Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2009/2010
Date: 17 September 2009
COMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Alban Maginness (Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Jennifer McCann
Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP
Mr Stephen Moutray
Mr Gregory Campbell MP
Mr David Simpson MP
Mr Sean Neeson
Mr Alan McFarland
Mr Leslie Cree
In Attendance:
Mr Jim McManus (Assembly Clerk)
Ms Sohui Yim (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Jim Nulty (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Michelle McDowell (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Gerry McHugh
The meeting began at 10.44 am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Declaration of Interests
The Chair welcomed three new Members to the Committee: Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA; Mr Stephen Moutray MLA; and Mr David Simpson MP MLA. The Committee noted their interests. Mr Campbell added to his interests that he was a Director of Causeway Press publishing company.
3. Minutes of meeting held on 2 July
Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 2 July were agreed.
4. Matters arising
Members discussed the NIAUR’S briefing paper on Electricity Tariffs.
Agreed: To defer this issue until the meeting with DETI officials on 24th September 2009.
Members noted DETI’s response on InterTradeIreland’s FUSION III Project.
Members noted the Invest NI response regarding the promotion of a green economy and employment figures for clients after the “earning out” period.
Members noted the response from DETI regarding UCIT.
Agreed: To copy DETI’s response to UCIT.
Members noted an email from UCIT regarding its progress with the four main banks, to increase the flow of finance into the social economy.
Members noted a response from DETI regarding NDPB’s and their performance against the 10-day payment target for all invoices.
Members noted DETI information regarding wind farms and a list of their locations.
Members discussed the DETI response regarding Departmental issues that have an EU dimension.
Agreed: To forward the response to the OFMDFM Committee.
Members discussed a letter from the Minister to the Clerk regarding the Debt Relief Order, in response to a query from a member of the public.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the OFMDFM Committee and the original enquirer.
Members discussed a letter from the Minister to Sue Ramsey, Chair of the Employment and Learning Committee, regarding a briefing request on the Short Term Aid Scheme.
Agreed: To forward the letter to the Employment and Learning Committee.
Members noted a letter from the Minister to the Chair, regarding the reason for the delay in a debt relief tender.
Agreed: To wait for the Minister write to the Committee with an outline of the Department’s plans.
Members discussed a letter received by Sean Neeson regarding redundancies at Nortel.
Agreed: To write to DETI and DEL Ministers to clarify Invest NI Funding in companies such as Nortel.
Members noted a press article regarding the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
Members noted a response from DETI regarding the signing of the Generator Unit Agreement contracts.
Members discussed a DETI response regarding outcomes against targets in the Econometric Analysis for the new Invest NI Enterprise Development Programmes.
Agreed: To wait the suggested 6 months for the outcomes against targets.
Members noted the date change for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) International Workers Memorial Day from 28 April 2010 to 29 April 2010.
5. September Monitoring Round
Members received an oral briefing from Colin Lewis, DETI Deputy Secretary of Management Service Group and Bernie Brankin, Acting Head of Finance Division. Key issues included DETI budget reallocations, reduced requirements, and budget constraints.
Agreed: For DETI to provide further details on the budget breakdown of the Signature Projects and NAMA’s potential impact on Invest NI’s land.
6. SL1: The Weights and Measures (Specified Quantities) (Pre-Packed Products) Regulations (NI) 2009
Agreed: The Committee discussed the SL1 – The Weights and Measures (Specified Quantities) (Pre-Packed Products) Regulations (NI) 2009 – and had no objection to the proposal.
7. SL1/SR 315/2009: The European Economic Interest Grouping (Fees) (Revocation) Regulations (NI) 2009.
Agreed: The Committee discussed the SL1.
Members called on a DETI Company Law Branch Official to provide more information on this SR.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee has considered The European Economic Interest Grouping (Fees) (Revocation) Regulations (NI) 2009 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rule’s report, has no objection to the Rule.
Jennifer McCann left the meeting at 11.33am
Jennifer McCann returned to the meeting at 11.37am
8. SR 296/2009: The Health and Safety at Work Order (Application to Environmentally Hazardous Substances (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed: That the Committee has considered The Health and Safety at Work Order (Application to Environmentally Hazardous Substances (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rule’s report, has no objection to the Rule.
Sean Neeson left the meeting at 11.46am
Dr Alasdair McDonnell joined the meeting at 11.48am
9. Stream International –Written Briefing.
The Committee discussed a written briefing on Stream International.
Agreed: To write to the Minister on a number of issues regarding Invest NI’s relationship with Stream.
Sean Neeson returned to the meeting at 11.59am.
10. Project Kelvin –Written Briefing
The Committee discussed a written briefing on Project Kelvin.
Agreed: To receive the outcomes of the testing of the submarine aspect of the Project, once completed.
11. End of Session Report
The Committee discussed the End of Session Report.
Agreed: To make the Report available to the public.
12. Forward Work Programme
The Committee discussed the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: For the Clerk and Chair to provide guidance for a Committee meeting at one of the Social Economy Network’s venues.
Agreed: For the Deputy Chair to report potential Committee issues with the EU after his trip to the European Parliament.
Mr Gregory Campbell left the meeting at 12.19pm.
13. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following correspondence:
- Invitation to the NI Energy Forum on the 12 th of November at the Stormont Hotel.
- Letter from Minister regarding the Department’s intentions on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations.
- Letter from the Minister regarding the steps the Department is taking to implement the Hydrocarbons Licensing Directive.
- Letter from Eric Leenders of the BBA suggesting a joint-committee to deal with the 4 major banks, and a response letter from the Speaker.
Agreed: For the Chair to bring this matter to the Chairperson Liaison Group. - Invitation from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for the Chair to attend the RIC’s Chairman’s reception on the 4 th of September.
- Invitation from the European Commission to the European Parliament in Brussels.
Agreed: For the Deputy Chair to attend on behalf of the Committee. - Letter from DETI’s Equality & Diversity unit informing the Committee of the Department’s annual report to the Equality Commission on implementation of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
- Invitation to the Economic Conference on the 30 th September.
- Invitation to the Utility Regulator’s annual report launch for 2008/2009 on 30 th October.
- Invitation to the Northern Ireland & the Transition to the Sustainable Economy event on the 29 th of September.
- The executive summary for the End of Year report for Programme for Government (PfG) from the OFMDFM Committee, along with a letter to Danny Kennedy, of the OFMDFM Committee, and a statement from OFMDFM.
- Email from member of the public regarding concerns with Speedy Registrations Company.
Agreed: To forward the email to DETI to be considered by Trading Standards Services. - Letter from Phoenix Gas to the Chair confirming that the natural gas tariff will fall by 19%, starting 1 st October.
- Invitation for the Chair to the Bryson’s Charitable Group’s Annual Review Launch on the 28 th of September.
- Memo from the Finance & Personnel Committee regarding a request from Stubbs Gazette to brief the Committee on their findings on issues including bankruptcy, Individual Voluntary Arrangements and judgements.
Agreed: To receive a written briefing from Stubbs Gazette. - Memo from the Culture, Arts & Leisure Committee requesting if any department is receiving revenues derived from criminal assets.
Agreed: To forward this enquiry to DETI and copy the answer to the CAL Committee. - Invitation for the Chair to the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.
- Letter from Central Committee Office regarding Members’ attendance of Committee meetings.
- Letter from NI Branch of the British Medical Association.
- Ulster Bank Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) Report.
14. Any Other Business
There were no other items of business.
15. Date of next meeting.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 24 September @ 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.34pm
