COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL 2002 AT 10.59 AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr P Doherty MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr W Clyde Mr D McClarty
Mr E McMenamin
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr B Armstrong
Mrs A Courtney
Ms J Morrice
Dr A McDonnell
Dr D 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)
Mr S Ball (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in private at 10.59am.
1. Specialist Adviser on Tourism
Agreed - to reconstitute the evaluation panel for Specialist Adviser to the Members and Committee Clerk who were present at todays meeting. Mr Doherty, Mr Neeson, Mr McClarty, Mr McMenamin, Mr Wells and Mrs White made up the panel.
1.1. Members evaluated the applications from short-listed candidates for the post of Specialist Adviser for the Tourism Inquiry.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 11.15am.
Agreed - that as the evaluation had already commenced Mr Clyde would not take part in the process.
1.2. The Committee continued the evaluation process.
Agreed - to approach the highest scoring candidate to offer him the post of Specialist Adviser.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.30am.
2. Orimulsion
Agreed - to defer this issue until next weeks meeting.
3. General Consumer Council (GCC) Corporate Plan
3.1. The Committee discussed the GCC Corporate Plan.
Agreed - to issue a response.
3.2. The Committee discussed the benefits of the establishment of a Transport Regulator.
Agreed - to write to the Department for Regional Development on this issue.
4. Chairperson's Business
4.1. The Chairperson advised that the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Committee Clerk had met the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on Tuesday 23 April. A list of the points raised at the meeting was circulated to Members.
Agreed - to discuss the issues raised at next weeks meeting.
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11.40am.
4.2. Members who attended the visit to the Moyle Interconnector and Giant's Causeway on 10 April updated the rest of the Committee on the visit.
5. Matters Arising
5.1. The Committee continued to deliberate on the development of the Giant's Causeway Visitor's Centre Site.
Agreed - to discuss the matter further at next weeks meeting.
The meeting went into public session at 11.53am.
6. Minutes of Previous Meetings
Agreed - the minutes of the meetings held on 16 and 17 April 2002.
7. Statutory Rules
The Committee discussed SR No 70/2002 Weights and Measures Units of Measurement Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and SR No 71/2002 Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
Agreed - the rules as laid.
8. Any other business
8.1 Meeting with the Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas (OFREG) regarding the Customer Energy Efficiency Levy.
Agreed - to meet Douglas McIldoon (OFREG) on Tuesday 30 April.
Mr Doherty left the meeting at 12.07pm.
Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson.
8.2 Invest Northern Ireland Management Statement and Financial Memorandum
Agreed - to note the Final Draft.
8.3 NICS Accommodation Review
Agreed - to issue a response to the Department of Finance and Personnel and a copy of the letter to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
8.4 Letter from the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding EC Council Regulations on Insolvency.
Agreed - to note the letter.
8.5 Europe Day Reception on Thursday 9 May.
Agreed - that Members would confirm attendance.
8.6 Letter from Corralea Activity Centre regarding Public and Employers Liability insurance.
Agreed - to contact the British Insurance Brokers Association and the Rt Hon Andrew Smith MP, Chief Secretary to HM Treasury for advice.
8.7 Bombardier Aerospace extended an offer to the Committee to visit their offices
Agreed - to organise the visit for Wednesday 22 May.
9. Date of next meeting
9.1. The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday 30 April at 12.00noon in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.25pm.
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Chairperson