Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Room 21, Parliament Buildings

Present: 
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Robin Newton 
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP

In Attendance: 
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: 
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton 
Mr Gerry McHugh

The meeting opened at 10.32 a.m. in public session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Declaration of Interests.

There were no new interests declared.

3. Minutes of meeting held on 4 December 2008.

Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting on 4 December 2008 were agreed.

4. Matters Arising.

Members noted the content of Douglas McIldoon report into the setting of energy prices.

Members discussed what role local banks could play to mitigate the effects of the current economic downturn

Agreed : The Committee agreed to seek engagement with the four main local banks and the British Banker’s Association.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Treasury Select Committee on this matter.

Sean Neeson joined the meeting at 10.37 a.m.

Members considered the response from the Consumer Council regarding pre-paid metering.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Phoenix Gas on this matter.

5. Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Officials joined the meeting at 10.54 a.m.

Department Official Olivia Martin (Grade 7), Head of Sustainable Energy Branch briefed members on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. Key issues discussed included the environmental impact of the policy and the negative effect on world food prices.

Officials left the meeting at 11.28 a.m.

6. Unsolicited Goods Bill

Officials joined the meeting at 11.30 a.m.

Department Officials John Hinds (Grade 7), Head of Consumer Affairs Branch and Deirdre Dempsey (Staff Officer), Consumer Affairs Branch briefed members on the Unsolicited Goods Bill. Key issues discussed included the rationale behind the proposed Bill and how it would operate in practice.

Officials left the meeting at 11.42 a.m.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to receive further briefing from officials after the consultation has ended.

7. Matrix – The Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel

Officials joined the meeting at 11.44 a.m.

Officials Professor Damien McDonnell, OBE, Chair of Matrix, Frank Bryan, Chairman of the Economic Development Forum (EDF) Innovation Group,Anne Conaty (Grade 7) Head of Innovation Policy Branch and Bernard McKeown, (Deputy Principal) Innovation Policy Branch. Key issues discussed included the Matrix Work Programme, the Matrix Horizon Programme and the main recommendations arising.

Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.27 p.m. 
Officials left the meeting at 12.30 p.m.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

• Letter from the Minister regarding the Better Regulation Annual Report 2007/08 dated 27 November.

Agreed: Members agreed to receive oral briefing from officials on this matter.

• Letter from the Utility Regulator regarding consultation on sustainability issues dated 18 November.
• Copy of a letter from DFP to the Chair of the Finance and Personnel advising of the introduction of EU Directive 2007/2/EC which established an Infrastructure for Spatial Information, dated 28 November.
• Letter from Belfast Media Group requesting the Committee’s sponsorship of next year’s Top 50 Belfast Businesses dated 1 December.
• Letter and enclosures from NIE regarding the proposed Tyrone to Cavan Interconnector dated 28 November.

Agreed: Members agreed to receive oral briefing from NIE officials on this matter.

• Letter from Energy Ireland advertising the Irish Renewable Energy Summit which is due to be held in Dundalk in January 2009, dated 28 November.
• Correspondence from the Department, dated 3 December, providing additional information requested from Noel Lavery during his briefing on the Budget Strategic Stocktake.

9. Any Other Business.

There were no other items of business.

10. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held, in closed session, on Tuesday 16 December at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.35 p.m.

Mark Durkan
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
December 2008