ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 9 MAY 2001 AT 10.25AM
IN ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Attwood
Mrs A Courtney
Mr W Clyde
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
In attendance:
Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Nesbitt (Assistant Clerk)
Miss J Presho (Executive Support)
Mr D Donaldson (Administrative Support)
Mr P Gilleece (Assembly Researcher)
In attendance for the public session at 10.55am: Premier Transmission Ltd - Mr N Shaw & Mr J Rooney
In attendance for the public session at 11.20am: Phoenix Natural Gas - Mr N Shaw & Mr P Dixon
In attendance for the public session at 11.45am: Bord Gais Eireann - Mr S Yeager & Mr D Healy
In attendance for the public session at 12.15pm: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Northern Ireland) - Mr I Murray & Mr R Scott
In attendance for the public session at 12.40pm: Biofuels (Northern Ireland) - Mr T de Winne
In attendance for the public session at 1.10pm: Premier Power Ltd - Mr N Shaw, Dr A Barker & Mr P Larkin
The meeting opened, in private, at 10.25am
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1 Product Liability (Amendment) Bill - the Chairperson reported that the Committee Clerk had received notification from the Business Committee that they had taken a decision at their last meeting that the Bill should be referred to the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee for the Committee Stage.
Agreed - to invite the Office of Law Reform, Department of Finance and Personnel to give evidence on 16 May.
1.2 Energy Inquiry - the Committee agreed to issue a press release marking the end of oral evidence sessions relating to the inquiry.
2. Matters arising
2.1 Economic Policy Unit, Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister - the Chairperson reported that the Committee Clerk had received a letter and questionnaire for completion regarding their current review of the Northern Ireland Economic Council (NIEC) & Northern Ireland Economic Research Council (NIERC).
Agreed - that it would not be appropriate for the Committee Clerk to complete the questionnaire, and to issue a holding letter at present.
2.2 Visit to IDA & Enterprise Ireland in Dublin - the Committee discussed the possibility of rescheduling this visit.
Agreed - to put this on hold at present.
2.3 Visit to Brussels and Denmark in relation to the Energy Inquiry - the Committee Clerk reported that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London had advised that the proposed date for the visit was not suitable as it coincided with the public holiday period in Denmark.
Agreed - that the visit should be rescheduled for after the summer recess, provisional dates 11 September - 14 September 2001.
2.4 Aggregates Tax - a copy of the Friends of the Earth submission and a letter from Mr Stephen Timms, Treasury Minister responding on behalf of Mr Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer was issued to members for information.
Agreed - that the Committee should revisit this issue at a future meeting.
3. Minutes of the last meeting
Agreed - the minutes of 2 May.
4. Public evidence session at 10.55am - Premier Power Ltd
4.1 The witnesses from Premier 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.
5. Public evidence session at 11.20am - Phoenix Natural Gas
5.1 The witnesses from Phoenix Natural Gas 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 11.45am - Bord Gáis Eireann
6.1 The witnesses from Bord Gáis Eireann 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.
7. Public evidence session at 12.15noon - Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Northern Ireland)
7.1 The witnesses from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (NI) 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.
8. Public evidence session at 12.40pm - Biofuels (Northern Ireland)
8.1 A witness from Biofuels (NI) 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.
Ms Morrice left the meeting at 1.00pm
9. Public evidence session at 1.10pm - Premier Power Ltd
9.1 The witnesses from Premier 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.
The meeting adjourned at 1.30pm
Mr Wells left the meeting at 1.30pm
Mrs Courtney left the meeting at 1.30pm
Mr Neeson left the meeting at 1.30pm
The meeting resumed in private at 2.00pm
Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 2.00pm
10. Matters arising (continued)
10.1 Ofreg Social Action Plan - the Committee discussed the Social Action Plan.
Agreed - to write to Ofreg detailing the Committee's concerns.
10.2 Response from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland regarding issues raised by the Northern Ireland Congress of Trade Unions (NICTU) in relation to Fines for Breaches of Health & Safety at Work Legislation.
Agreed - to write to NICTU acknowledging their letter and informing them that the Committee is aware of their concerns.
The meeting adjourned at 2.07pm
The meeting resumed in private at 2.20pm
11. Statutory Rule 168/2001- Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (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, and the Explanatory Memorandum.
Agreed - that the Committee accept the Statutory Rule.
12. Statutory Rule 142/2001- Construction (Design and Management) (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, and the Explanatory Memorandum.
Agreed - that the Committee accept the Statutory Rule.
13. Ofreg's Draft Equality Scheme
13.1 The Committee discussed the draft Equality Scheme.
Agreed - to issue a letter to Ofreg asking that the Committee be kept informed.
14. DETI Equality Impact Assessment
14.1 The Committee considered the Equality Impact Assessment.
Agreed - to write to the Department asking that the Committee be kept informed.
15. DETI Consumer Strategy
15.1 A copy of the Consumer Strategy was circulated to members.
Agreed - to write to the Department incorporating the points raised.
16. SL1 Transfer of Functions
16.1 The Committee discussed correspondence received from the Committee of the Centre on the Transfer of Functions relating to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Agreed - to issue a letter to the Clerk to the Committee of the Centre stating that the Committee has no concerns.
17. Social Development Committee - Inquiry Terms of Reference
17.1 The Committee discussed the Terms of Reference for the inquiry.
Agreed - that the Committee should take note.
18. Any other business
18.1 Letter from the Minister, Sir Reg Empey regarding recommendations contained in the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure report into Inland Fisheries relating to tourism.
Agreed - that the Committee should take note.
18.2 The Committee Clerk reported that officials from the Committee for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Scottish Parliament will be visiting the Northern Ireland Assembly on 26 & 27 June 2001.
18.3 Dr O'Hagan reported that staff of Penn-Nyla Clothing Manufacturers had requested a meeting with the Committee regarding the impending closure of the Lurgan factory.
Agreed - that the Committee would meet with staff representatives of Penn-Nyla on Wednesday 16 May at 11.00am.
19. Date of Next Meeting
19.1 The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 16 May at 11.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 2.30pm
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)