COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL 2002 AT 10.40 AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty MP MLA (Chairperson) Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong Mr W Clyde Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Mr E McMenamin
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mrs A Courtney
Ms J Morrice
Dr O'Hagan
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)
In attendance for the private evidence session at 11.04am: Mr S Sweeney, Mr J Edmond, Mr P Kendrick and Ms O Hanly (Seaport Investments Ltd).
In attendance for the private evidence session at 12.38pm: Ms R Laird, Mr P Mullan, Mr J Baird and Ms D Forbes (National Trust).
The meeting opened in public at 10.40am.
1. Tourism Inquiry
The meeting went into private session at 10.44am.
1.1 Appointment of Specialist Adviser
Agreed - to consider the shortlist for appointment to the position of Specialist Adviser for the meeting on 24 April.
The meeting went into public session at 10.47am.
1.2 Tourism Inquiry Conference
Agreed - that the Committee Clerk considers various venues for a conference event later in the year.
Dr McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.00am.
The meeting went into private session 11.04am.
2. Development of the Giant's Causeway
2.1 Representatives from Seaport Investments Ltd. outlined their plans for the development of a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway. This was followed by a question and answer session during which Members put a number of questions to the witnesses.
Mr McClarty left the meeting 11.15am.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 11.20am.
Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 11.28am.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 12.38pm.
2.2 Representatives from the National Trust outlined their plans for the development of a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway. This was followed by a question and answer session during which Members put a number of questions to the witnesses.
Mr Clyde left the meeting at 1.13pm.
Agreed - to accept the National Trust's invitation to visit the tourist facilities at Mount Stewart at a later date.
3. Date of next meeting
3.1. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Monday 22 April at 4pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 1.32pm.
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Chairperson