ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 31 May 2000 at 10.00am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings
1. Chairperson's Business
2. Apologies
3. Minutes of Last Meeting
4. Matters Arising
5. Proposal-Weights and Measures(Amendment)Bill
6. Programme of Work
7. Strategy 2010-submissions
8. DETI budget
9. Any other business
10. Date of next meeting
Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr G Campbell
Mr D McClarty
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr D Shipley Dalton
In attendance: Mrs C White, Mr J Nesbitt,
Mr M Anderson, Miss J Presho
The meeting opened at 10.08am.
The Chairperson reported that he had met the Committee Clerk and had been briefed on the issues which were outstanding prior to suspension.
TOPApologies were received from Ms P Lewsley and Mr W Clyde.
TOPThe minutes of the meeting of 9 February were agreed.
Mr Campbell left the meeting at 10.10am and returned at 10.12am.
TOP- Price Marking Order - the Chairperson reported that the Price Marking Order had now been implemented.
- The Chairperson reported that the committee was still waiting on responses from the department/Minister on the following issues - the Community Development Programme, jobs promoted/created, R&D funding, export of machinery, and delays in investment decisions.
- The Chairperson reported that reminder letters had been sent to the chairpersons of the other committees and the Speaker regarding the cross over of responsibilities of committees; and a letter had been issued to the Chairperson of the Regional Development Committee regarding the North Foreshore issue.
- The Chairperson reported that responses had been received from the Minister of DSD via the Chairperson of the Environment Committee on the North Foreshore issue and from the CBI on the question of whether the Monetary Policy Committee had sufficient regional information to make decisions.
- Agreed - to reschedule the lunch with business editors.
- Agreed - that a note of the Committee's visit to Harland & Wolff should be prepared for next week's meeting.
- Agreed - that the NI Hotel Federation, who withdrew from the committee meeting of 9 February, should be invited to a future meeting of the Committee.
5. Proposal - Weights and Measures (Amendment) Bill
Agreed - that the Department should be allowed to proceed with the Bill.
The Committee welcomed the Minister's decision to send the Proposal Note on the Bill to the Committee for its views.
TOPAgreed -
7 June - discussion of the Department's Draft Equality Scheme (private); and meeting with the Minister to discuss the Department's budget (public);
14 June - Strategy 2010 Steering Group to give evidence on Strategy 2010 (public);
21 June - Economic and Social Research Institute and NIEC to give evidence on Strategy 2010 (public).
Ms Morrice left the meeting at 10.35am.
TOP7. Strategy 2010 - submissions
The Committee Clerk reported that 21 written submissions had been received and that the closing date for submissions had now been extended to 21 June.
Agreed - that the Committee Clerk should arrange with the head of Research the appointment of Special Advisors when required to assist the Committee with its inquiry.
TOPAgreed - list of questions to put to the Minister on 7 June to discuss the Department's spending plans for 2000/01.
TOP- The Committee Clerk informed members that she had been advised that the start and finish times for meetings should be recorded in the minutes of proceedings and that the times members leave and return during meetings should also be recorded. The Committee agreed.
- The Committee Clerk informed members of recent guidance she had received on the rules relating to the use of the Senate Chamber. The Committee discussed the guidance and agreed that the Chairperson should raise the matter of restrictions on the number of witnesses allowed into the Chamber with the Speaker.
- The Committee Clerk advised members of the correct interpretation of Standing Order 46(9) relating to the rules for voting in committees.
- The Chairperson referred to reports received from the Federation of Small Businesses and asked that members pass their comments on the reports to the Committee Clerk by 2 June.
- The Chairperson referred to the NI Voluntary Trust Outline Strategic Plan and asked that members pass their comments to the Committee Clerk by 2 June.
- The Committee discussed the recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) 18th report, on the IDB.
- The Committee discussed whether public meetings on the Strategy 2010 inquiry should be held during recess. It was agreed to defer the matter to next week's meeting.
Agreed - to write to the Chairperson of the Assembly PAC to establish what its intentions are regarding the IDB.
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 7 June 2000 at 10.00am in Room 144.
The meeting closed at 11.12am
TOPMr P Doherty
(Chairperson)