Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 24 SEPTEMBER 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA
John McCallister MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
George Robinson MLA
Alastair Ross MLA
Jim Wells MLA
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)
Stephanie Galbraith (Research Officer)

Apologies: No apologies.

The Committee decided to begin the meeting in open session, move to closed session for the briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services, then return to open session to receive the remainder of the briefings.

The meeting opened at 10.35 a.m. in open session.

1. Apologies.

No apologies were received.

2. Draft Minutes of the meeting of 17 September 2008.

Members agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2008.

3. Matters Arising.

Members noted receipt of information on a conference on the Regional Development Strategy, on 5 Wednesday November 2008 at the Stormont Hotel. Members agreed to attend this conference instead of holding of a Committee meeting on Wednesday 5 November 2008.

Members noted receipt of Northern Ireland Water’s annual report, copies of a presentation, on and a summary of, the report.

Members noted receipt of information supplied by the Met Office in response to Committee requests from the meeting of 18 August 2008. Members agreed to forward this response to the Environment Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee for information.

Members noted that a series of papers are being prepared by Research and Library Services analysing the recent history of flooding events in Northern Ireland.

Members noted a request from FirstGroup to meet with the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. Members agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson shall meet with the group.

Members noted a copy of an interview with the Utility Regulator Chief Executive, Ian Osbourne in Ulster Business magazine, September 2008 issue.

4. Subordinate Legislation

George Robinson joined the meeting at 10.40 a.m.

Members noted the following new SL1s received in the Committee office this week.

Members noted that in the SL1 memos for the above proposals, no reference had been made to their having been the subject of a public inquiry, and that the Department confirmed that all relevant local councils affected by the above proposals had been informed. Members also noted that the Committee office had not received any comments from the councils regarding the policy proposals.

Members decided they were content with the SL1s listed below which were noted at the meeting of 17 September 2008:

Members noted receipt of the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees 2008/2009 session, which was published on 12 September 2008. In the absence of any objections, the following question was put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered SR 2008/270 – The Little King Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the Rule .”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None.

Members noted receipt of the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees 2008/2009 session, which was published on 12 September 2008. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/341 – The Road Traffic (Traffic Wardens) (Revocation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None.

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/ 344 – The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits) (Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells, Brian Wilson.

All those against: None.

Members decided that the Committee Clerk will notify the Business Office of the decisions reached by the Committee.

5. Correspondence

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 18 September 2008 from Denis Hegarty, Chairman Dungiven Bypass Committee thanking Members for their interest in the Dungiven Bypass.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 22 September 2008 from the Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, regarding the Rapid Transit for Belfast and decided that this issue will be discussed in detail at the Committee meeting of 1 October 2008.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated September 2008 from the Department concerning re-appointments to the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.

Members noted receipt of an e-mail dated 22 September 2008 from Pat McParland of Northern Ireland Water requesting the opportunity to brief the Committee on the company’s actions and progress on the efficiency programme. Members agreed to invite Northern Ireland Water to brief the Committee on the efficiency programme, and to request specific briefing on the recent media coverage of reductions in jobs at the company. Members also decided to invite trade union representatives to brief the Committee on the company redundancies at the same meeting as Northern Ireland Water.

Members noted a report from the World Wildlife Federation Northern Ireland Flooding seminar held in June 2008. Members agreed to forward this report to the Department for comment and to respond to WWF noting receipt of the report.

Members noted receipt of the following invitations:

The Department for Regional Development’s launch of its multi-lingual website on Monday 29 th September 2008. Developing Northern Ireland’s Waste Infrastructure conference on 3 December 2008.

Members noted receipt of a press release dated 22 September 2008 regarding the launch of Northern Ireland Water’s first Annual Report.

6. Public Transport Reform

The researcher joined the meeting at 10.50 a.m.

Members decided to move to close session to receive briefing from Assembly Research and Library Services.

Briefing 1 – Assembly Research and Library Services

Members agreed to allow another researcher from Assembly Research and Library Services sit in the public gallery for the duration of the closed session.

The Committee received briefing from the researcher on Public Transport Reform.

John McCallister joined the meeting at 11.11 a.m.

Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the researcher for her briefing.

Members decided to request further information on the Scottish model from Assembly Research and Library Services.

The researchers left the meeting at 11.20 a.m.

Members agreed to move to open session to receive the remainder of the briefings.

Hansard joined the meeting at 11.20 a.m.

Briefing 2 – Department for Regional Development

Departmental officials Doreen Brown, Deputy Secretary Regional Planning and Transportation, Brian White, Director Ports and Public Transportation Division, and Sean Johnston, Programme Manager joined the meeting at 11.20 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Departmental officials. Following a question and answer session with officials, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.

Departmental officials Doreen Brown, Brian White and Sean Johnston left the meeting at 11.50 a.m.

Members requested further information from the Department concerning the Outline Business Case.

Brian Wilson left the meeting at 11.48 a.m.

Briefing 3 – Translink/NITHC

Translink / NITHC Executives Catherine Mason, Group Chief Executive and Phillip O’Neill,, Interim Senior General Manager, joined the meeting at 11.51 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Translink/NITHC executives.

Following a question and answer session with executives, Members thanked Catherine Mason and Phillip O’Neill for their briefing.

Members decided to request further information from Translink/NITHC on the model it proposed during the meeting in the form of written questions.

Translink / NITHC Executives Catherine Mason and Phillip O’Neill left the meeting at 12.10 p.m.

Briefing 4 – The Consumer Council

Consumer Council representatives Aodhan O’Donnell, Head of Transport, Ryan Simpson, Temporary Consumers Affairs Officer and Eleanor Gil, Chief Executive joined the meeting at 12.10 p.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Consumer Council representatives, and offered to provide to the Committee, copies of research undertaken by the Council on public transport. Following a questions and answer session, Members thanked the Consumer Council officials for their briefing and decided to receive copies of the research referred to by the Consumer Council.

Consumer Council representatives Aodhan O’Donnell, Ryan Simpson and Eleanor Gill left the meeting at 12.27 p.m.

Briefing 5 – The Federation of Passenger Transport

Federation of Passenger Transport representatives Karen Magil, Chief Executive, Allan Davidson, Transport Manage Logans Corporate Coaching, Niall McKeever Director The Airporter and, Michael Lorimer, Chief Executive, Chambers Coach Hire , joined the meeting at 12.27 p.m.

The Committee received briefing from representatives of the Federation of Passenger Transport. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Federation of Passenger Transport for their briefing.

Federation of Passenger Transport representatives Karen Magill, Allan Davidson, Niall McKeever, Michael Lorimer left the meeting at 12.41 p.m.

Briefing 6 – The Northern Ireland Committee ICTU.

Northern Ireland Committee ICTU officials Peter Bunting, Michael Doran and Carla McCambridge joined the meeting at 12.41 p.m.

Willie Clarke left the meeting at 12.55 p.m.

Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Northern Ireland ICTU for their briefing.

Northern Ireland Committee ICTU officials Peter Bunting, Michael Doran and Carla McCambridge left the meeting at 1.02 p.m.

Members decided to request research on the French model referred to by the trade unions in their presentation, and resolved that the Committee will discuss the issues raised today concerning public transport reform at the meeting of 1 October 2008.

7. Any other business.

No other business was forthcoming.

8. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.

The next meeting will begin at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21 on Wednesday 1 October 2008.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.06 p.m.

Signed:
FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development.
Dated:

17 Sept 08 / Menu