ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 2001 at 10.20AM
IN ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGSPresent: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Attwood
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Ms J Morrice
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J WellsIn attendance: Mrs C White
Mr J Nesbitt
Miss J Presho
Mr D DonaldsonIn attendance for the public session at 11.00am: Adria Ltd. - Mr T McCartney, Mr N Birthistle, Ms K Tarr
In attendance for the public session at 12noon: Kurt Salmon Associates - Mr R Blyth and Ms C Trivett
In attendance for the public session at 2.20pm: General Consumer Council for NI - Mrs J Whiteside, Mr B Osborne, Mrs M Bell
In attendance for the public session at 2.55pm: NI Consumer Committee for Electricity - Mrs F Huston and Mrs A McMinnis
The meeting opened, in private, at 10.20am
1. Chairperson's business
1.1. The Chairperson read out a letter from the Eco Energy Trust requesting the Committee to nominate members to be represented on the Trust.
Agreed - not to take up the offer, but to request that the Committee be regularly updated on the work of Eco Energy Trust.
1.2. The Committee Clerk reported that a letter had been received from the Chairperson of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee, seeking the Committee's permission to invite the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to give a presentation on their newly launched website.
Agreed - that the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee could invite the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to give a presentation. Also agreed - that the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee should ask to be involved in the presentation.
1.3. The Committee discussed a recent television documentary on Harland & Wolff and the long-term leases on 300 acres of land on the shores of Belfast Lough and their future plans for the land.
Agreed - to write to the Regional Development Committee and the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding this matter.
2. Minutes of the last three meetings
Agreed - Minutes of meetings of 28 February, 6 March and 14 March.
3. Matters arising
3.1. Energy Inquiry - Appointment of a Specialist Adviser. The Chairperson reported to the Committee that four CVs had been received and that a further CV was due to be submitted.
Agreed - to defer this item until next week's meeting.
3.2. Future programme of work - meeting with Professor Buckland originally arranged for February.
Agreed - that this meeting should be deferred until such times as the Committee's workload had decreased.
4. Statutory Rule - Companies (1986 Order) (Audit Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
The Committee took account of the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on the technical aspects of this Rule - none of the grounds specified in Standing Order 41(4) were raised by the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Committee considered the merits of the Rule, taking into account the Rule itself, the Explanatory Memorandum and additional information from the Department.
Agreed - that the Committee accept the Statutory Rule.
5. Ofreg's Draft Equality Scheme
5.1. A copy of the draft Equality Scheme was circulated to all members.
Agreed - to ask the Assembly Research Office to provide a critique on the draft equality scheme.
6. Executive Programme Funds
6.1. A copy of the recent letter from the Department was circulated to all members for information.
7. Draft Regional Development Strategy
7.1. The Committee discussed the draft strategy and considered the critique prepared by the Assembly Research Office.
Agreed - to write to the Regional Development Committee highlighting a particular issue which the Committee felt was not addressed in the latest draft strategy.
8. Finance and Personnel Committee Inquiry into PPP & PFI
8.1. Agreed - to defer discussion on this item until next week's meeting. Also agreed - that permission should be given to the Finance and Personnel Committee to invite the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to submit written evidence in relation to the above inquiry.
9. Any other Business
9.1. Meeting with Ms Val Feld, Chairperson of the Economic Development Committee, Welsh Assembly.
The Chairperson read out a short note on the meeting held with Ms Feld, attended by Dr O'Hagan and Mr Wells. At the meeting it was agreed that relevant papers should be exchanged between the two Committees at Committee Clerk level and that a copy of the Committee's report on the Strategy 2010 Inquiry should be sent to Ms Feld when published.
9.2. Orimulsion Paper - prepared by the Assembly Research Office.
The Chairperson reported that the Energy Division of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment had requested a copy of this paper.
Agreed - that a copy of the paper should not be issued to the Department or placed on the Assembly intranet until after the Energy Inquiry was completed.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 10.53am
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.54am
9.3. Restructuring of the Economic Development Agencies - the Committee Clerk updated the Committee on a recent meeting with DETI officials regarding the restructuring issue. The Chairperson reported that a meeting between himself, the Deputy Chairperson and the Minister would be held on Monday 26 March to discuss restructuring.
Agreed - that the Committee be updated on the meeting with the Minister at next week's Committee meeting.
9.4. Northern Ireland Electricity plc - Minutes of Evidence
The Chairperson reported that separate requests had been received from NIE and the Energy Division, DETI for a copy of the Minutes of Evidence relating to the meeting held on 6 March 2001.
Agreed - to issue copies of the Minutes of Evidence to NIE and DETI.
9.5. Letter from Eurotrack Ireland
Agreed - to defer this item until next week's meeting.
9.6. Renewable Energy in Maritime Island Climate Conference 3-4 May 2001
Further information relating to the conference was circulated to members.
Agreed - to defer this item until next week's meeting.
9.7. The Committee Clerk reported that an Assembly Researcher had submitted information regarding an opportunity to be seconded for two weeks each year to the United Nations.
Agreed - that this would be both beneficial to the Assembly and the Researcher, and that a letter of support should be sent to the Head of Assembly Research.
10. Public evidence session at 11.10am - presentation by Adria Ltd
10.1. A senior management delegation from Adria Ltd met with the Committee to discuss the issues surrounding the announcement of the closure of their Newry factory. A short presentation was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11.25am
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.28am
11. Public evidence session at 12 noon - presentation by Kurt Salmon Associates
11.1. The consultants gave a presentation on their recent study on the textile sector in Northern Ireland. The presentation was followed by a question and answer session.
The meeting adjourned at 1.00pm
The meeting resumed in public at 2.20pm in the Senate Chamber
Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson.
12. Public evidence session at 2.20pm - presentation by the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
12.1. Representatives of the General Consumer Council met with the Committee to give evidence on the Electricity and Gas Consumer Representation Arrangements options paper prepared by the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. A brief opening statement was followed by a question and answer session.
13. Public evidence session at 2.55pm - presentation by the Northern Ireland Consumer Committee for Electricity
13.1. Representatives of the Northern Ireland Consumer Council for Electricity met with the Committee to give evidence on the Electricity and Gas Consumer Representation Arrangements options paper prepared by the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. A brief opening statement was followed by a question and answer session.
The meeting closed at 3.20pm
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)
