COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Paul Givan
Mr William Irwin
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr Gerry McHugh
Ms Claire McGill
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Leslie Cree
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Ms Tara McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
The meeting began at 10.40am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 7 October 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 7 October were agreed.
3. Matters arising from meeting on 7 October 2010
Members discussed Presbyterian Mutual Society report to the Department in July 2010 on the activities of the Board and former directors of the Society.
Agreed: To invite Departmental officials at next week’s meeting to discuss the conclusions of the Administrator’s report.
Members discussed a draft motion for a take-note debate in the Assembly regarding the Strategic Energy Framework.
Agreed: Content with the motion and the proposed date of 16 November.
Members discussed the possibility of an informal meeting with DETI Energy officials to discuss the Strategic Energy Framework before the take-note debate.
Agreed: To schedule the meeting for 9 November, before the take-note debate.
Members noted a DETI Energy Division organisational chart.
Members noted a letter from the Minister regarding CAM Benchmarking.
Members noted a letter and a briefing paper from the Minister regarding transposition of the Renewable Energy Directive.
Members discussed a briefing paper from the Department that outlines the Economic Advisory Group’s work programme.
Agreed: To receive updates on the Economic Advisory Group’s progress and actions as they become available.
4. Renewable Energy Inquiry – Oral evidence from Action Renewables
Michael Doran joined the meeting at 10.46am.
Members received an oral briefing from Michael Doran, Director, Action Renewables. Key issues discussed included Government’s policies on renewable energy, incentives for renewable energy, electricity grid infrastructure requirements in Northern Ireland and planning issues for renewable energy.
Jennifer McCann joined the meeting at 10.47am.
Sean Neeson joined the meeting at 10.56am.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.58am.
Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.27am.
Paul Givan left the meeting at 11.40am.
Michael Doran left the meeting at 11.45am.
Agreed: To commission Assembly Research regarding:
- Comparisons of planning application costs and timing between NI, GB and Republic of Ireland (RoI).
- Comparisons of grid connection costs between Germany, Denmark, NI, GB and RoI including rationale of costs and details of subsidies (if available).
5. Renewable Energy Inquiry – Oral evidence from Ulster Farmer’s Union (UFU)
Officials joined the meeting at 11.50am.
Members received an oral briefing from David McElrea, Chairman, UFU Rural Enterprise Committee, Wesley Aston, UFU Policy Director and Chris Osborne, UFU Policy Officer. Key issues discussed included Government’s policies on renewable energy, planning issues for renewable energy and anaerobic digestion.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 12.03pm.
Paul Givan rejoined the meeting at 12.10pm.
Claire McGill left the meeting at 12.24pm.
Officials left the meeting at 12.40pm.
Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 12.41pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 12.41pm.
6. SR 2010/343: The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee discussed the SR above.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the Rule.
7. Energy Bill: Preliminary View
Members discussed the Energy Bill.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 12.45pm.
DETI Energy officials were called to the meeting at 12.48pm.
Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 12.53pm.
DETI Energy officials left the meeting at 1.15pm.
Agreed: To receive clarification from the Department regarding Clauses 10, 14 and 35 of the Bill and discuss again at the meeting of 4 November.
8. Tourism (Amendment) Bill: Clause by Clause and Draft report
The Committee formally scrutinised, clause-by-clause, The Tourism (Amendment) Bill and agreed the following:
Clause 1 – Frequency of statutory inspections
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 1, as drafted.
Clause 2 – Statutory reviews of certified tourist establishments
Question put and agreed: That the Committee referred Clause 2 for further consideration.
Clause 3 – Imposition of conditions on inspection other than statutory inspection
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 3, as drafted.
Clause 4 – Financial assistance to provide or improve tourist accommodation
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 4, as drafted.
Clause 5 – Appointment of chairman of Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 5, as drafted.
Clause 6 – Short title and commencement
Question put and agreed: That the Committee is content with Clause 6, 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.
The Committee formally scrutinised each paragraph of the draft report.
Agreed: That the executive summary at paragraphs 1-12 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the introduction at paragraphs 13-17 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the summary of the draft Bill as presented to the Committee at Committee Stage at paragraphs 18-24 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the summary of consideration during pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill at paragraphs 25-32 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the summary of consideration of the Bill at paragraphs 33-46 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill at paragraphs 47-49 stands part of the report.
Agreed: That the entire report with minutes of proceedings, minutes of evidence and written evidence will be considered after recess.
9. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
I. Correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee regarding a meeting with the OFCOM Chair, Colette Bowe.
Agreed: Clerk to contact Colette Bowe and report back to the Committee.
II. Letter from a member of the public regarding a private business.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Department for action.
III. Correspondence from the NI Engineering Policy Group regarding an update on its stakeholder meeting on 25 October.
IV. Members noted the following items of correspondence:
- Letter from Citizens Advice regarding dealing with debt.
- Letter from the UK Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development regarding a parliamentary seminar.
- Invitation to the Chair from Royal Town Planning Institute and RSPB to the NI Sustainable Planning Awards.
- Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland Investing Activity Report.
- Letter from the Rainbow Project regarding its response to the Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.
- DETI’s policies/legislation which have been considered and screened out for equality impact assessment (EQIA).
10. Any other business
Members raised the issue of the concept of Invest NI clients.
Agreed: Chair to write to Invest NI to request the current criteria to become an Invest NI client and an update on its review of policy in this area, including how the outcomes of this review may impact on companies.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 21 October at 10.30am, Parliament Buildings, Room 30.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.22pm.
Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
07 October 10 / Menu
