COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2001 AT 10.20AM
IN ROOM 144, Parliament Buildings
Present: Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr A Attwood
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Apologies: Mr P Doherty MP
In attendance: Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs J Murdoch (Executive Support)
Miss A Fowler (Administrative Support)
In attendance for public evidence session at 10.33am: Mr D McIldoon, Mr S O'Hare and Mr G Donnelly (Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas (OFREG)).
The meeting opened in private at 10.20am.
1. Minutes of the last meeting
1.1 Agreed - to defer the minutes of 3 October 2001 to the next meeting.
2. Matters arising
2.1 Chairpersons' Liaison Group.
Agreed - to note the role and purpose of the Chairpersons' Liaison Group.
3. Any other business
3.1 Review of NIEC/NIERC and the provision of independent economic advice and research.
Agreed - to seek information from the Committee of the Centre regarding the latest position on this review.
3.2 Future Work Programme - the Committee Clerk outlined the Committee Business over the next four weeks.
Agreed - to circulate to Members a note giving the details of the forthcoming visits.
3.3 Energy Inquiry Report - the Committee Clerk informed the Committee that the draft report would need to be agreed by the end of November if the report was to be printed before Christmas Recess.
3.4 Difficulties Faced by the Northern Ireland Economy.
Agreed - to invite the Minister to a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the difficulties being faced by Northern Ireland businesses in the wake of the tragic events of 11 September and the general downturn in the global economy.
3.5 Invest Northern Ireland (INI).
Agreed - to invite the Shadow Board of INI to a future working lunch with the Committee.
The meeting went into public session at 10.33am.
4. Meeting with OFREG
4.1 Officials from OFREG gave a presentation on several Consultation Papers issued by OFREG - Accelerating Trading of Renewable Energy, Proposals for a Change in NIE's Charges for New Connections and Social Action Plans for Electricity and Gas Consumers. This was followed by a question and answer session during which Members put a number of questions to the officials.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.47am.
Mr Attwood left the meeting at 11.48am.
4.2 Officials from OFREG were asked a number of questions regarding the present position of the generation contracts and the Utilities Act in Great Britain.
The meeting went into private session at 11.55am.
Agreed - that the minutes of Evidence from this meeting be sent to OFREG as the Committee's response to the consultation documents.
Agreed - to write to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) seeking information regarding two hydro-power schemes which had been given approval to proceed but appear not to have progressed.
Agreed - to write to DETI seeking clarification on the introduction of the Utilities Act in Great Britain with regards to the renewables obligation.
Agreed - to draft a press release calling for greater use of renewable energy sources by public sector organisations.
5. Date of next meeting
5.1 Agreed - the next meeting would take place on Wednesday 17 October 2001 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
Mr Attwood rejoined the meeting at 12.00pm.
The meeting closed at 12.00pm.
Sean Neeson
Deputy Chairperson