Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 25 September 2008
SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: 
Mr Mark Durkan MP (Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler
Mr Leslie Cree
Mr Simon Hamilton 
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Sean Neeson 
Mr Robin Newton 
Mr Jim Wells

In Attendance: M
s Lucia Wilson (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Paul Connolly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Stephen White (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: None

The meeting opened at10.42 a.m. in public session.

1. Apologies.

There were no apologies.

2. Declaration of Interests.

There were no new interests declared.

3. Minutes of meeting held on 18 September 2008.

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting of 18 September 2008 were agreed.

4. Matters Arising.

Members noted an explanation regarding the timeline for SR261/2008 which was discussed at last week’s meeting. Whilst members were content with the explanation provided there was a shared concern that the Committee be given sufficient time to consider these in the future.

SR379/2008 - The Companies (1986 Order) (Annual Return) and (Principal Business Activities) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008.

Members noted that the Department had breached the 21 day rule but were otherwise content.

Agreed: That the Committee had no comment.

Members noted details of the steps being taken by INI regarding the appointment of a new Chief Executive.

5. Briefing from the Consumer Council on the Regulator’s Review of the Electricity Tariff Setting Process

Consumer Council Officials joined the meeting at 10.48 a.m.

Consumer Council Officials Eleanor Gill, Chief Executive Officer, Ciara McKay, Senior Consumer Affairs Officer and Susie Brown, Head of Communications briefed the Committee on the Regulators Review. Eleanor Gill apologised that Steve Costello, Chairman, of the Consumer Council was unavoidably absent. Key issues discussed included the Consumer Councils’ concerns about the lack of prior consultation and the public perception of the independence of the Review. In addition they raised concerns regarding the gap in the evidence supplied by the Regulator in relation to the last electricity price increase.

Consumer Council Officials left the meeting at 12.16 p.m.

6. Briefing from the Utility Regulator and Douglas McIldoon on the Regulator’s Review of the Electricity Tariff Setting Process

Utility Regulator Officials joined the meeting at 12.17 p.m.

The Utility Regulator, Iain Osborne, NIAUR Electricity Director, Dermot McCann and the Independent Reviewer Douglas McIldoon briefed the Committee on the scope of and terms of reference for the review.

Sean Neeson left the meeting at 1.07 p.m. 
Jim Wells left the meeting at 1.08 p.m. 
Paul Butler left the meeting at 1.15 p.m.

Utility Regulator Officials and Mr Douglas McIldoon left the meeting at 1.19 p.m.

7. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The revised Forward Work Programme was agreed.

8. Correspondence

The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:

• Invitation from Stratagem for the Chairperson to speak at an event on 5 November.
• Invitation from the Quarry Products Association to the Chairperson to attend an event on 15 October.
• Letter regarding the Cliff Path at the Gobbins, Islandmagee.
• Copy of e-mail regarding oil prices.
• Letter from the Employment and Learning Committee regarding the European Social Fund.
• The Health and Safety Executive Annual Report.
• InterTradeIreland Activities and Annual Accounts

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 on Thursday at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1 42 p.m.

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