ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2001 AT 11.10AM
IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Attwood
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
In attendance: Mrs C White
Mr J Nesbitt
Miss J Presho
Mr D Donaldson
In attendance for public evidence session at 11.30am: Mr R McKeag, and Ms M Russell (DETI)
The meeting opened, in private, at 11.10am
1. Chairperson's business
1.1 The Chairperson reported on a recent meeting he and the Deputy Chairperson had with Dr Birnie, the Chairperson of the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee regarding cross cutting issues.
Agreed - that the parts of the Strategy 2010 draft report which impinge on the remit of Dr Birnie's Committee should be released to Dr Birnie and that his Committee should be given 1 week to comment. The Committee Clerk agreed to extract the relevant parts from the draft report and clear with the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson before releasing to Dr Birnie.
2. Public Service Agreement
2.1 Agreed - the draft response to the Minister, as amended.
3. Minutes of the last meeting
3.1 The minutes of the meeting of 7 February were agreed.
4. Matters arising
4.1 Committee visit to Enterprise Ireland and IDA - it was not possible to agree on the suggested dates given by Enterprise Ireland and the IDA. The Committee Clerk agreed to try and arrange an alternative date.
5. Any other business
5.1 Take up in Northern Ireland of European Funds -
Agreed - that more information should be sought on the recent criticism by the EU Court of Auditors of the low level of take up in Northern Ireland of European Funds.
6. Public evidence session - presentation by the Department on the proposed Statutory Rule - Companies (1986 Order) (Audit Exemption) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
6.1 Officials from the Department gave a presentation to the Committee on the proposals to introduce the above Rule. The officials advised that the Rule would substantially reduce the burdens on small businesses. A number of questions were put to the officials.
6.2 After the presentation the Committee discussed the Rule.
Agreed - to advise the Department that the Committee was content, at this stage, with the proposals.
Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 12.25pm
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 12.40pm
7. Strategy 2010
7.1 The Committee continued its deliberations on Strategy 2010.
The meeting closed at 1.00pm
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)