Date: Friday 25 January 2008

ETI 01/08

Paul Maskey, Deputy Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee refuted media claims today that his Committee was intending to hold an inquiry into Nuclear Energy. The claims were made following the Committee’s meeting yesterday which he chaired.

“The Committee discussed a number of areas for a possible inquiry and it was within this context that a range of energy issues was mentioned. At no point in the meeting did Members agree to examine the possibility of building a nuclear power station station in Northern Ireland”.

Contrary to press claims, the Committee has no plans to commence an inquiry into energy in March. The Committee is merely doing some scoping work into energy issues at present. The Committee is also looking at the whole area of innovation”.

Mark Durkan, Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee said

“The Committee recognises the importance of the energy agenda, the potential for renewable energy and opportunities for companies to develop and exploit more innovative technologies in the area of renewable energy. From time to time, papers on wider national energy policy issues come to the Committee as well.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITOR

The Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s membership is:

Chairperson Mark Durkan MP (SDLP)
Deputy Chairperson Paul Maskey (Sinn Fein)

Alliance Sean Neeson
DUP Simon Hamilton
Robin Newton
David Simpson
Sinn Fein Jennifer McCann
Independent Gerry McHugh
SDLP Alasdair McDonnell
UUP Leslie Cree
Alan McFarland

All enquiries regarding the work of the Committee should be directed to the Committee Clerk, Lucia Wilson, Room 424, Parliament Buildings, Belfast, BT4 3XX ( ( 028 905 21230).