COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Paul Givan
Mr William Irwin
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Ms Claire McGill
Mr Sean Neeson
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Tara McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
The meeting began at 10.35am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 23 September 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 23 September were agreed.
3. Matters arising from meeting on 23 September 2010
Members discussed a response from the Department regarding the Gas Network Extension Study.
Agreed: To ask the Department whether the figures quoted in the response take into account the projected number of consumers that may switch to gas as a result of the extension to the gas network.
Members discussed a response from the Department regarding breakdown of UK funding from the EU Framework 7 Programme. Members noted the small amount of uptake by NI compared to other regions under the Programme.
Agreed: To forward the response to the OFMDFM Committee.
Members noted a response from the Department regarding the Committee’s query on details of the capital spending bid for the St Patrick’s Signature Project.
Agreed: Committee Office to check the website to see if Tier(2) of the Project includes Slemish Mountain; if not to ask the Department.
Members discussed a letter from the Minister regarding a legislative consent motion planned for week commencing 11 October for the Terrorist-Asset Freezing Bill.
Agreed: To invite Departmental officials to attend next week’s meeting and provide oral evidence on the implications of the Legislative Consent Motion.
Agreed: To commission Assembly Research for background information.
Members discussed a letter from the Minister regarding credit union legislation.
Agreed: To write to the Irish League of Credit Unions and the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions to seek their views on the Minister’s letter.
Paul Givan left the meeting at 10.59am.
Members discussed the Minister for Finance and Personnel’s statement to the Assembly regarding public expenditure.
Agreed: To ask the Department how it plans to revise its spending plans as a consequence of its unsuccessful bid in the September Monitoring Round.
Members discussed a Green Paper entitled, “Financing a Private Sector Recovery.”
Agreed: To receive the Department’s response to the paper.
4. SR 2010/326 Gas (Applications for Licences and Extension) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee discussed the SR above.
Members noted the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ advice regarding a technical aspect of the Bill, which would not affect the workability of the Regulations.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Gas (Applications for Licences and Extension) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the Rule.
Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.05am.
5. Tourism (Amendment) Bill: Oral briefing
NILGA Officials joined the meeting at 11.08am.
Members received oral evidence from Peter Thompson and Alderman Jim Dillon, NILGA. Key issue discussed included the frequency of statutory inspections.
Officials left the meeting at 11.30am.
Agreed: To commence the preliminary view of the Bill at next week’s meeting and to address any outstanding issues with Departmental officials, who will be on stand-by.
Members discussed a response from the Department regarding an order-making procedure under Clause 1 of the Bill.
Agreed: To address this issue with Departmental officials that are on stand-by at next week’s meeting.
6. Caravans Bill: Oral briefing
John McCallister and Annette Holden joined the meeting at 11.35am.
Members received oral evidence from John McCallister MLA. Key issue discussed included an amendment to the Caravans Bill.
Paul Givan rejoined the meeting at 11.40am.
Paul Givan left the meeting at 11.41am.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 12.00pm.
John McCallister and Annette Holden left the meeting at 12.15pm.
7. Caravans Bill: Oral briefing
DETI officials joined the meeting at 12.15pm.
Members received an oral briefing from David Livingstone and John Hinds, DETI Trading Standards Services. Key issue discussed included an amendment to the Caravans Bill.
Agreed: To forward the Department’s briefing paper on an amendment to Clause 7 of the Bill to the Social Development Committee.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 12.39pm.
DETI officials left the meeting at 1.02pm.
Agreed: Committee Office to summarise points from each oral evidence session and members to discuss at next week’s meeting.
8. Renewable Energy Inquiry: Written briefing
Paul Frew rejoined the meeting at 1.06pm.
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To invite the organisations listed in the briefing paper to provide oral evidence to the Committee on the Inquiry.
9. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
I. Letter from the Minister regarding publication of the final Strategic Energy Framework (SEF).
Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 1.15pm.
Agreed: To discuss the possibility of tabling a take note debate on the SEF in the Assembly.
II. Correspondence from the Regional Development Committee regarding a request from NITB for research papers.
Agreed: To forward the papers to the Department.
Agreed: Content for NITB to contact the Regional Development Committee directly if they have any questions arising from the papers.
III. Letter from Phoenix Gas and a press release regarding a “No Price Increase for Phoenix Supply Customers.”
IV. Letter from Minister regarding the Better Regulation Annual Report 2009/2010.
V. DETI press release regarding the Economic advisory group plans to identify economic priorities.
Agreed: To receive a copy of the working group’s work programme.
12. Any other business
Members discussed the Committee’s end of session report.
Agreed: Content with the report and that it be published on the Committee website.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 7 October at 10.30am, Parliament Buildings, Room 30.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.19pm.
Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
October 2010
23 September 10 / Menu
