COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2002 AT 10.50AM IN
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr W Clyde
Mrs A Courtney
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr P Doherty MP (Chairperson)
Mr E McMenamin
In attendance: Mr G Thompson (Committee Clerk) Mr M Anderson (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr R Anderson (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs J Murdoch (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss A Fowler (Clerical Officer) Mr D Boylan (University Intern)
In attendance for the public evidence session at 11.20am: Mr P Grant & Mr L Duffy, (Stena Line)
In attendance for the public evidence session at 12.05pm: Mrs C Mulvenna & Mr B Collins, (Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications)
The Committee Agreed to open the meeting in public at 10.50am.
Mr Neeson assumed the Chair in the absence of the Chairperson.
1. Chairperson's Business
1.1. The Chairperson referred to correspondence relating to developments at Harland and Wolff Shipyard previously circulated to members.
Agreed - to raise with the Minister at the Committee's meeting next Monday.
1.2. Letter from the Minister regarding the Departments' new Targeting Social Need (TSN) policy.
Agreed - to invite Departmental Officials to a future meeting after the formal announcement of the policy.
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
Agreed - the minutes of 2 October.
Agreed - an amendment to the minutes of the 18 September meeting to replace at 2.4 'Invest Northern Ireland' with 'the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment'.
3. Industrial De-rating
3.1. The Committee considered its draft report on industrial de-rating.
Agreed - the draft report as amended so that specific reference was made to small businesses and that consideration be given to a rates 'holiday' for those starting up small industrial businesses.
Mrs Courtney joined the meeting at 11.17am.
4. Public evidence session at 11.20am - Stena Line
4.1. Representatives from Stena Line gave oral evidence to the Committee and answered questions raised by Members relating to the Tourism Inquiry.
Dr O'Hagan joined the meeting at 11.23am.
Dr McDonnell left the meeting at 11.45am.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 11.57am.
5. Public evidence session at 12.05pm - Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications (NIACT)
5.1. Representatives from NIACT gave a presentation to the Committee and answered questions raised by Members.
Agreed - to write to the Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Media and Sport regarding Northern Ireland representation on the Consumer body of the newly established Office of Communication (OFCOM); that person should be normally resident in Northern Ireland and should have a Committee appointed under statute to assist him or her in his or her duties; that Committee should be drawn from all sections of the community and all areas of Northern Ireland.
Dr McDonnell rejoined the meeting at 12.29pm.
Dr O'Hagan left the meeting at 12.29pm.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 12.30pm.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 12.30pm.
Mr Clyde joined the meeting at 12.39pm.
6. Forward Work Plan
6.1. The Committee discussed the forward work plan relating particularly to the Energy Bill and Tourism Inquiry.
Agreed - to note.
Agreed - to meet with Premier Transmission Ltd as part of the Committee Stage of the Energy Bill.
7. Committee Visit to Switzerland, Italy and France
7.1. The Committee discussed its forthcoming overseas visit, a copy of the final itinerary was circulated to members.
Agreed - to review this issue at the next meeting of the Committee on Monday 14 October.
Dr O'Hagan rejoined the meeting at 12.50pm.
8. Any other business
8.1. Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure Inquiry into Cultural Tourism - the Committee considered the response from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the recommendations relating to the Department and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
Agreed - to note the response and forward to the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure.
8.2. OFREG Consultation paper - Request from Northern Ireland Electricity plc for a determination with regard to Belfast West Power Station that the criteria in the sixth schedule of the Power Station lease are satisfied. The Committee considered the consultation paper and a brief summary.
Agreed - to note the consultation paper.
8.3. West Belfast Partnership - the Committee discussed the possibility of rescheduling the visit to West Belfast Partnership which was previously postponed.
Agreed - to reschedule this visit for the New Year.
8.4. Regulations to Implement the Directive on the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees. This correspondence was previously issued to members.
Agreed - to note.
8.5. Lunch with the Chairperson and Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland (INI). The Chairperson reported that a suitable date for this lunch would be 5 November.
Agreed - to host a lunch with the Chairperson and Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland on 5 November.
8.6. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Budget. The Chairperson referred members to correspondence from the Minister and informed members that Departmental Officials would attend the Committee meeting on 23 October to discuss this issue.
Agreed - to note.
8.7. Review of Undertakings - Rentokil Initial plc. The Chairperson reported that a copy of this consultation paper was previously issued to members.
Agreed - to note the consultation paper.
8.8. Letter from Enterprise Northern Ireland. The Chairperson referred members to this correspondence requesting a meeting with the Committee.
Agreed - to meet with Enterprise Northern Ireland.
9. Date of next meeting.
9.1. The next meeting of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment will be held on Monday 14 October 2002 at 2.30pm in the Senate Chamber.
The meeting closed at 12.59pm.
Mr Seán Neeson MLA
Deputy Chairperson