Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 23 APRIL 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Simon Hamilton 
Mr Alan McFarland 
Mr Gerry McHugh
Mr Jim Wells
Mr Paul Butler
Mr Sean Neeson

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

Apologies: 
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP 
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Robin Newton

The meeting opened at 10.50 a.m. in public session

1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 2 April 2009.

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 2 April 2009 were agreed.

3. Matters Arising.

Members noted the response from the Minister to the Committee’s Inquiry into Credit Unions.

Agreed: That the Chair will write to the Treasury Minister Ian Pearson and to the Minister.

Members considered a request from Kevin Hannafin, Senior Regulation Analyst, Viridian Power and Energy, for a copy of the recent briefing paper on ‘Better Regulation’.

Agreed: To send a copy to Mr Hannafin

Members discussed recent developments regarding the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

Agreed: To seek closed session briefings from the Regulator, FSA and the Administrator.

Members considered a request from the Environment Committee asking for a copy of a recent departmental briefing paper on the Cavan/Tyrone Interconnector.

Agreed: To send a copy to the Environment Committee.

4. Briefing from the Consumer Council on the Economic Downturn

Consumer Council Officials joined the meeting at11.09 a.m.

Consumer Council officials Carol Edwards, Head of Consumer Education and Julie Megrath, Head of Money Affairs briefed members regarding to the effect of the economic downturn on consumers. Key issues discussed included price trends, increase in the level of house repossession actions and the impact the downturn is having on specific groups.

Consumer Council Officials left the meeting at11.45 a.m.

5. Briefing from the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association on the Economic Downturn

NIIRTA Officials joined the meeting at 11.46 a.m.

Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association officials Glynn Roberts, Chief Executive, Nial McConkey, Managing Director, Woodsides and Chairman of Ballyclare Chamber of Commerce and Peter Carrington, Chairman, Lisburn Road Business Association provided the committee with an oral briefing on the impact of the economic downturn on independent retailers. Key issues discussed included the need for Invest NI to support the sector, the lack of positive impact the decrease in VAT has had and the negative impact of out-of-town shopping centres.

Paul Butler and Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.55 a.m. 
Simon Hamilton left the meeting at 12.16 p.m. 
NIIRTA Officials left the meeting at 12.29 p.m.

6. Briefing from the Northern Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the Economic Downturn

Members noted that due to illness, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions were unable to present to the committee.

7. Briefing from the Quarry Products Association on the Economic Downturn

Members noted a written briefing from the Quarry Products Association.

8. Briefing from the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action on the Economic Downturn

Members noted a written briefing from theNorthern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.

9. Next Generation Broadband Services

Members noted an update from the Department on the telecommunications infrastructure for Next Generation Network Services in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: That the Department should provide an oral briefing and that members should be provided with a copy of the Telecommunications Strategic Action Plan.

10. SR 132/2009 – The Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations (NI) 2009

Members considered this Statutory Rule.

Agreed: The Committee discussed SR 132/2009, The Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations and subject to the Examiners Report, has no objection to the Rule.

11. Forward Work Programme

Members noted the content of the revised Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: That the Committee meeting scheduled for 4 June 2009 is cancelled.

Agreed: That the Committee would proceed with a Committee take note motion for debate when all the evidence on the economic downturn had been gathered.

Agreed: That an oral briefing session with the Utility Regulator should be arranged.

12. Correspondence

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

• Details of the Lithuanian Delegation who will be visiting Parliament Buildings on Thursday 14 th May. Agreed: Members agreed that they would meet with the delegation over lunch on that date.

Agreed: Members agreed that they would meet with the delegation over lunch on that date.

• Letter from the Ulster Community Investment Trust requesting an opportunity to address the Committee on the matter of flow of capital to the social economy.

Agreed: That the Committee would receive an oral briefing from UCIT.

• Letter from The Clerk of the Finance & Personnel Committee regarding a request from UCIT to brief that Committee on the same issues of concern.
• Summary of the IntertradeIreland Quarterly Report.
• Letter of invite from the Department to a Strategic Environmental Assessment of Offshore Wind & Marine Renewables Scoping Report Seminar on 6 May.
• Letter from John McCallister regarding the draft Caravan & Mobile Homes Bill advising members of his intention to introduce a private members Bill.
• Letter from the Clerk of the Committee for the Environment regarding briefing by BT’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
• Copy of an e-mail from Claire Thompson, Glenfarm Holdings.
• Letter of invitation to the Chair from the London Mathematical Society Institute of Mathematics and its Applications to attend an event in the Science Museum on Tuesday 9 th June.
• Letter from the British Medical Association regarding briefing on obesity.

Agreed: That the letter should be copied to the Department for their views.

• Letter from the World Wildlife Fund enclosing a copy of their newly published NI Energy Briefing.

Agreed: That the Committee would receive an oral briefing from the World Wildlife Fund at an appropriate time in the future.

• Letter from Robin Newton, Chair of the Audit Committee, regarding new International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Copy of the Research Report commissioned by the Community Foundation for NI - ‘Measuring & Mapping Financial Exclusion across Northern Ireland’.

Agreed: That the Committee would return to this matter next week.

• Letter from Fred Cobain, Chair of the Regional Development Committee regarding funding difficulties being faced by the Lough Foyle Ferry Service.

Agreed: That the Chair would write to the Minister on the matter.

13. Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 30th April at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.35 p.m.

Mark Durkan
Chairperson
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
April 2009