COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
MONDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2001 AT 10.22AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr P Doherty MP (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Ms J Morrice
Dr A McDonnell
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
Apologies:
Mr A Attwood
Mr D McClarty
In attendance:
Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs J Murdoch (Executive Support)
Miss A Fowler (Committee Assistant)
The meeting opened in private at 10.22am.
1. Chairperson's business
1.1. A copy of a briefing document from Airtricity given to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson at a recent meeting was circulated to members for their information.
1.2. The Chairperson reported that he had received a letter from the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure regarding a seminar on culture to be held in Northern Ireland next year. A similar letter to be forwarded to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment was enclosed.
Agreed - to forward the attached letter to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
1.3. The Committee Clerk advised that she had received correspondence to be forwarded to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in his capacity as a member of the Committee of the Regions to give written evidence to the Committee of the Centre on their current European Inquiry.
Agreed - to forward the letter to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
2. Minutes of last meeting
2.1. Agreed - the minutes of 19 November 2001.
3. Matters arising
3.1. Meeting with Specialist Adviser regarding the Energy Inquiry.
Agreed - to meet with the Specialist Adviser on Tuesday 8 January 2002.
4. Any other business
4.1. Letter from the Chairperson of the Committee for Finance and Personnel along with correspondence from the Minister of Finance and Personnel detailing his Department's concerns on a recent press notice issued by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment calling for greater use of renewable energy in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 10.30am
Agreed - to note the letter.
4.2. The Committee Clerk advised that the Consideration Stage of the Industrial Development Bill would take place during the Assembly plenary on Monday 26 November 2001.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 10.42am
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 10.50am
5. Matters arising (continued)
5.1. Letter from the Lower Malone Resident's Association regarding a Northern Ireland Tourist Board grant to the Malone Lodge Hotel - deferred from the last meeting.
Dr McDonnell declared that he had no financial or commercial interest in this issue.
Agreed - to refer this issue to the Public Accounts Committee as it falls within their remit and write to the Lower Malone Residents Association and the Malone Lodge Hotel informing them of the Committee's decision.
6. Energy Inquiry
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.05am
6.1. The Committee Clerk reported back to the Committee on a recent meeting between the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson with Premier Power Limited. A copy of the briefing paper given by Premier Power Limited was circulated to members.
Agreed - to write to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment seeking his views on the issue of generator contractors.
6.2. The Committee discussed how they intended to work through the draft energy inquiry report.
The meeting suspended at 11.32am
The meeting resumed in private at 11.56am
7. Any other business (continued)
7.1. Committee delegation accompanying the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on a trade mission to the United States and Canada, 9-13 December 2001. A copy of the draft programme for the visit was issued to members.
The Committee discussed the possible flight options for the visit to the United States.
Agreed - on this occasion that the Committee should take advantage of the special business class offer with Aer Lingus from Dublin. Dr O'Hagan asked that her dissent be recorded.
Agreed - to write to the Assembly Commission highlighting the Committee's concerns with the current practice used by the Assembly in organising travel arrangements that may not give the best value for money.
Agreed - that if a member from a larger party is unable to attend such a visit a member of a smaller party could substitute this place.
8. Energy Inquiry (continued)
8.1. The Committee deliberated on its draft report on the Energy Inquiry.
Agreed - to write to the Department requesting further detail regarding energy issues.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 12.16pm
9. Date of next meeting
9.1. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 28 November 2001 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.58pm.
Pat Doherty MP
Chairperson