PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2001
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Statutory Rules
3. Water Service - Compliance with European Union Directives
4. Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001
5. Inquiry by Social Development Committee
6. Regional Development Strategy (RDS)
7. Railway Safety Bill
8. Inquiry into the Titanic Quarter leases
9. Date of next meeting
Present were: Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr P McNamee
Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr PJ Bradley
Mr G Savage
Absent: Mr R Hutchinson
In Attendance: Mr L Barr ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young (Administrative Support)
The meeting commenced at 10.42am.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 2 May 2001 were agreed.
2. Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the Statutory Rules:
Route A42 Carricknakielt Road, Maghera (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001;
Park Street, Ballyclare (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
The Department intends to make these Rules which are subject to negative resolution.
The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rules.
3. Water Service - Compliance with European Union Directives
The Committee noted a memorandum listing and explaining European Union Directives with which the Water Service must comply.
4. Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001
The Committee of the Centre will be considering the proposed Statutory Rule Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 at its meeting on 16 May 2001. The Committee considered the proposed transfer of functions affecting the Department for Regional Development (DRD).
Agreed: That a response will be sent to the Committee of the Centre advising that the Committee has no objections to the proposed transfer of functions related to DRD.
5. Inquiry by Social Development Committee
The Committee considered the Terms of Reference of an investigation into urban regeneration and community development to be conducted by the Social Development Committee.
Agreed: The Clerk will liaise with the Clerk of the Social Development Committee to obtain more details of the investigation.
6. Regional Development Strategy (RDS)
At 11.15am. the Committee received a briefing from;
Mr Dennis Glass Director, Regional Planning
Mr Billy Gamble Regional Planning
on the proposed final version of the Regional Development Strategy. They explained the changes that they had made to it, taking account of the views expressed in the responses from the 10 Statutory Committees. They took account of further concerns expressed by Members and will amend the text of the final version accordingly. If Members feel it necessary the officials will return to brief the Committee again.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.45am.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.57am.
Mr Hay left the meeting at 12.00 noon.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 12.08pm.
The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 12.20pm.
The Chairman declared the meeting to be in public session.
7. Railway Safety Bill
At 12.25pm officials from the Department joined the meeting. They were:
Mr Richard Aiken Director, Transport Policy Branch
Mr Garry McKenna Transport Policy Branch.
They briefed the Committee on the proposed Railway Safety Bill and answered Members' questions on it.
The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 12.38pm.
The meeting returned to closed session.
8. Inquiry into the Titanic Quarter leases
The next evidence session will be held on Friday, 11 May 2001 when representatives of Harland and Wolff Group PLC and Fred. Olsen Energy ASA will give evidence.
Agreed: That Mr Alan Reilly, Carson McDowell solicitors, who acts for Belfast Harbour Commissioners, will also be asked to give evidence on 11 May 2001.
9. Date of next meeting
Agreed: That the Committee will meet as necessary during the period up to the General Election on 7 June 2001.
The meeting closed at 12.50pm.