ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Monday 13 December 1999 at 2.15pm in Room 135 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
In attendance for part of meeting: Mr P McDonnell (DETI)
Mr J Wolstencroft (DETI)
Mr M Briant (DETI)
Mr M Warnock (DETI)
1. Chairperson's business
The Chairperson reported that the Permanent Secretary of the Department, Mr G Loughran, was unable to attend the meeting today because of a North/South Ministerial Council meeting. The Chairperson said that Mr Loughran had agreed to meet the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson tomorrow (14 December).
2. Minutes of previous meeting
Ms Morrice requested an amendment to a factual error in paragraph 2 of the minutes. The amendment was agreed by the Chairperson.
3. Matters arising
There were no matters arising.
4. Any other business
i. Climate change levy - Mr Neeson suggested that a cross party delegation should meet Mr Stephen Timms, the Minister in the Treasury responsible for this matter. The Chairperson added that it might lend weight to the case if members from other relevant committees/departments attended. Mr Neeson requested that a letter he had received from Ofreg on the issue should be circulated to the members of the Committee.
ii. Correspondence - Ms Morrice requested guidance on how to deal with correspondence she had recently received. It was agreed that the issue would be discussed at a future meeting.
5. Presentation by senior officials from the Department - Mr P McDonnell, Mr M Briant, Mr J Wolstencroft, and Mr M Warnock.
Mr McDonnell welcomed the opportunity to meet the Committee. He commented on, and expanded on, the brief provided by the Department. He covered a number of areas in his presentation including NI's economic performance, the Department's budget, Strategy 2010, action already taken on Strategy 2010, small companies, inward investment, tourism, exports, EU funding, energy, and R&D. Mr McDonnell mentioned that the legislative burden on the Committee may not be particularly great.
The officials were asked a number of questions by the Committee i.e. on the structure of the new department, E Commerce, biotechnology, venture capital, clothing/textile companies, small businesses, strategy 2010, TSN, equality, NI representation in Europe, NI Science Park, and the natural gas pipeline.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their presentation.
6. Date of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday 14 December 1999 at 10.15am in Room 135 Parliament Buildings
Mr P Doherty
(Chairperson)