Minutes of Proceedings

COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 9 October 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

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

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

Apologies:
Mr Alan McFarland
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP

The meeting opened at 10.33 am. in public session.

1. Apologies.

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Declaration of Interests.

Mr Jim Wells declared his membership of the Strategic Leadership Board.

This was established by the DOE to oversee implementation planning required following Executive decisions on RPA.

3. Minutes of meeting held on 2 nd October 2008.

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 2 nd October 2008 were agreed.

4. Matters Arising.

Members noted an Assembly Research and Library paper on the Viridian Group’s takeover by Arcapita Investment Bank.

Members noted details of a recent meeting between the Institute of Directors (IoD), the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and the Committee Clerk. Copies of the IoD publication the 1.7 Challenge were provided to members.

5. Forward Work Programme

Members discussed issues surrounding the Committee Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Forward Work Programme was agreed.

Agreed: That Departmental Officials should be asked to attend on 23 October to brief the Committee on the Budget Stocktake.

6. Briefing on RPA and Transfer of DETI Functions to Local Government

Officials joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m.

Departmental Officials Fiona Hepper, Philip Rogers and Alastair Pyper briefed the Committee on the Review of Public Administration and the transfer of DETI function to Local Councils. Key issues discussed included arrangements for the revised Start a Business Programme, impact on LEA’s and the transfer of budgets.

Officials left the meeting at 11.42 a.m.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to discuss the action that it wished to take, following the briefing, at a future Committee meeting.

Robin Newton left the meeting at 11.42 a.m.

7. Briefing on Equality Impact Assessments on Telecoms Projects

Officials joined the meeting at 11.44 a.m.

Departmental Officials Fiona Hepper, Alberta Pauley and Bill Stevenson briefed the Committee on the Equality Impact Assessments on Telecoms Projects. Key issues discussed included the current and proposed future coverage of Broadband services and issues which might impact on this and the outcome of the Equality Impact Assessment.

Paul Butler left the meeting at 11.49 a.m.

Officials left the meeting at 12.09 p.m.

8. Committees Consideration of the Proposed Review of Invest NI

The Committee noted an Assembly Research and Library Service paper on the history of Invest NI.

Agreed: That the Committee would consider a draft response on the terms of reference at next week’s meeting

Sean Neeson left the meeting at 12.30 p.m.

9. Response to the Utility Regulator’s Consultation on Sustainable Development

Members noted a paper from the Clerk and a synopsis of the main issues raised during the consultation.

Agreed: That members would further consider the issue at next week’s Committee meeting.

10. Committee Response to the Finance and Personnel Committee’s Inquiry into the Review of the Budget Process

Members noted the content of a draft response to the Finance and Personnel Committee’s Inquiry into the review of the budget process.

Agreed: That further comments to be incorporated and that the Clerk should issue a reply.

Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 1.01 p.m.

11. SL1: The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.

Agreed: That the Committee had no comment at this time.

SL1: The Equipment and Protective Systems intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Agreed: That the Committee had no comment at this time.

12. Correspondence

The Committee noted the following correspondence which had been issued for their information prior to the meeting:

• Copy of Minister’s response to the Chair of the OFMDFM Committee about the US/NI Investment Conference.
• Letter from DETI Energy Division on the Consultation for the reform of the NIRO.
• Letter from the Minister regarding Dept for Transport Consultation on Future Bio fuels Targets.
• Statement from Sir Gerry Loughran, Phoenix Energy Holdings.
• Letter from the Chair of the Employment & Learning Committee and a copy of a Hansard Transcript.
• Letter from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.
• Letter from Construction Industry Group.

Agreed: That the Committee would receive briefing from the Construction Industry Group.
Agreed: That the Committee would receive a joint briefing from the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Agreed: That the Committee would receive written briefing from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

13. Any Other Business.

There were no other items of business.

14. Date, time and place of next meeting.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 16 th October at 10.30 a.m. in room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.15 p.m.

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