Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 10.13am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

Agreed: to arrange a series of meetings with journalists to increase the profile of the Committee.

Agreed: to write to the organisations and individuals to thank them for their support and assistance during the Committee’s visit to Brussels.

Maeve McLaughlin left the meeting at 10.19am

3. Minutes of meetings held on 18 April 2013.

Members considered the draft minutes 18 April 2013.

Minutes were agreed.

4. Matters Arising

Paul Frew joined the meeting at 10.23am

Members considered a response from the Department regarding a request for further time to consider the PMS Administrators Report.

Agreed: to contact the Department to ask for the opportunity to consider the report.

Members noted a response from the Department on the potential for deep sea geothermal.

Members considered a response from the Department to a request for information on evaluations carried out on businesses outside of Belfast in relation to the Backin’ Belfast Campaign.

Agreed: to receive clarification from the Department as to why no additional evaluation was undertaken.

Members considered an email from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium regarding fuel prices.

Agreed: to receive written briefing from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium.

Agreed: to seek a video conference with the EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe, regarding mobile phone roaming charges.

5. Funding for Lending Scheme – Oral Briefing from Ulster Bank

Representatives joined the meeting at 10.30am

Members received an oral briefing from Ian Jordan, Director of Corporate Banking Division and Kenton Hilman, Associate Director of Corporate Banking Division.

Key issues discussed included: funding available, uptake of the funding, the lending process and the range of sectors.

Steven Agnew joined the meeting at 10.35am

Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 10.53am

Paul Flanagan left the meeting at 10.54am

Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting at 11.10am

Agreed: to receive information from the Ulster Bank on the uptake of the emergency funding for farmers.

Agreed: to receive a breakdown of the sectors which have been successful in the Funding for Lending Scheme.

6. Consumer Affairs Review - Oral Briefing from DETI

Representatives joined the meeting at 11.30am

Phil Flanagan rejoined the meeting at 11.35am

Sue Ramsey left the meeting at 11.44am

Members received an oral briefing from Paul Simpson, Independent Consultant, Jackie Kerr, Head of DETI Business Regulation Unit and Dennis Cunningham, Head of DETI Consumer Affairs Branch.

Key issues discussed included: the process and development of the review and the Committee responding to the consultation.

Agreed: to receive the list of stakeholders for the review.

Agreed: to receive details of other arm’s length bodies and their review timescales.

Agreed: to receive the consultation questionnaire and to provide a committee response.

7. Subordinate Legislation: SR: 2013/108 The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013

Members considered the following subordinate legislation:-

Agreed: the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered SR 2013/108 The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 and has no objection to the rule.

Agreed: Members had no objection to the rule.

8. Credit Unions and Industrial and Provident Societies Bill Policy Document – Consultation Document from DETI

Members considered a Bill policy document regarding Credit Unions and Industrial and Provident Societies from DETI.

Agreed: to receive a written briefing from the Department on the outcome of the consultation.

9. Proposals for the Biocidal Products (Fees and Charges) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 – Consultation Document from Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland

Members considered a consultation document regarding proposals for the Biocidal Products (Fees and Charges) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 from Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland.

Agreed: to receive a written briefing from Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland on the outcome of the consultation.

10. Operating Plan 2013-14 – Written Briefing from Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland

Members noted the written briefing from Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland on its Operating Plan 2013-14.

11. Correspondence

Members noted the following items of correspondence for action:

i. Members considered information from Lightsource regarding renewable energy.

Agreed: write to the Department asking what steps are being taken by the Sustainable Energy Interdepartmental Working Group to reduce the time taken from planning to grid connection for large scale renewable energy installations, what targets are in place, the extent to which these targets are being met and the normal expected delivery time for such projects.

ii. Members considered an invitation from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce to its annual lunch.

Agreed: to forward the Committee’s apologies to the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce.

iii. Members considered information from the Department regarding air passenger rights and proposed amendments.

Agreed: to forward to the Consumer Council for information.

iv. Members noted information from People 1^st regarding the launch of the State of the Nation in Hospitality and Tourism 2013.

v. Members noted information from the Financial Conduct Authority regarding IT failures at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

vi. Members considered information from a member of the public regarding petroleum licences.

Agreed: to add petroleum licences to the items for discussion during the Ministerial briefing on 9 May 2013.

vii. Members considered information from Stratagem regarding SONI Generation Capacity Report.

Agreed: to receive an oral briefing from SONI.

Members noted the following items of correspondence

viii. Members noted information from Employment and Learning Committee regarding correspondence from Colette Quinn.

ix. Members noted information from the Department regarding corrections to the Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013.

x. Members noted information from Matrix regarding Sustainable Energy Horizon Panel Report.

xi. Members noted information from the Finance and Personnel Committee regarding Public Service Pensions Bill.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 9 May 2013 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting went into closed session at 12.24pm

13. Any other business

Members discussed information regarding Portadown Diamond Credit Union.

Agreed: to forward to the Department for comment.

The Chair adjourned the meeting at 12.26pm

Mr Patsy McGlone
Chair, Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
9 May 2013