PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 10 JANUARY 2001
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Statutory Rules
4. Port of Belfast
5. The Department's Revised Equality Scheme
6. Any Other Business
7. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Mr J Wells
In Attendance:
Mrs D Pritchard( Committee Clerk)
Mr Liam Barr ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young ( Administrative Support)
The meeting commenced at 10.33am.
The Chairman welcomed the new Committee Clerk, Mr Liam Barr, to the meeting. He thanked Mrs Debbie Pritchard for her invaluable work on behalf of the Committee and wished her every success in her new appointment.
Concern was raised about the accuracy of a recent article in the Belfast Telegraph relating to attendance at Committee meetings.
Agreed: That the Chairman would write to Mr David Ford MLA highlighting the Members' concerns about the article.
That the Chairman would raise the issue at the Chairman's Liaison Group.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2000 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
- Review of legislative process in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
- Tax on lorries entering U.K.
- British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body - Inquiry into transport link between Britain and Ireland.
- Road Service pay negotiations.
- how many of the 65 temporary employees have been working for less than one year;
- what is the total workforce;
- can temporary contacts be renewed after one year;
- how long has the practice of employing staff on temporary contracts been used?
Agreed: That the Committee would consider the matter at a later meeting.
The Committee considered the additional information provided by the Assembly's Researchers.
Agreed: That the Committee and the Department should be officially involved in the consultation process which DETR is carrying out.
That the Department should be informed of the Committee's concerns about the impact of the introduction of the tax on the ports in Northern Ireland.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 10.46am.
Mr Hutchinson joined the meeting at 11.06am.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 11.06am.
Agreed: That the Chairman will inform Mr Jackson, the Chairman of the European Affairs Committee, of the Committee's views on the matter and report back to the Committee.
The Committee discussed the Department's response.
Agreed: That the Department be asked to supply additional information in relation to the use of temporary contracts including:
3. Statutory Rules
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 11.13am.
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 354/2000-
Route U2216 Muldonagh Road, Limavady (Abandonment) Order (NI) 2000;
and has no objection to the Rule".
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 355/2000-
Route C311 Garvaghy Church Road, Dromore (Abandonment) Order (NI) 2000;
and has no objection to the Rule".
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 356/2000-
Cashel Drive, Newtownabbey (Stopping-up) Order (NI) 2000;
and has no objection to the Rule".
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 357/2000-
Queen's Park, Coleraine (Stopping-up) Order (NI) 2000;
and has no objection to the Rule".
Question Put and Agreed: "That the Regional Development Committee has considered Statutory Rule 372/2000-
Back Street At Cameron Street, Belfast (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000;
and has no objection to the Rule".
The Committee noted two tables listing Statutory Rules which the Department intends to make. The first table listed Rules which do not have to be laid in the Assembly. The second table listed Rules which are subject to negative resolution and which will be sent to the Committee for scrutiny when laid.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.17am
Agreed: That the Department will be asked to provide full details of the Statutory Rules, including where appropriate maps, when they are first sent to the Committee.
4. Port of Belfast
Mr Hutchinson returned at 11.20am.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 11.22am.
The Committee discussed further the issue of the future of the Port of Belfast, including the letter from the Minister of Finance and Personnel about the Public Expenditure aspects of the options for its future. The Committee also considered the document provided by Dr Alf Baird commenting on the response by the Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC) and their consultants on his critique of the economic appraisal produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Department.
Mr Hutchinson returned at 11.42am.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.59am.
Agreed: That the Minister for Finance and Personnel, or DFP officials, be asked to attend the meeting on 17 January 2001 to respond to Members concerns about his letter.
That Dr Alf Baird's document be sent to the Department and to BHC for their comments.
That the Chairman and Deputy Chairman meet Dr Baird again about the issue.
Mr McFarland left the meeting at 12.08pm.
5. The Department's revised Equality Scheme
The Committee noted the revised scheme.
Agreed: That the Department be asked to keep the Committee informed of developments with regards to the Equality Scheme.
Mr Mc Farland returned at 12.10pm.
6. AOB
- Regional Development Strategy.
- Enterprise Trade and Investment (ETI) Committee's Inquiry into Energy.
- Draft Budget
The Committee noted the Minister's letter about slippage in the preparation of the final draft.
Mr Ervine returned at 12.11pm.
Agreed: That the ETI Committee be asked to keep the Committee informed of the progress of the Inquiry.
The Committee noted the Minister's response to the letter sent to him by the Chairman reflecting the views of the Committee on the draft budget.
7. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 17 January 2001 at 10.30am. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.14pm.