ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2001 at 11.45AM
IN ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Chairperson's business
2. Minutes of last meetings
3. Matters arising
4. Unlocking Creativity
5. Any other business
6. Strategy 2010 Inquiry
Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr W Clyde
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
Apologies: Mr A Attwood
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D Shipley Dalton
Mr D McClarty
Mr S Neeson
The meeting opened, in private, at 11.45am
1. Chairperson's business
1.1 The Chairperson asked if the Committee would consider meeting on Thursday 8 March instead of Wednesday 7 March.
Agreed - that the Committee Clerk would contact other members of the Committee to check their availability.
1.2 The Chairperson reported that he had attended a meeting of the Chairperson's Liaison Group and that he would report to the Committee more fully on the issues raised at the next Committee meeting.
Top2. Minutes of last meeting
2.1 The minutes of the meeting of 22 February were agreed.
Top3. Matters arising
3.1 Visit to Enterprise Ireland and IDA - on 29 March. A copy of the draft itinerary for the visit was circulated to members.
Agreed - that members would advise the Committee Clerk how they intend to travel and if they require rail tickets.
3.2 Energy Inquiry - a suggested timetable for oral evidence sessions was circulated to members.
3.3 Appointment of a Specialist Adviser for the Energy inquiry - the Committee Clerk reported that the Assembly's Research office had suggested a further name to consider.
Agreed - that the Committee should read the three CVs they have been given and discuss the issue at next week's meeting.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 12noon
Mr Wells left the meeting at 12.02pm
3.4 The letter inviting Mr R McCartney MP to give evidence on the energy inquiry was read out and agreed.
Top4. Unlocking Creativity
Agreed - to issue a letter to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in support of the consultation document.
Top5. Any other business
5.1 InterTradeIreland - the Committee Clerk asked if members wished to meet InterTradeIreland.
5.2 Agreed - to issue a holding letter to InterTradeIreland expressing the Committee's interest in meeting them, but due to the current workload such a meeting was unlikely to take place before June.
Invitation to visit IRTU - the Committee Clerk reported that a letter had been received from Mr J Wolstencroft, the Chief Executive of IRTU, inviting the Committee to visit IRTU in Lisburn.
Agreed - accept the invitation and to check members availability for 16 March.
5.3 Visit by Chair of Economic Development Committee (Welsh Assembly) to Parliament Buildings on 16 March 2001
Agreed - to meet with Ms Val Feld, Chair of the Economic Development Committee of the Welsh Assembly between 3.00pm - 4.00pm on 16 March. The Committee Clerk agreed to check members availability for this meeting.
5.4 Recent announcement by Mary O'Rourke TD, Minister for Public Enterprise regarding approval for the Scotland/Dublin Gas Pipeline - a copy of the press statement by Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and a newspaper article from the Irish Times was circulated to members for information.
5.5 "Renewable Energy in Maritime Island Climates"(REMIC) Conference on 3-4 May 2001 - Dr O'Hagan reported that she had received a letter and registration form for this conference.
Agreed - to ask for further information regarding the conference.
Top6. Strategy 2010
6.1 The Committee continued its deliberations on their report into the Strategy 2010 Inquiry.
The meeting adjourned at 1.30pm
The meeting resumed at 2.00pm in Room 106
A further discussion took place regarding the Committee's report on the Strategy 2010 Inquiry.
TopThe meeting closed at 3.07pm
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)