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PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUB-GROUP TO CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FACING NORTHERN IRELAND Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 14 September 2006 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings at 10.00am. In the Chair: Jim Wells Present: Dr Esmond Birnie In Attendance: Alan Patterson (Principal Clerk) The meeting commenced at 10.13am in closed session. Alasdair McDonnell (Mr Dallat attended the meeting as SDLP representative in place of Dr McDonnell). Mitchel McLaughlin (Ms Stanton attended the meeting as SF representative in place of Mr McLaughlin). Sean Neeson (Mr McCarthy attended the meeting as Alliance representative in place of Mr Neeson). Ian Paisley Jnr (Lord Morrow attended the meeting as DUP representative in place of Mr Paisley Jnr). Peter Weir (Mr Poots attended the meeting as DUP representative in place of Mr Weir). 2. Draft Minutes of Meeting on 7 September 2006 These were agreed for publication on the Assembly’s website. 3. Matters Arising Appointment of Economists After reviewing the tender document and joint tender response from Mike Smyth and Graham Gudgin, David McNarry proposed that the sub-group approve the appointment of the two economists under the terms outlined in the tender document. The proposal was seconded by Margaret Ritchie and agreed by the sub-group. Mike Smyth was invited to join the meeting and was advised by the Chairperson of the role of the economic advisors and the key outputs expected from them. Debate on Sub-group’s First Report The Clerk summarised the main themes from the debate on the sub-group’s first report to the Committee on the Preparation for Government, which took place on 11 and 12 September. The Chairperson reminded Members that responses to the report would in the first instance go to the Committee on the Preparation for Government and that the primary purpose of the sub-group is set out in its new terms of reference. David McNarry proposed that a request should be made to the Committee on the Preparation for Government to urge the Secretary of State and his ministers to respond promptly to the First Report and to ask for a written response to the report and its recommendations, before the Minister, Maria Eagle, MP, is next due to appear before the sub-group in respect of its new terms of reference. The proposal was agreed by the sub-group. 4. Members’ briefing on evidence sessions The format of the evidence sessions and proposed line of questioning was agreed by the Members. 5. Evidence Sessions The meeting continued in open session at 10.35am. The sub-group took evidence from David Dobbin, Michael Maguire, Mark Sweeney and John Compton of the Northern Ireland Business Alliance. Mr McCarthy joined the meeting at 11.00am. The sub-group took evidence from Victor Hewitt of the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland. Lord Morrow joined the meeting at 11.47am. The meeting was suspended at 12.27pm. The meeting continued in open session at 2.04pm. Mrs Naomi Long took the chair at 2.04pm. Mr McCarthy joined the meeting at 2.07pm. The sub-group took evidence from Sir George Quigley and Tony Hopkins of the Industrial Task Force. Mr McNarry left the meeting at 2.55pm. The meeting was suspended at 3.00pm. The meeting continued in open session at 3.14pm. The sub-group took evidence from Liam Nellis and Aidan Gough of InterTradeIreland. Mr Poots joined the meeting at 3.30pm. The sub-group took evidence from David Ferguson, Tom Clarke and Pat McBride of Planning Service. The meeting continued in closed session at 4.30pm. 6. Sub-group’s Work Plan Members discussed and agreed the proposed sub-group workplan. 7. Any Other Business Mr Ford requested clarification on the distribution procedure for press releases from the Committee on the Preparation for Government. The Chairperson proposed that the consideration of the evidence from the witness sessions be postponed to the next meeting of the sub-group. Members agreed to the postponement. It was proposed that the quorum of the sub-group be reduced to 5 with one representative from each party having to be present. It was agreed that the proposal be raised with the Preparation for Government Committee. Mr McNarry proposed that:
This was agreed on a 3 to 2 majority. Members raised the issue of the convening of a working group on industrial de-rating and Dr Birnie proposed that David Hanson MP should be contacted seeking clarification on the issue. Members agreed to the proposal. 8. Next Meeting The next meeting of the sub-group was arranged for Thursday 21 September 2006 at 10.00am. Members will be asked to present party views on the economic package and the economic advisers will facilitate a focus group session on the package. The meeting adjourned at 4.49pm. |