economic Development Partnership, Ballymena Council.
* Committee member of Broughshane District Community Association.
* Property to let, in Ballymena.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 24 June 2010 meeting
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 24 June were agreed.
3. Matters arising from meeting on the 24 June 2010
Members discussed a guide for departments on the NI Executive Budget.
Agreed: To ask the Department to see full details of its spending proposals as set out in Annex A and Annex B in time for inclusion in Member’s papers for the first meeting after recess.
Members also discussed guidance for savings delivery plans relating to the 2010 budget.
Agreed: To see full details of the savings delivery plan as set out in Annex A and Annex B in time for inclusion in Member’s papers for the first meeting after recess.
Members noted a briefing paper from the Finance and Personnel Committee regarding DFP’s role in the independent review of economic policy (IREP).
Members discussed a response from the Department regarding post project evaluations and an explanation for the delay in completing them. Also discussed was a list of outstanding PPEs as supplied by DFP.
Agreed: To forward this information to the Finance and Personnel Committee.
Members discussed an Assembly Research paper on fuel suppliers that provides comparative detail on current fuel prices and how these prices are determined in different regions. Also discussed was correspondence from the Education and OFMDFM Committees regarding the ETI Committee taking the lead on the issue – both are content.
Members discussed a paper from the Department regarding a proposed public consultation on the 2011 NIRO.
Agreed: To receive the outcomes of the consultation when they are available.
Members discussed an Assembly Research Paper regarding the Committee’s visit to Europe.
Agreed: To post the paper to the ETI Committee website and include in the Inquiry report into Renewable Energy.
Members discussed papers from KEDCO Energy detailing the potential for anaerobic digestion in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: To note and consider this information during consideration of evidence for the Committee’s renewable energy inquiry.
Members noted a response from the Department with regard to an email sent by Silverford Renewables requesting clarification on what would constitute a new installation under the 2010 NIRO.
Members discussed a press article stating the Ulster Farmers’ Union welcomes the announcement of the Renewable Energy Action Plan.
Agreed: To invite DARD and DoE to provide oral evidence to the Committee as part of the renewable energy inquiry.
Members noted a response from the Department regarding the Committee’s queries following consideration of the Social Economy Enterprise Strategy operating plan.
Members noted an email from the Department regarding NITB’s capacity to act quickly when there is positive news regarding Northern Ireland.
Members discussed the NITB Business Tourism Action Schedule for 2010-2013.
Agreed: To await the next quarterly progress report for the Business Tourism Plan.
Members discussed a letter from DSD following the Committee’s evidence session on the Caravan’s Bill last week.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Department.
Members noted a response from the Department relating to the conversion of job promotion activity by Invest NI into the number of jobs actually created by supported businesses.
Members noted a paper from the Department relating to the Committee’s queries on the Crescent Capital 1 and II.
Members discussed a response from the Department relating to remuneration details for those external advisors currently engaged by DETI business areas and NDPBs.
Agreed: To forward to the Finance and Personnel Committee.
Members discussed a response from the Department to the Social Development Committee regarding DSD’s Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill.
Agreed: To forward to the Social Development Committee.
Members noted a response from the Department to the Environment Committee regarding the North-South Interconnector.
Members discussed a response from the Utility Regulator’s Office with regard to a switching mechanism for gas customers.
Agreed: To write to the Utility Regulator for an opinion on the time scale for putting a switching mechanism in place and to obtain details of the percentage of gas customers who are pay-as-you-go.
4. Airtricity – Oral Briefing
Officials joined the meeting at 11.01am.
Members received an oral briefing from Mark Ennis, Director of Communication and Business Development, Airtricity and Mr Eric Mullane, Retail Regulation Manager. Main area of discussion included the pricing structure for Airtricity customers and the delay in switching customers on pay-as-you-go.
Officials left the meeting at 11.45am.
5. SL1: Gas (Applications for Licences and Extensions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
Members discussed the SL1: Gas (Applications for Licences and Extensions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.
Agreed: Content with SL1 and no comment.
6. SR 203/2010: The Weights and Measures (Specified Quantities) (Pre-packed Products) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Members discussed the SR above.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered The Weights and Measures (Specified Quantities) (Pre-packed Products) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the Rule.
7. Consideration of Unsolicited Services (Trade and Business Directories) Bill – Final Draft of Report: Written briefing
The Committee formally scrutinised each appendix of the final Bill report.
Agreed:That the following papers should be appended to the Committee’s report:
Minutes of proceedings
Minutes of evidence (Hansards)
Memoranda and papers from DETI
The Assembly Research Paper
List of witnesses
Agreed: Chair to approve an extract from today’s minutes which reflect the read-through of the Report.
Agreed: To lay the report in its entirety in the Assembly Business Office after today’s meeting.
Agreed: To order 30 reports with a CD ROM and 10 full reports for printing.
8. Regional Innovation Strategic Action Plan (RISAP) 2008-2011: Year 2 Progress Update:Written briefing.
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: Members agreed to commend the Department for the fact that so many targets have been met, are still on course or have been exceeded.
Agreed: To request further information on reasons for delays in processing INTERREG funding applications in relation to actions 3.4.1 and 4.1.7.
Agreed: To receive an update on progress with Invest NI’s enhanced Research, Training & Development directorate.
9. Update on PSA Targets: Written Briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: Members agreed to ask the Department how it measures "cause and effect" in relation to the impact of NITB activity on tourism numbers and revenue
10. Forward Work Programme.
Members discussed the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: In relation to the Energy Bill and the Tourism Bill, Members agreed that the Committee Office should collate all written evidence and forward the necessary issues relating to clauses, to the Department for a response.
Agreed: In relation to matters arising during recess, M embers agreed that authority should be delegated to the Chair and deputy Chair to submit views on the releasing or withholding of information, in any non-routine or contentious FOI requests received.
11. Correspondence.
Members noted the following items of correspondence.
- Correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Commission work programme.
- Correspondence from the Social Development Committee to the Department regarding the Housing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Department. - Resignation letter from David Simpson.
Agreed: To write to Mr Simpson thanking him for his contribution to the work of the Committee. - Letter from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the NI Independent Retail Trade Association Programme for Prosperity, requesting information on action and outcomes achieved relating to better regulation.
Agreed: To copy to the Department for its views. - Letter from the Construction Employees Federation requesting a meeting with the Committee to discuss budget and savings.
Agreed : To receive a written briefing. - Email from Premier Power Ltd, inviting the Committee to hold one of its meetings in September 2010 at its site at Ballylumford.
Agreed: To consider the invitation at a later date. - Email from the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee regarding the Foyle Cup.
Agreed: To forward the email to the Department for a response. - Invitation relating to the Annual Northern Ireland Economic Conference 2010 on Wednesday 29 September at the Culloden Hotel, Belfast.
Agreed : Members to contact the Committee Office if they wish to attend.
12. Any other business
Members agreed that the Chair should draft a letter to the new Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Andrew Tyrie, urging support for credit union legislative reform in Northern Ireland.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 9 September at 10.30am, Parliament Buildings, room to be confirmed.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.08pm.