COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Frew
Mr Paul Givan
Mr William Irwin
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Ms Claire McGill
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Sean Neeson
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Clerk)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Apologies:
Mr Leslie Cree
Ms Jennifer McCann
The meeting began at 10.50am in closed session.
1. DETI briefing on the Small Wind Energy Group: Oral briefing from DETI
DETI officials joined the meeting at 10.50am.
Members received an oral briefing from Olivia Martin, Principal Officer, DETI Sustainable Energy Branch, and Michael Harris, Deputy Principal Officer, DETI Sustainable Energy Branch. Key issue discussed was the proposals in the NIRO 2011 that would affect previous renewable energy installations.
Sean Neeson joined the meeting at 10.55am.
Paul Givan joined the meeting at 11.00am.
Gerry McHugh left the meeting at 11.08am.
The Committee commenced in open session at 11.16am.
2. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
3. Consultation on proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation and SL1: Proposed Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (NI) 2010: Oral briefing from DETI
Members received an oral briefing from Olivia Martin Principal Officer, DETI Sustainable Energy Branch and Michael Harris, Deputy Principal Officer, DETI Sustainable Energy Branch. Key issue discussed was the proposals for NIRO 2011.
DETI officials left the meeting at 11.23am.
Agreed: Content with the SL1, subject to the requirement for a reduction in greenhouse gas emission to 60% not be included in this NIRO.
4. Minutes of meeting held on the 27 January 2011
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 27 January were agreed.
5. Matters arising from meeting on 27 January 2011
Members discussed correspondence from the Minister regarding the Sustainable Energy Inter-Departmental Working Group (SEIDWIG).
Agreed: To receive a copy of SEIDWIG’s report after it has been considered by the Executive.
Agreed: To write to the Minister to advise that the report on the Renewable Energy Inquiry has been laid in the Business Office and the motion for debate has been scheduled for 14 February.
Agreed: To forward an embargoed copy of the report to the Department in advance of the debate.
Agreed: To forward an embargoed copy of the report to the three speakers scheduled at the launch of the inquiry report.
Members noted a response from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) regarding the Tourism Quality Strategy.
Members noted a letter of thanks from Quinn Employees Forum following the meeting on 20 January.
Members discussed correspondence from the Minister regarding a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) for enabling legislative powers for renewable heat in NI.
Agreed: To schedule an oral briefing from Departmental officials regarding the LCM on 24 February.
Agreed: To commission Assembly Research for background information on the LCM.
Members discussed a paper from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Finance Minister’s meeting with banking representatives, considered at the meeting of 13 January.
Agreed: To forward the paper to the Department for information.
6. Update on Social Economy Enterprise Strategy: Oral briefing from DETI
DETI officials joined the meeting at 11.27am.
Members received an oral briefing from Mike Thompson, Head of DETI Strategic Policy Division; Sharon Polson, Invest NI Entrepreneurship Development; and Stephen Macdonald, DETI Social Economy Branch. Key issues discussed included progress to date on the action plan for Social Economy Enterprise Strategy and funding for the social economy sector.
Gerry McHugh returned to the meeting at 11.33am.
Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.40am.
Agreed: To receive information regarding how much of Invest NI’s budget was allocated to the social economy sector over the past 4 years, and also the amount that has been allocated for the next 3 years.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 11.49am.
Agreed: To receive information regarding the status of a funding application by a consortium of three voluntary and community organisations to the Building Change Trust.
Paul Butler left the meeting at 11.58am.
DETI officials left the meeting at 11.58am.
7. SL1 – Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
Members discussed the Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011.
Agreed: Content with the SL1 and no comment.
8. Northern Ireland Strategic Action Plan for Onshore Renewable Electricity Generation: Written Briefing from DETI
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To receive the consultation document on the draft Onshore Renewable Electricity Strategic Action Plan when it becomes available.
9. Consultation on Incentivisation for Offshore Renewable Energy
Generation: Written Briefing from DETI
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To receive a summary of the consultation responses when they become available.
10. Evaluation of the Tourism Innovation Fund: Written Briefing from
DETI
Members discussed the written briefing.
Agreed: To ask the Department how this fund may be affected by the Draft Budget.
Agreed: To ask the Department and NITB its views on the recommendations made in the evaluation and how it plans to implement the recommendations.
11. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
- Briefing paper from the Department on its Draft Audit of Inequalities 2010.
- Letter from the Minister to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee regarding the value and impact of museums in NI.
- Correspondence from the Committee for OFMDFM regarding the draft Sustainable Development Implementation Plan.
- Information on the Energy Infrastructure Investment Seminar on Tuesday, 8 March.
- Correspondence from Action Renewables inviting the Chair to participate in a round table discussion.
- Correspondence from Royal Mail requesting to brief the Committee on the Postal Services Bill.
Agreed: To receive a written briefing.
- Correspondence from the Education Service regarding a request to meet the Chair and Deputy Chair from Wallace and Friends school in Lisburn on the City Airport Runway Extension.
Agreed: To inform the Education Service of the Chair and Deputy Chair’s acceptance of the request.
12. Any other business
Members discussed a private member’s motion on the Quinn Group/Quinn Insurance.
Members discussed a job plan announcement at the Pump House earlier in the week.
Agreed: Committee to receive a copy of the jobs plan from the relevant organisation.
Members discussed Milwaukee Irish Fest.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 10 February at 10.30am, Parliament Buildings, Room 30.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.14pm.
Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
10 February 2011
27 January 11/ Menu
