COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 6 JANUARY 2011
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Michelle McIlveen MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Billy Armstrong MLA
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Billy Leonard MLA
Anna Lo MLA
Fra McCann MLA
Ian McCrea MLA
Conall McDevitt MLA
George Robinson MLA
In Attendance:
Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Trevor Allen (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Andrew Larmour (Clerical Supervisor)
Alison Ferguson (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced at 10.50am in open session.
Members noted papers which were tabled for consideration later in the meeting.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received.
2. Briefing from Northern Ireland Water on its handling of severe winter weather conditions and ongoing supply issues
The Committee received briefing from Trevor Haslett, Sara Venning and Liam Mulholland of Northern Ireland Water on the handling of severe winter weather conditions and ongoing supply issues .
12.00pm Mr McCann left the meeting.
12.07pm Mr McCann returned to the meeting.
12.20pm Mr Armstrong left the meeting.
12.29pm Mr Armstrong returned to the meeting.
1.08pm Mr McCrea left the meeting.
1.09pm Mr Cobain left the meeting; Miss McIlveen took the Chair.
1.11pm The meeting moved into closed session.
1.13pm Mr McCrea returned to the meeting.
1.13pm Mr Cobain returned to the meeting and took the Chair.
Agreed: The Committee agreed a press statement for issue today.
1.37pm Ms Lo left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Minister for Regional Development to brief the Committee on his handling and response to the water crisis, at the meeting of 19 January 2011.
Agreed: Members noted a Direction, issued by the Minister for Regional Development to Northern Ireland Water on 30 December 2010, under Article 295 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking briefing on the impact this Direction has on the ability of customers to secure compensation for loss of supply.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from a member of the public in relation to proposals from Northern Ireland Water to sell a number of reservoirs in Northern Ireland and agreed to forward the correspondence to Northern Ireland Water for comment.
3. Any Other Business
Executive’s Draft Budget 2011-15
Agreed: The Committee considered and agreed correspondence to the Finance and Personnel Committee requesting an extension to its deadline for receipt of submissions from Statutory Committees on the Executive’s Draft Budget 2011-15. The Committee also agreed to postpone its stakeholder evidence gathering event, scheduled for 12 January 2011, on the Draft Budget.
Ministerial Statement on the Review of the Regional Development Strategy
The Committee noted a written statement to the Assembly from the Minister for Regional Development on the Review of the Regional Development Strategy.
4. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 12 January 2011, at 10.00am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.44pm.
Fred Cobain, MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development
12 January 2011
15 December 10 / Menu
