Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 10.07am in closed session:

1. Correspondence from the Minister

Members considered correspondence from the Minister regarding remarks made about GSNI by a member at the Committee meeting on the 6 June.

Agreed: to write to the Minister to clarify the Committee’s position in relation to the remarks.

Agreed: to consider the matter in public session at the meeting on 27 June.

The meeting moved into public session at 10.21am

2. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

3. Chairperson’s Business

Members considered the Horizon 2020: stage 2 Report by the National Assembly for Wales Enterprise and Business Committee.

Agreed: to forward to the Department and Invest NI for information.

Agreed: to arrange a meeting between the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and Enterprise Ireland on 26 June.

Members considered the reschedule of the event at the Townsend   Enterprise Park on the 19 June.

Agreed: Mr. Maginness to inform the Committee Office if he can attend.

Members considered a request from the Department for a copy of the response from the Department for Employment and Learning regarding student places at University of Ulster Magee.

Agreed: to forward the response to the Department.

Members considered an invitation to the Chairperson from Belfast Harbour Commissioners to open an event on July 3.

Agreed: the Deputy Chairperson to inform the Committee Office if he can attend.

Agreed: to visit the Harbour Commissioners Office after summer recess.

4. Minutes of meeting held on Thursday 13 December 2012.

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on the 6 June were agreed.

5. Matters Arising

Members noted responses from Departments to mapping of the third sector.

Agreed: to forward to the relevant Committees.

Members considered a response from the Department for Regional Development regarding the Consumer Council NI review.

Agreed: to forward a copy to the Independent Consultant, the Department and the Consumer Council information.

Agreed: to thank the CEO for her time at the Consumer Council and to wish her every success in her new post.

Members considered a response from the Department regarding NISP Connect and the student loan framework.

Agreed: to forward to NISP Connect for information.

Members considered the report on the Committee’s visit to Brussels.

Agreed: to publish the report on the Committee pages of the Assembly website and to update the report when all responses have been received and considered by the Committee.

Members considered a briefing regarding timeliness of monitoring round papers.

Agreed: to ask the Department why the June Monitoring papers were late and why no officials were not available to brief the Committee.

Agreed: to receive from the Department when the latest tourism figures will be available.

Members noted the clarification by the Ulster Bank on the funding identified by sector refers to offers made.

6. Electricity Prices: - Oral Briefing from Energia

Representatives joined the meeting at 10.33am

Members received an oral briefing from Mr. Tom Gillen, Managing Director, Energia, Mr. John Mawhinney, Operations Manager, Energia, Mr. John Newman, Trading and Regulation Director, Energia.

Sandra Overend joined the meeting at 10.50am

Sue Ramsey left the meeting at 10.55am

Gordon Dunne left the meeting at 11.18am

Key issues discussed included: the Energia Group, supply competition, and Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland price divergence for business and domestic consumers.

Representatives left the meeting at 11.42am

The Chairperson left the meeting at 11.42am

The deputy Chairperson took the Chair at 11.42am

7. Electricity Prices: Oral Briefing from Power NI

Representatives joined the meeting at 11.43am

Members received an oral briefing from Ms. Kerstie Forsyth, Head of Home Marketing & Communications, Power NI and Mr. Stephen McCully, Managing Director, Power NI

Key issues discussed included: recent pricing trends, price drivers and price comparisons.

The Chairperson rejoined the meeting at 11.53am

Phil Flanagan left the meeting at 12.12pm

Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 12.22pm

Representatives left the meeting at 12.43pm

Agreed: to receive statistics on the percentage of keypad meter customers in arrears at various percentages of debt recovery.

Agreed: to commission research on how the Moyle and North/South interconnectors’ models were agreed and alternatives may have been considererd.

Agreed: Chairperson to share research on the profit margins of renewable energy.

8. Subordinate Legislation: SR: The Renewables Obligation (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland)

Members considered the above subordinate legislation.

Agreed: the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered The Renewables Obligation (Amendment No.2) Order (Northern Ireland) and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.

9. Subordinate Legislation: SL1 The Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013

Members considered the above proposal for subordinate legislation from the Department.

Agreed: that the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered the Department’s proposal for subordinate legislation under The Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.

10. Correspondence

Members noted the following items of correspondence for action

i. From OFMDFM regarding Committees having informal briefings from

UKRep officials in Brussels on specific issues.

Agreed: to write to the FCO asking for a UKREP official to brief the Committee.

Agreed: to invite an EU adviser to brief the Committee.

Members noted the following items of correspondence

ii. From Minister Foster regarding storage of metallic waste

iii. From the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding Small Business Research Initiative.

11. Any other business

Members considered the Committee’s request for the Chair and Deputy Chair to meet with the Secretary of State.

Agreed: to cancel the meeting request with the Secretary of State.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting       

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 20 June at 10.00 am Room 30 Parliament Buildings.

The Chair adjourned the meeting at 12.48pm

Mr Patsy McGlone
Chair
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
20 June 2013