ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH 2001 at 10.15AM
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
Mr J Wells
In attendance: Mrs C White
Mr J Nesbitt
Miss J Presho
Mr D Donaldson
Apologies: Mrs A Courtney
In attendance for the public session at 10.30am:Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment - Mr G McConnell, Mr J Beattie & Mr G McGeown
In attendance for the public session at 11.00am:University of Ulster - Professor B Norton
In attendance for the public session at 11.30am:Confederation of British Industry - Mr M Ennis, Mr N Smyth & Mr P Carroll
In attendance for the public session at 12noon: CANCO -Mr B Walker, Mr E Beattie & Mr L Porter
In attendance for the public session at 12.30pm:Banbridge District Council - Cllr S Doyle & Mr L Hannaway
The meeting opened, in private, at 10.15am
Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1. Press Conference to launch the Committee's report on Strategy 2010 Inquiry.
Agreed - that a Press Conference be held on Wednesday 4 April at 9.30am in the Press Conference Suite, Parliament Buildings
Also agreed - a draft press release to inform the Press.
1.2. Restructuring of the Economic Development Agencies
A note of the meeting held between the Minister, his officials, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson was circulated to members. Also a letter inviting a delegation from the Committee to a Forum involving all the District Councils in Northern Ireland on 12 April was circulated to members.
Agreed - Members to read the information and revisit the issue at next week's meeting.
1.3. The Deputy Chairperson reported that a letter had been received from the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation regarding the current difficulties facing the industry due to the outbreak of the Foot and Mouth disease. A copy of the letter was circulated to members.
Agreed - that the Committee should invite the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation to a meeting on Tuesday 3 April.
1.4.Information on the US Small Business Administration was circulated to members for their information.
1.5. Electricity and Gas Consumer Representation Arrangements - Copies of the Minutes of Evidence and additional information submitted by the General Consumer Council and the Northern Ireland Consumer Committee for Electricity was circulated to members for their information.
Agreed -that the Committee members should read this information and discuss it more fully at next week's meeting.
1.6. A letter and information from the Minister on EC Directive 1999/34: Product Liability - Extension to Primary Agricultural Products and Game was circulated to members for their information.
2. Public evidence session at 10.30am - Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
2.1. The witnesses from the Department gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a short presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.37am
Mr Doherty joined the meeting at 11.00am
Mr Doherty assumed the Chair at 11.05am
3. Public evidence session at 11.00am - University of Ulster
3.1. Professor Norton gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. A short presentation was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.15am
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 11.20am
4. Public evidence session at 11.30am - Confederation of Business Industry (CBI)
4.1. The witnesses from the CBI gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.50am
5. Public evidence session at 12noon - CANCO (Canal Corridor Natural Gas Task Force)
5.1. The witnesses from CANCO gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
6. Public evidence session at 12.30pm - Banbridge District Council
6.1. The witnesses from Banbridge District Council gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 1.00pm
The meeting went into private session at 1.00pm
7. Minutes of the last two meetings
Agreed - minutes of meetings of 21 March & 22 >March (afternoon).
8. Matters arising
8.1. Energy Inquiry - appointment of a Specialist Adviser. The Committee considered the CVs they had received.
Agreed - the appointment of a Specialist Adviser to advise the Committee in relation to its Inquiry into Energy.
Agreed - to invite officials from the Department to a meeting on Wednesday 4 April to brief the Committee on the current work of the Department in relation to Energy.
8.2. Finance and Personnel Committee Inquiry into Private Public Partnerships (PPP) and Private Finance Initiatives (PFI)
Agreed - to write to the Finance and Personnel Committee and ask that the Committee be kept informed of any conclusions drawn from their Inquiry.
8.3. Letter from Eurotrack Ireland
Agreed - to acknowledge receipt of the letter and note the comments.
8.4. Renewable Energy in Maritime Island Climate Conference 3-4 May 2001
Agreed - to ask a member of staff from the Assembly Research Office to attend and make a presentation to the Committee on the issues raised at the conference.
8.5. NIE's handling of recent power cuts in the province.
Agreed - to await NIE's report on the power cuts before considering this issue further.
9. Investing for Health Consultation Paper
9.1. The Committee considered a critique prepared by the Assembly Research Office.
Agreed - to write to the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety stating that the Committee does not have any comments at this time.
10. Consultation Paper on the Final Report of the PSI Working Group on Travellers
10.1. The Committee considered a critique prepared by the Assembly Research Office.
Agreed - to write to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister stating that the Committee does not have any comments at this time.
11. Any other business
11.1. The Deputy Chairperson reported on an article in a sunday newspaper and a subsequent radio interview relating to Orimulsion.
Agreed - that the Committee should seek more information from the Assembly Research Office.
11.2. The Committee was informed of the possibility that the Assistant Committee Clerk post may become vacant, due to the current member of staff being promoted.
Agreed - that the Chairperson would write to the Speaker, asking for the issue to be discussed at the next meeting of the Assembly Commission.
12. Date of Next Meeting
12.1. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday 3 April at 10.00am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 1.30pm
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)