ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL 2001 at 10.35AM
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 10.35am: Northern Ireland Electricity plc - Mr H McCracken, Mr D Burnett & Mr A McCrea
In attendance for the public session at 11.10am: Electricity Supply Board - Mr M Aherne & Mr P O Shea
In attendance for the public session at 11.35am: AES Kilroot - Mr S Lynch, Mr D Elliott & Mr G McNeilly
In attendance for the public session at 12noon: Bitor Europe - Mr K Hall, Ms E Vasquez & Mr J Miles
In attendance for the public session at 12.30pm: Coolkeeragh Power Ltd - Mr R Sterling, Mr J Magee & Mr R Devine
In attendance for the public session at 1.00pm: Mr E Beattie
In attendance for the private briefing by the Department at 2.30pm: Mr G McConnell, Mr J McKeown, Mr G McGeown & Mr J Beattie
The meeting opened, in public at 10.35am
1. Public evidence session at 10.35am - Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE)
1.1 The witnesses from Northern Ireland Electricity plc 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.
Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 11.10am
2. Public evidence session at 11.10am - Electricity Supply Board (ESB)
2.1 The witnesses from the Electricity Supply Board gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. They gave a short presentation and answered a numbers of questions put by the Committee.
3. Public evidence session at 11.35am - AES Kilroot
3.1 The witnesses from AES Kilroot 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 12.06pm
4. Public evidence session at 12.10pm - Bitor Europe
4.1 The witnesses from Bitor Europe 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.
5. Public evidence session at 12.45pm - Coolkeeragh Power Ltd
5.1 The witnesses from Coolkeeragh Power Ltd 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 1.00pm - Mr E Beattie
6.1 Mr E Beattie gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Energy. He gave a brief presentation and answered a number of questions put by the Committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 1.30pm
The meeting resumed at 2.15pm in private session
7. Committee business
7.1 Northern Ireland Tourist Board presentation of their website to the Culture, Art and Leisure Committee. The Committee Clerk reported that a written invitation had been extended to the Committee to attend this session on 26 April at 10.30am in the Long Gallery.
Agreed - that members should advise the Committee Clerk if they were able to attend this presentation.
7.2 The Northern Ireland Hotels Federation are giving a press release - a copy of the press release, which was issued by the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation following their meeting with the Committee on Tuesday 3 April, was circulated to members.
7.3 Social Economy seminar - the Committee Clerk gave a brief report of the seminar to the Committee, copies of handouts were circulated to members for their information.
Agreed - that the Committee would write to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, asking for a presentation to be held in Parliament Buildings and extending an invitation to the relevant Committees to take part.
7.4 Assembly debate on the Committee's report on the Strategy 2010 Inquiry - the Committee Clerk reported that the Clerk of Business had confirmed that a debate would take place on 25 April 2001 at 2.00pm.
8. Briefing by Departmental officials on current energy issues
8.1 Departmental officials briefed the Committee on current energy issues. A general discussion took place and members put questions to the officials.
9. Electricity and Gas Consumer Representation Arrangements
9.1 The Committee briefly discussed their views on the future of electricity and gas consumer representation arrangements.
Agreed - that the Committee would meet on Tuesday 24 April to agree a final response to the Minister.
10. Date of Next Meeting
10.1 The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday 24 April at 2.00pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 4.45pm
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)