Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 10.05am in public session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee expressed its condemnation on recent incidents concerning Alliance Party members

Agreed: to those concerned condemning the recent incidents.

Members considered the revised agenda

Agreed: the revised agenda was agreed.

Members considered a press release from the NI Science Park regarding the NI Knowledge Economy Index Report.

Agreed: to receive comments on the report from the Department.

Members noted the date of a meeting between the Chair, the Deputy Chair and the Deputy Secretary of the Department to discuss the Committee’s the disqualification proceedings against former Presbyterian Mutual Society directors.

Members noted the minutes of a meeting held on 4 December 2012 on issues relating to sub-contractors.

Steven Agnew joined the meeting at 10.14am.

Members noted a report from the Department on the prompt payment of invoices during the 9 months ending September 2012.

Members noted that the Committee for Finance and Personnel will consider the issue of prompt payments and sub-contractors working on public sector construction contracts at its meeting on 16 January.

Agreed: to request the relevant briefing papers from the Committee for Finance and Personnel

Agreed: to receive details from OFMDFM on how the accuracy of information on the Strategic Investment Board portal is monitored.

Agreed: to receive details from OFMDFM of the number of reminders issued to public sector organisations each year since the portal was established in 2008, broken down by individual department, district council, NDPB and agency.

Agreed: to receive information on engagement with the banking sector from the Committee for Finance and Personnel.

Members considered the forward work programme for the first meeting after recess in January 2013.

Agreed: to receive oral briefings from Social Enterprise NI on the social economy work programme and from Derry City Council on the City of Culture 2013.

3. Minutes of meeting held on 29 November 2012

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 29 November 2012 were agreed.

4. Matters Arising

Members considered a summary of the key issues and findings prepared by the Institution of Engineering and Technology from the Research & Development event in the Long Gallery on 12 November.

Agreed: to forward to the Department for consideration in the development of the Innovation Strategy and the R&D Inquiry Action Plan.

Members considered a position paper from the Institution of Engineering and Technology on “Fostering UK high tech growth through public procurement”.

Agreed: to forward the paper to the Department for comment and to the Committee for Finance and Personnel for information.

Members considered a response from the FSA regarding payday lending.

Agreed: to hold a stakeholder event on 5 February to get the views of key stakeholders on the issue.

Members considered an update report on the Barosso Taskforce from the Committee for OFMDFM.

Agreed: to receive a written briefing on the input of the Department in the development of the strategic EU policy areas.

Agreed: to request details from OFMDFM, of the further measures the Commission Taskforce were asked to explore to support the labour market.

Members considered a response from the Department to a Committee query on Motor Home Tourism.

Agreed: to forward the response to the Motor Home Association.

Members considered a response from the Department to a Committee query on Energy Policy.

Agreed: to contact the department to ensure the visit by Shaun Kingsbury coincides with the meeting with the Committee.

Members considered a response from the Department to a Committee query on tackling social deprivation.

Agreed: to receive details from the Department on the timescales for phase 2 of the Renewable Heat Incentive in relation to domestic users.

Agreed: to receive clarification from the Department, NIAUR and the gas companies to incentive to convert from oil to gas.

Members considered a response from the Department to a Committee query on energy and telecoms.

Agreed: to receive a written briefing on the three specific investment priorities.

Agreed: to receive written briefing on any funding of telecoms and energy identified through the Connecting Europe Facility.

Agreed: to receive from the Department its views on the McKinsey report referred to in the response.

Members noted the NISRA Labour Force Survey and Continuous household survey forwarded by HSENI.

5. NI Executive Economy and Jobs Initiative: Oral Briefing from DETI

Officials joined the meeting at 10.38 am.

Members received an oral briefing from David Sterling, Permanent Secretary, DETI, Alistair Pyper, Deputy Principal, DETI Strategic Policy Unit

Key issues discussed included: pre-consultation process, budgets, timeframes, and sub-contractors.

Agreed: to receive from the Department, the budget and timeframe for the implementation of energy efficiency measures.

Agreed: to receive from the Department, a table of how much was spent and where.

Sandra Overend joined the meeting at 10.52am.

Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 11.02am.

Agreed: to receive from the Department, a copy of the DEL Taskforce Strategy.

Stephen Moutray returned to the meeting at 11.02am.

Gordon Dunne left the meeting at 11.06am.

Agreed: to receive from the Department, details on how existing schemes can be accessed and how new schemes will be assessed as they are up and running.

Representatives left the meeting at 11.11 am

6. Invest NI CEO Salary Increase

Representatives joined the meeting at 11.12 am.

Gordon Dunne returned to the meeting at 11.13am.

Members received an oral briefing from David Sterling, Permanent Secretary, DETI and Mark Ennis, Chairman, Invest NI.

Key issues discussed included: Performance related pay, assessment criteria and initial package.

Agreed: to receive details of any other Invest NI roles with a performance related pay element.

Agreed: to receive comparison statistics on other regions on inward investment figures.

Agreed: to receive details of the 50 assessment criteria on which performance related pay was based.

Alban Maginness joined the meeting at 11.40am.

Representatives left the meeting at 11.52 am.

Steven Agnew left the meeting at 11.53 am.

Gordon Dunne left the meeting at 11.53am.

7. Update on Invest NI Half Year Performance: Oral Briefing from Invest NI 

Representatives joined the meeting at 11.54 am.

Members received an oral briefing from Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive, DETI and Mark Ennis, Chairman, Invest NI

Key issues discussed included: Workforce skills, quality of jobs, challenges for Invest NI and SBRI.

Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 12.27pm.

Mark Ennis left the meeting at 12.45pm

Agreed: to receive an outline of the strategy and approach to developing the SBRI.

Agreed: to receive comparison statistics on other regions on inward investment figures.

Alastair Hamilton left the meeting at 1.06 pm.

8. Potential Economic Witnesses: Written Briefing from Assembly Research

Members discussed the written briefing.

Agreed: to consider how the Committee may engage with the Northern Ireland Centre for Economic Policy when it is established.

9. Consultation on Proposals for the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012: Written Briefing from HSENI

Members noted the consultation.

10. Consultation on Proposals to amend The Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) Order (Northern Ireland) 1989; The Weights and Measures (Miscellaneous Foods) Order (Northern Ireland) 1989; and The Weights and Measures (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Members noted the consultation.

11. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme: Written    Briefing from DETI

Members noted the written briefing.

Agreed: to receive a written briefing on the Department’s projects funded through the current round of ERDF funding.

13. Correspondence

Members considered the following items of correspondence:

i. From Resolute Public Affairs regarding a meeting request from Bryson Charitable Group to discuss revitalising the Green New Deal.

Agreed: to receive a written briefing from Bryson Charitable Group in relation to the specific job creation aspects of the Green New Deal.

ii. From the Committee for OFMDFM regarding the FCO Review of the Balance of Competences.

Agreed: to forward to the Department to receive a copy of their response to the consultation.

iii. From the Minister regarding the transposition of EU directives concerning common rules for the internal markets in electricity and gas.

Agreed: to receive more detail from the Department and the Utility Regulator on the reasons why the transposition of these directives continues to be delayed.

Members noted the following items of correspondence:

iv. From the Minister regarding a written Ministerial Statement on the Loan Funds Update from 4 December 2012.

v. From the Minister regarding the inclusion of a clause repealing the early discharge provision in bankruptcy.

14. Any Other Business

There were no additional items of business.

15. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 13 December 2012 at 10.00pm, Room 30, Parliament Buildings

The Chair adjourned the meeting at 1.15pm.

Mr Patsy McGlone
Chair
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
13 December 2012