COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2002 AT 10.37AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Dr A McDonnell
Mr E McMenamin
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr P Doherty MP (Chairperson)
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
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 Research)
The meeting opened in private at 10.37am.
Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson.
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1 Mr Neeson formally thanked Members for their messages of concern and support for him during his recent illness.
1.2 Mr McMenamin was welcomed to his first meeting of the Committee.
2. Service Delivery Agreement
2.1 The Committee considered further comments on the Department's draft SDA.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.54am.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 11.33am.
Agreed - to write to the Minister detailing the Committee's concerns and seeking further information on several issues.
3. DETI Draft Corporate Plan
3.1 The Committee considered the draft Corporate Plan in advance of meeting departmental officials at the next Committee meeting.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 12 noon.
4. INI Draft Corporate Plan
4.1 The Committee considered the draft corporate plan.
Agreed - that there was no need to meet with INI officials to discuss the draft plan.
Agreed - that Members should consider the plan further at the next meeting.
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 12.10pm.
5. Regional Transportation Strategy
5.1 The Committee considered the consultation paper from the Department for Regional Development.
Agreed - to write to the Committee for Regional Development detailing the Committee's concern relating to issues affecting the economy.
The meeting went into public session at 12.17pm.
6. Minutes of Previous Meeting
Agreed - the minutes of the last meeting on 27 February 2002.
7. Matters Arising
7.1 Visit to the Moyle Interconnector and Giant's Causeway -
Agreed - to reschedule the visit for 10 April 2002.
Agreed - to invite Seaport Investments and the National Trust to a meeting of the Committee on 17 April 2002.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 12.20pm.
8. Statutory Rule SR2002 No. 36 - Weights and Measures (Prescribed Stamp) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
Agreed - to approve the Rule as laid.
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 12.29pm.
9. Tourism Inquiry
9.1 The Committee Clerk advised the Committee that 67 submissions had been received in the office relating to the inquiry. The Committee discussed how oral evidence sessions could be handled.
Agreed - that the Committee Clerk would investigate the feasibility of organising a conference-style event in late April and report to the next meeting.
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 12.48pm.
10. Any other business
10.1 Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone.
Agreed - to invite Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone to meet with Committee Members on 16 April.
10.2 National Energy Action Conference.
The Committee Clerk reported that up to two Members should represent the Committee at the NEA Conference in Dublin on 27-28 March.
Agreed - that Dr O'Hagan and Dr McDonnell represent that Committee at the conference.
10.3 Future Work Programme.
The Committee Clerk detailed the work facing the Committee over the next 6 months. The Committee noted that consideration may need to be given to holding some meetings during Summer Recess.
10.4 Energy Inquiry.
The Committee Clerk advised that a letter had been received from Felicity Huston, Chairman, NI Consumer Committee for Electricity (NICCE) regarding the Energy Inquiry Report.
Agreed - to reply to Felicity thanking NICCE for their interest and explaining the Committee's position in regard to some of her concerns.
11. Date of next meeting
11.1 The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 20 March at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 1.05pm.
Mr Seán Neeson
Deputy Chairperson