COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY, 21 MARCH 2011
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Frew
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Mr Sean Neeson

In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr David McKee (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Paul Givan

The meeting began at 10.15am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes of meeting held on the 10 March 2011

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 10 March were agreed.

3. Matters arising from meeting on 10 March 2011

Members noted a response from the Department regarding the Committee’s queries on the Regional Innovation Strategic Action Plan.

Members noted a response from the Department regarding the Committee’s queries on the February Monitoring Round.

Members noted a letter from the Minister to the Chair regarding a written statement to the Assembly on the Independent Review of Economic Policy (IREP) and a progress table on the implementation of IREP .

4. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules:

SR 2011/ 104 Categories of Tourist Establishment (Statutory Criteria) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

SR 2011/105 Statutory Inspection Of Tourist Establishments (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

SR 2011/106 Tourism (Amendment) (2011 Act) (Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011

Question put and agreed: “That the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered SR 2011/ 104 Categories of Tourist Establishment (Statutory Criteria) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011, SR 2011/105 Statutory Inspection Of Tourist Establishments (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and SR 2011/106 Tourism (Amendment) (2011 Act) (Commencement) Order (Northern Ireland) 201 and has no objection to the Rules.”

5. Draft End of Mandate report

Members noted the revised section of the draft End of Mandate report.

Agreed: Content with the revised version and for the additional information to be included in the report after today’s meeting.

6. Correspondence

Members noted the following items of correspondence:

1. Correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee and OFMDFM to the Chair regarding the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
2. Letter from the Minister to the Chair regarding the draft corporate plan for the Consumer Council 2011-2015.
3. Letter to consultees from the Utility Regulator’s office regarding the consultation on the draft equality scheme of the Utility Regulator’s office 2011-2014.
4. Correspondence from Gaelectric regarding Larne Compressed Energy Storage Project.
   Agreed: To advise Gaelectric that it may be useful to send the information to the new Committee when it is formed in May.
5. Correspondence from the Consumer Council regarding its views on the Air Passenger Duty for Belfast airports.
   Agreed: To write to the organisation to inform them that the Committee has considered this issue earlier this year.
   Agreed: To forward the letter from the Minister that the Committee received regarding the issue.

7. Any other business

Members discussed Failte Ireland and the Derry Visitor and Convention Burueau.

Agreed: To receive more details from the Department on funding from Failte Ireland to the Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau.    

The Chair thanked Assembly Research for its excellent assistance to the Committee.

Agreed: To send a letter thanking Assembly Research for its contribution to the Committee.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 10.24am.

Alban Maginness
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
March 2011

10 March 11 / Menu