COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2002 AT 11.00AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr D McClarty
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
Dr A McDonnell
Apologies: Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney Ms J Morrice
Mr E McMenamin
In attendance: Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr R Anderson (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss A Fowler (Clerical Officer)
In attendance for the public evidence session at 11.15 am: Mr Ross Murray, Mr James Gurling, Mr Philip Robinson (Hutchison 3G)
The meeting opened in public at 11.00am.
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1. The Chairperson advised the Committee to note that he forwarded letters from the Employment and Learning Committee Chairperson to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment asking for letters to be issued to John Simpson and Padraig White requesting their attendance at an Employment and Learning Committee meeting on 7 March.
Agreed - to note that the letters had been forwarded to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
2. Minutes of the Last Meetings
Agreed - the minutes of the meetings held on Tuesday 12 February and Wednesday 13 February.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 The Committee discussed its initial comments on the draft Framework for Developing Northern Ireland's Participation in the European Union.
Agreed - to issue a response to the Committee of the Centre.
4. Visit to Moyle Interconnector and meeting with Moyle District Councillors at the Giant's Causeway Visitor's Centre site on 6 March
Agreed - to issue the Press Release on Tuesday 5 March.
Agreed - to invite Seaport Investments Limited and The National Trust to give evidence to the Committee.
5. Northern Ireland Audit Office report on the Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Agreed - to write to the Public Accounts Committee to ask to kept informed regarding this matter.
6. Hutchison 3G
6.1 A delegation from Hutchison 3G discussed the next generation of telecommunications networks planned for Northern Ireland and answered questions from the Committee.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 11.40am.
7. Proposal from Trading Standards Service to make Statutory Rule - Draft Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements)(Verification Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
Agreed - to note the proposal.
8. Proposal from Trading Standards Service to make Statutory Rule - Draft Weights and Measures (Testing and Adjustment Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
Agreed - to note the proposal.
9. Any Other Business
9.1 The Committee considered a letter from the Minister on the consultant's Consumer Bond paper.
Agreed - to note the letter.
9.2 The Committee considered a letter from Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone on Fuel Poverty and Health.
Agreed - that a delegation from the Committee would meet representatives from Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone.
9.3 The Committee considered a letter from the Department of the Environment regarding BIFFA Waste Services.
Agreed - to note the letter.
9.4 Agreed - to meet Mervyn Keanes, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England at an evening reception on 12 September 2002.
9.5 The Committee considered a letter from Young Enterprise NI on the KEY Programme.
Agreed - to issue a letter of support for the work of Young Enterprise NI.
The meeting went into Private Session at 12.35pm.
10. Tourism Inquiry
10.1 The Committee were advised that copies of the written submissions were available for collection from the Committee Office.
11. Energy Inquiry
Agreed - the content of the embargoed Press Release.
Agreed - the subjects each Committee member would discuss at the debate.
12. Date of next meeting
12.1 The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 13 March 2002 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.53pm.
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Chairperson