ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 8 December 1999 at 10.30am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings
Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Attwood
Mr G Campbell
Mr W Clyde
Ms P Lewsley
Mr D McClarty
Dr A McDonnell
Ms J Morrice
Dr D O'Hagan
Mr D Shipley-Dalton
In attendance: Mrs C White
Mr J Nesbitt
Mr M Anderson
Miss J Presho
1. Opening remarks from the Chairman
The Chairperson welcomed members to the first meeting of the Committee. He expressed his desire to see the Committee operating in a fair and open manner. He informed the Committee that he had met briefly with Sir Reg Empey, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. He reported that the Minister had said he wished to co-operate with the Committee and was willing to meet the Committee in January. The Chairperson also mentioned that the Minister requested access to the minutes of Committee meetings.
2. Declaration of interests
The Chairperson reported that all the members of the Committee had declared their interests in accordance with paragraph 48 of the "Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members". Each of the members' interests was circulated to the other members of the Committee. In addition to the interests recorded on the relevant form, Ms Morrice reported that her sister was involved in the oil business and had recently secured a license to excavate for gas in County Fermanagh and County Sligo.
3. Draft press release
The members suggested that the draft press release should be amended to include issues which might be considered by the Committee in its future programme of work.
4. Draft work programme
i. The members agreed to the proposed programme of work for the next two meetings i.e. that the second meeting should include a presentation by the Permanent Secretary and senior officials from the Department; and that the third meeting should include a presentation by the Chief Executives of IDB, IRTU, NITB, and LEDU.
ii. The members also agreed that representatives from the NI Science Park Foundation should be invited to a meeting of the Committee in January.
iii. The members discussed the briefing material provided by the Department. They agreed that there was an extensive range of important issues to be examined. Issues which might be considered by the Committee over the forthcoming months include the proposed NI Science Park, Strategy 2010, TSN/PAFT, Energy, E Commerce, Bio-technology and Venture Capital.
5. Handling of subordinate legislation
The members agreed that - the Examiner of Statutory Rules should be asked to examine the technical aspects of a statutory rule and report his findings to the Committee; the Committee should consider the merits of any such rule; and the Committee should then report to the Assembly. Members flagged up the potential danger of the Committee becoming weighed down by too much legislative detail.
6. Provisional programme of visits to other countries
The members agreed that Committee visits to other countries would not be a priority over the next few months, although a visit might be in order if a particular opportunity arose. Members suggested that it may be possible for one or two members to accompany IDB on visits (it would need to be ascertained what future visits have been planned by the IDB).
7. Any other business
i. The members advised that they would like to receive press cuttings from the Department's press office on a daily basis.
ii. Some members requested copies of the Department's Strategy 2010 document.
iii. Ms Morrice requested that parties exchange their policies on economic development.
iv. The members agreed that consideration would be given to employing independent advisors at some future meeting of the Committee.
8. Date of next meeting
The next two meetings of the Committee are on Monday 13 December at 2.15pm and on Tuesday 14 December at 10.15am; both meetings will be held in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)