COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 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)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Gerry McHugh
The meeting began at 10.37am in closed session.
1. Renewable Energy Inquiry
Members discussed the renewable energy inquiry.
Sean Neeson joined the meeting at 10.50am.
Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 10.57am.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.59am.
Agreed: To begin next week’s meeting at 10am.
The meeting moved into public session at 11.19am.
2. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
3. Minutes of meeting held on the 18 November 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 18 November were agreed.
4. Firmus Energy’s Licence in Ten Towns: Oral briefing from NI Authority for Utility Regulation
NIAUR officials joined the meeting at 11.20am.
Members received an oral briefing from Iain Osborne, the Utility Regulator and Brian McHugh, the Gas Director. Key issues discussed included the potential implications for opening the market for gas in the ten towns area, the nature of Firmus Energy’s exclusivity licence and the status of the gas market in Northern Ireland.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.28am.
NIAUR officials left the meeting at 12.00pm.
5. Renewable Energy Inquiry: Oral Evidence from NI Authority for Utility Regulation
NIAUR officials joined the meeting at 12.00pm.
Members received an oral briefing from Iain Osborne, Sarah Brady and Tanya Wishart, NIAUR . Key issues discussed included interconnection needs, Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) vs. Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) and benefits of small scale vs. large scale generation.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell left the meeting at 12.39pm.
NIAUR Officials left the meeting at 12.43pm.
Claire McGill left the meeting at 12.45pm.
6. Matters arising from meeting on 18 November 2010
Members noted a response from the Department the progress of the draft Executive paper on the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
Members noted an update from the Department regarding credit union legislation.
Members noted a press article relating to the completion of Project Kelvin.
Agreed: To invite Departmental officials to provide an oral briefing on the project.
7. Proof of Concept Programme: Written briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To ask Invest NI if the programme will be renewed after the funding is exhausted.
Agreed: To ask the Department if there would be a Post Project Evaluation on the programme upon completion.
8. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
I. Memo from Clerk to the Committee for OFMDFM re European Issues.
Agreed: To forward to the Department for direct response to the OFMDFM Committee, copied to this Committee.
II. Memo from Clerk to the Committee for Social Development re Energy Brokering Report Feasibility Study and the full report.
Agreed: To write to the Social Development Committee regarding the Committee’s knowledge of a switching mechanism for gas consumers.
III. Letter from United Airlines to Chair re Air Passenger Duty
Agreed: To write to the Department to ask how it would affect the economy and tourism in NI.
IV. Letter to Chair from Minister re Carbon Dioxide Directive.
9. Any other business
There were no other items of business.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 2 December at 10.00am, Parliament Buildings, Room 30.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.54pm.
Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
24 November 2010
18 November 10 / Menu
