COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Paul Givan
Mr William Irwin
Mr Leslie Cree
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Ms Claire McGill
Mr Gerry McHugh
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann
Mr Sean Neeson
The meeting began at 10.41am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of meeting held on the 9 December 2010
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 9 December were agreed.
3. Matters arising from meeting on 9 December 2010
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding follow-up information from the British Bankers’ Association on the banks’ approach to bonuses under the Financial Services Authority’s remuneration code.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.44am.
Members noted a response from the Department regarding the Proof of Concept Programme.
Members discussed a letter from the Quinn Employee Forum to the Chair regarding Quinn Group’s refinancing process and requesting a meeting.
Agreed: To await the Department’s response on the issue and invite the Quinn Employee Forum to provide an oral briefing to the Committee on the situation.
Members noted a letter from the Minister regarding the air passenger duty.
Members noted a response from the Department regarding the UK Broadband Strategy and fund.
Members discussed MATRIX.
Agreed: To schedule an oral update from the Department on MATRIX for early 2011.
Members discussed the Social Economy Enterprise Strategy.
Agreed: To schedule an oral update on the Strategy for early 2011.
Members noted that Debt Relief Bill has received Royal Assent and will be known as the Debt Relief Act (Northern Ireland) 2010.
4. Tourism Policy - Oral briefing from the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
DETI officials joined the meeting at 11.00am.
Members received an oral briefing from Noel Cornick, Head of Tourism Policy; Lorraine Fleming, Tourism Policy and John Simms, Deputy Principal, Tourism Policy. Key issues discussed included Tourism policy development, interaction between NI Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland and the contribution of tourism to the NI economy.
Agreed: Department officials to contact the Committee in relation to Sperrins tourism.
Agreed: To receive information on where tourism lies in the overall strategy economic strategy for NI.
Dr Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.10am.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 11.15am.
DETI officials left the meeting at 11.58am.
5. Climate Change Levy - Written briefing
Members discussed the written briefing.
Paul Givan joined the meeting at 12.00pm.
Agreed: To ask the Department the level of the levy.
6. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
I. Correspondence from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety regarding the Autism Bill.
Agreed: To forward the correspondence to the Department for response.
II. Letter to the Chair from Archbishop of Armagh regarding the Churches’ views on banking issues.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Department for comment.
Agreed: To inform the Committee for Finance and Personnel that the Committee will forward the letter to the Department for comment.
Agreed: To request the written material from the NIABT event with the Ulster Bank on 14 December.
III. Correspondence from the Department in response to the OFMDFM Committee’s queries regarding EU issues.
IV. Correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the November 2010 Investment Activity Report for NI.
V. Email from the Freight Transport Association and the organisation’s submission on the NI Budget.
VI. Letter to Chair from Minister regarding Credit Card Cheques and the Financial Services Bill.
VII. Email from Small Wind Energy Group (SWEG) requesting a meeting with the Chair.
Agreed: To arrange a meeting with the Chair.
7. Any other business
Members discussed the Draft Budget 2011-15.
Agreed: To schedule an oral briefing from the Department to explain the details and implications.
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 13 January at 10.30am, Parliament Buildings, Room 30.
The meeting went into closed session at 12.15pm to allow consideration of the renewable energy inquiry.
9. Renewable Energy Inquiry: Written briefing
Members discussed the Renewable Energy Inquiry.
Agreed: Content with the proposed timeline for completion of the Inquiry.
Agreed: Content with follow-up questions to organisations that gave evidence to the Committee.
Agreed: Content to host en event in the Long Gallery to launch the inquiry report to the public.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.20pm.
Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
January 2010
09 December 10 / Menu
