ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 22 2001 AT 10.30AM
IN ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Attwood
Mr W Clyde
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
In attendance: Mr J Nesbitt
Miss J Presho
Mr D Donaldson
The meeting opened, in private, at 10.48am
1. Chairperson's business
1.1. Letter to the Chairperson from Life and Health Technologies Partnership, University of Ulster, Coleraine regarding proposed events for 2001.
Agreed - to send a letter on behalf of the Committee recognising the valuable work of Life and Health Technologies Partnership and apologising, due to the work commitments of the Committee at present, that members would not be able to attend these events.
1.2. The postponement of the meeting with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland on Thursday 18 January.
Agreed -to wait until after the visits to Scotland and Wales before rescheduling this meeting.
1.3. Future visits - Scotland 24 & 25 January 2001 and Wales 31 January & 1 February.
The Chairperson asked members taking part in these visits to give their total commitment to avoid any further postponements.
The Chairperson raised the question of the presentation of gifts to the organisations they will meet in Scotland and Wales.
Agreed - that the Committee Clerk should seek clarification of this issue from the Clerk of Committees.
Mr Neeson joined the meeting at 11.02am
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.02am
2. Minutes of the last meeting
2.1. The minutes of the meeting of 15 January were agreed.
3. Matters arising
3.1. Ulster Bank issue - the Deputy Chairperson pointed out that the Ulster Bank issue might not be totally resolved. The outcome of the tribunal in the Republic of Ireland was still to be announced.
3.2. Letter from the Clerk to the Committee of the Centre on the Economic Policy Unit - this was deferred from the last meeting of the Committee.
Agreed - to pursue a meeting with the Economic Policy Unit and to raise any queries on the role of the Economic Policy Unit at that meeting.
3.3. Briefing on "Unlocking Creativity" - the Chairperson reminded members of this briefing, due to be held on 8 February at 10.00am in the Long Gallery.
4. Statutory Rule 2000 No. 388 - Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000
4.1.Agreed - that the Committee should await a response from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on the technical aspects of the Rule before considering this Statutory Rule further.
5. Energy Inquiry
5.1. The Committee considered a paper from the Assembly Research office on suggested places to visit in relation to the Energy Inquiry.
Agreed - not to consider a visit at present.
5.2. The Chairperson reported on a response received from the Regional Development Committee regarding the Energy Inquiry - stating that they do not wish to have any input into the Energy Inquiry, but do wish to be kept informed of the progress and outcome of the Inquiry.
6. Any other business
6.1. Letter to Ms Morrice from the Federation of Small Businesses regarding the visit of the Chief Executive of the Small Business Service to Parliament Buildings on 26 January.
Agreed - to contact the organisation for further information.
7. Strategy 2010 Inquiry
A discussion took place on the report on Strategy 2010.
Agreed - not to publish maps/graphs/photographs or any copyright material included in written submissions in the report.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.28am
8. Meeting with Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
8.1. The Chairperson reported that an invitation had been extended to both himself and the Deputy Chairperson to attend a lunch time meeting today with the Minister and Departmental officials. As the Deputy Chairperson was unable to attend Dr McDonnell agreed to attend on his behalf.
9. Next meeting
9.1. The next meeting of the Committee will be held in private on Tuesday 23 January in Room 152 at 2.00pm.
The meeting closed at 11.53am
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)