COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
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 Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting began at 10.23am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 25 November 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 25 November were agreed.
3. Matters arising from meeting on 25 November 2010
Members discussed correspondence from Phoenix Energy Holdings in relation to the Utility Regulator’s oral briefing on the Ten Towns Consultation.
Paul Givan joined the meeting at 10.34am.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.36am.
Agreed: To write to the Utility Regulator with the Committee’s comments.
Members noted correspondence from DETI regarding the economic strategy consultation document.
Agreed: To coordinate comments from other relevant committees on the consultation document.
Members noted a press article regarding Heathrow’s fees for domestic flights.
Agreed: To write to BAA regarding the fees.
Members discussed a response from NITB in relation to cuts to the local tourism events budget.
Agreed: To forward the response to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.44am.
Members noted correspondence from DETI on the SWEG consultation response to the NIRO 2011.
Members discussed an email from SWEG and the Department’s response to SWEG regarding the NIRO 2011 consultation.
Agreed: To await the Department’s response, but highlight the Committee’s concerns on the issue.
Agreed: To request the collated responses to the consultation as soon as possible.
Members were advised of an informal meeting with the Chair and representatives of PMS.
Agreed: To write to OFMDFM regarding the current status of the PMS situation.
4. Renewable Energy Inquiry - Oral evidence from the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development
DARD officials joined the meeting at 10.55am.
Members received an oral briefing from Liam McKibben, Assistant Secretary, Director of Fisheries and Climate Change Division and Joyce Rutherford, Deputy Principal, Climate Change and Renewable Energy Branch. Key issues discussed included support available to renewable energy developments, cross-departmental communication regarding renewable energy and anaerobic digestion.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 11.14am.
Agreed: To receive an indicative list of those farms/forestry enterprises meeting their own energy needs.
Agreed: To receive a list of any biomass schemes that are currently operational in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: To receive a list of those individuals/organisations that have received grants to develop an anaerobic digestion installation.
DARD officials left the meeting at 11.35am.
5. Renewable Energy Inquiry - Oral evidence from the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
DETI officials joined the meeting at 11.37am.
Members received an oral briefing from Olivia Martin and Alison Clydesdale, Energy Division, Fiona Hepper, Assistant Secretary, Head of DETI Energy Division and David Thomson, Deputy Secretary of DETI Policy Group. Key issues discussed included the Strategic Energy Framework, financing of renewable energy (incentives), the grid infrastructure and renewable heat.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.59am.
Paul Givan left the meeting at 12.35pm.
Agreed: DETI officials to continue oral evidence on the inquiry at next week’s meeting.
DETI officials left the meeting at 12.40pm.
6. Prospects for Economic Growth – Oral evidence from the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
The Committee agreed to defer agenda item 6 until next week’s meeting.
7. SR 2010/365: The Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 & SR 2010/366: The Units of Measurement Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee discussed the SR above.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered SR 2010/365 The Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 & SR 2010/366 The Units of Measurement Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010and has no objection to the Rules.
8. December Monitoring Round: Written briefing
Members noted the written briefing.
9. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
I. Memo from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the Child Poverty Strategy and a draft response to the OFMDFM Committee.
Agreed: Content with the draft response.
Agreed: To forward the response and the Social Economy Enterprise Strategy Operating Plan to OFMDFM Committee.
II. Memo from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the Role and Work of The NI Executive Office in Brussels.
Paul Givan rejoined the meeting at 12.45pm.
III. Letter from the Minister to the Chair regarding Broadband UK Strategy.
Agreed: To ask the Department whether the NI will be given any additional support from the £530m broadband fund.
IV. Letter from the Minister to Alex Attwood MLA regarding licensing of clubs.
V. Invitation from The National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) to the Chair to a presentation and lunch on Monday, 6 December.
Agreed: To ask Paul Frew to attend in place of the Chairperson.
VI. Memo from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding proposals for engagement with stakeholders for the spending review.
10. Any other business
Members discussed Christmas cards to send out to witnesses that appeared in front of the Committee this year.
Agreed: To send out real Christmas cards instead of electronic cards.
Members raised the issue of EU Internal Reallocations in the December Monitoring Round.
Agreed: To ask the Department to which programme(s) the reallocation relate.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 9 December at 10.30am, Parliament Buildings, Room 30.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.49pm.
Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
December 2010
25 November 10 / Menu
