COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2002 AT 10.50AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr W Clyde
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs A Courtney
In attendance: Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr R Anderson (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss A Fowler (Clerical Officer)
Dr P Gilleece (Assembly Researcher)
The meeting opened in public at 10.50am.
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1 The Chairperson reported that the Committee had been invited to a number of Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) facilities.
Agreed - in principle to visit NIE.
Ms Morrice joined the meeting at 10.58am.
2. Matters Arising
2.1 The Committee discussed and amended the draft response on T & D.
Agreed - to issue the response to OFREG.
3. Open-Ended Investment Companies
3.1 Officials from the Companies Registry discussed Open-ended Investment Companies and answered questions from the Committee. The Committee was content in principle with the proposals.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 11.20am.
4. A Framework for developing Northern Ireland's Participation in the European Union
4.1 The Committee discussed the draft framework document.
Agreed - to forward initial comments to the Committee of the Centre.
5. Specialist Adviser on the Tourism Inquiry
Agreed - that Mr Doherty, Ms Morrice, Mr Wells and the Committee Clerk will sit on the evaluation panel.
6. Visit to Industrial Research and Technology Unit and InterTradeIreland
Agreed - to issue the Press Release on Tuesday 19 February.
The meeting went into private session at 11.45am.
7. Energy Inquiry Report
7.1 The Committee carried out the second reading of Draft 7 of its Energy Inquiry Report.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.50am.
7.2 Section 2 - Paragraphs 2.9 - 2.13 read and agreed.
Section 2 - Paragraphs 2.23 - 2.28 read and agreed without objection.
Section 2 - Paragraph 2.46 read, amended and agreed without objection.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 12.05pm.
7.3 Executive summary - Paragraph 7 read, amended and agreed without objection.
7.4 Section 1 - Paragraph 1.4 read, amended and agreed.
Section 1 - Paragraph 1.6 and 1.7 read and agreed to amalgamate.
Section 1 - Paragraph 1.8 read and agreed to delete.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 12.30pm.
Mr Armstrong rejoined the meeting at 12.33pm.
7.5 Executive Summary -
Paragraphs 1 - 6 read and agreed.
Paragraph 8 read and agreed.
Ms Morrice left the meeting at 12.35pm.
Paragraph 9 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 10 - 13 read, amended and agreed.
7.6 Section 1 -
Paragraphs 1.1-1.3 read and agreed.
Paragraph 1.5 read and agreed.
7.7 Section 2 -
Paragraphs 2.1-2.8 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 2.14-2.22 read and agreed.
Paragraphs 2.29 -2.32 read and agreed.
Paragraph 2.33 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 2.34-2.35 read and agreed.
Paragraph 2.36 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 2.37 - 2.45 read and agreed.
Paragraph 2.47 read and agreed.
Ms Morrice rejoined the meeting at 12.45pm.
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 12.50pm.
Paragraph 2.48 read, amended and agreed.
Mr Clyde left the meeting at 1.03pm.
Agreed - to insert a new paragraph between paragraphs 2.48 and 2.49. New paragraph read and agreed.
Paragraphs 2.49 - 2.51 read and agreed.
A brief recess took place at 1.26pm whilst the Committee to move to Room 106.
Mr Clyde rejoined the meeting at 1.30pm.
The meeting continued in private session in Room 106 at 1.46pm.
7.8 Section 3 -
Paragraph 3.1 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 3.2 - 3.8 read and agreed.
Dr O'Hagan rejoined the meeting at 1.50pm.
Paragraph 3.9 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 3.10-3.15 read and agreed.
Agreed - to insert a new paragraph between paragraphs 3.15 and 3.16. New paragraph read and agreed.
Paragraphs 3.16-3.18 read and agreed.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 2.01pm.
Paragraph 3.19 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 3.20-3.25 read and agreed.
7.9 Section 4 -
Paragraphs 4.1-4.4 read and agreed.
Paragraph 4.5 read.
Agreed - to divide into two paragraphs.
Paragraphs 4.6-4.26 read and agreed.
Agreed - to insert a new paragraph between paragraphs 4.26 and 4.27. New paragraph read and agreed.
Paragraph 4.27 read, amended and agreed.
Agreed - to insert two new paragraphs between paragraphs 4.27 and 4.28. New paragraphs read and agreed.
Paragraph 4.28 read, amended and agreed.
Paragraph 4.29 read and agreed.
Paragraph 4.30 read, amended and agreed.
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 2.40pm.
Paragraph 4.31-4.32 read and agreed.
Paragraph 4.33-4.35 read, amended and agreed.
Agreed to insert a new paragraph after paragraph 4.35. New paragraph read and agreed.
7.10 Section 5 -
Paragraphs 5.1-5.8 read and agreed.
7.11 Section 6 -
Paragraphs 6.1-6.10 read and agreed.
7.12 Tables 1 and 2, references and list of abbreviations read and agreed.
7.13 The Committee discussed the papers that would be included in the report.
Agreed - to insert all 32 written submissions, minutes of evidence from oral evidence sessions, addendum to minutes of evidence, the Committee's report on Electricity and Gas Consumer Representation, extracts from the minutes of proceedings relating to the report, all visit reports and case studies and papers prepared by Assembly Research and Library Services on Orimulsion, Wave Energy and Renewables.
7.14 Agreed - that the report should be ordered for printing.
7.15 The Committee discussed press coverage of the report.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 3.05pm.
7.16 The Committee discussed wording of a Motion for debate in the House.
Agreed - wording of a Motion.
7.17 The Committee formally thanked all the staff who worked on the Energy Inquiry Report.
Agreed - to send a letter of appreciation to the Specialist Adviser on the Energy Inquiry.
8. Any Other Business
8.1 Agreed - to cancel visit to Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland due to time constraints.
8.2 Agreed - to write to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's visit to Northern Ireland.
The meeting closed at 3.10pm.
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Chairperson