Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 18 April 2013
Venue: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
The meeting began at 10.12am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
Agreed: to interrupt the order of business to take evidence from the DETI Permanent Secretary.
3. Minutes of meetings held on 11 April 2013.
Members considered the draft minutes 11 April 2013.
Minutes were agreed.
Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 10.14am.
4. Matters Arising
Members considered a response from the Department regarding the Northern Ireland Official Tourism Statistics Methodology.
Agreed: to write to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland to ask why the delay in providing tourism figures and the assurance that this issue has been resolved.
Agreed: to write to the Department to receive clarification on whether the domestic tourism figures have always been included or if it is a recent addition.
Steven Agnew joined the meeting at 10.17am.
Members considered a response from Invest NI regarding a visit to CERN.
Agreed: to write to the Department seeking details of the agenda and topics for discussions at the breakfast meeting with CERN
Members considered a response from the Department regarding Post Project Evaluations.
Agreed: to write to the Department asking the reason for the delays in completing some Post Project Evaluations.
Members considered information from Manufacturing Northern Ireland regarding manufacturing electricity costs.
Agreed: to ask the Utility Regulator to confirm the accuracy of figures and the additional network costs without renewable sources.
Agreed: to ask the Department if the Energy Working Group has considered the figures provided by Manufacturing Northern Ireland.
Agreed: to receive from the Department a copy of the Carbon Trust report 'Energy Independence – Minimising Manufacturing Energy Costs.'
Agreed: to receive oral briefings from Power NI, the Utility Regulator and Manufacturing Northern Ireland.
Members considered a letter from the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise regarding Regional Aid.
Agreed: to forward the response to the Department for information and clarity.
Members noted a guide provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Schemes.
Members noted a press release regarding ASDA fuel prices.
5. The G8 - Written Briefing from DETI
Members considered a written briefing from the Department regarding the G8 Summit.
Agreed: to commission research from Assembly Research Services on the economic impact of previous G8 summits.
6. Mobile Network Investment and Demand - Oral Briefing from the Mobile Operators' Association
Representatives joined the meeting at 10.35am
Members received an oral briefing from John Cooke, Executive Director, Mobile Operators Association, Scott McGimpsy, Everything Everywhere, Paul Morris, Vodaphone, Julie Minns, Head of Public policy and Corporate Responsibility, Three UK and Simon Miller, Deputy Head of Public Affairs, Telefonica UK.
Key issues discussed included: Roaming charges, enhancement of 2G and 3G services and the provision of 4G services in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: to ask the Mobile Operators' Association for information on individual providers' roaming charges policies.
Agreed: to ask the Mobile Operators' Association for an update of the coverage maps for Northern Ireland
Agreed: to ask the Mobile Operators' Association for details and timescales of proposals for the enhancement of 2G and 3G services and the rollout of 4G services.
Sandra Overend joined the meeting at 10.42am.
Gordon Dunne joined the meeting at 11.01am.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 11.40am.
Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 11.41am.
Sue Ramsey left the meeting at 11.41am.
Agreed: to write to the Department of the Environment asking for progress on permitted development for the mobile telecommunications industry.
Due to time constraints the Committee agreed to move to agenda item 9.
Paul Frew rejoined the meeting at 11.44am.
7. Subordinate Legislation: SR: 2013/93 Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a Licence) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013
Members considered the following subordinate legislation:-
Agreed: the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered SR 2013/93 Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a Licence) Order (Northern Ireland) and, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.
Gordon Dunne left the meeting at 11.45am.
Agreed: Members had no objection to the rule.
8. Subordinate Legislation: SR: 2013/94 The Electricity (Dispute Resolution) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013
Members considered the following subordinate legislation:-
Agreed: the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has considered SR: 2013/94 The Electricity (Dispute Resolution) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 and, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.
Agreed: members had no objection to the rule.
9. Public Sector Renewable Generation Uptake - Written Briefing from Assembly Research
Gordon Dunne rejoined the meeting at 11.48am.
Members considered an Assembly Research paper regarding Public Sector Renewable Generation Uptake.
Agreed: to commission research from Assembly Research Services on renewable energy sources.
Agreed: to forward the research paper to the statutory committees for consideration to raise with their departments.
Agreed: to receive from the Department briefing on what it is doing, and what further it can do, to support the development of renewable energy in the public sector.
Due to time constraints the Committee agreed to move to agenda item 8.
10. Corporation Tax - Oral Briefing from the Permanent Secretary, DETI
The Permanent Secretary joined the meeting at 11.54pm
Members received an oral briefing from David Sterling, Permanent Secretary, DETI
Key issues discussed included: Corporation tax and the Economic Strategy for Northern Ireland.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 12.11pm.
Alban Maginness left the meeting at 12.28pm.
Gordon Dunne left the meeting at 12.28pm.
Agreed: to receive a briefing from the Department setting out the proposals from the Secretary of State to the First Minister and the deputy First Minister.
11. Manifesto Publication - Oral Briefing from Momentum
Representatives joined the meeting at 12.34pm
Alban Maginness rejoined the meeting at 12.52pm.
Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting at 1.09pm.
Members received an oral briefing from Rob McConnell, Chairman, Momentum, Ian Graham, Chief Executive, Momentum, John Healey, Head of Technology, Citi Group and Ken Roulston, Board Member, Momentum.
Key issues discussed included: Demand and supply, skills and employment.
Agreed: to receive a copy of the video demonstrating Momentum's work with young people.
12. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence for action:
i. Members considered information from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce regarding the latest Northern Ireland Quarterly Economic Survey.
Agreed: to arrange a briefing to the Committee from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce.
ii. Members considered information from Bundoran Town Council regarding water supplies in South Donegal and North Leitrim.
Agreed: to forward to the Town Clerk, the previous evidence the Committee had received on fracking.
Maeve McLaughlin left the meeting at 1.33pm.
Members noted the following items of correspondence
iii. Members noted information from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the European Consultative Partnership Group.
iv. Members noted information from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding a Ministerial Statement on Review of Apprenticeships and Youth Training.
v. Members noted information from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding closed session meetings.
13. Any other business
Members noted the programme for the visit to Brussels.
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 2 May 2013 at 10.00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 1.35pm
