Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting began at 10.36am in public session.

1.      Apologies 

         Apologies are detailed above.

2.      Minutes of meeting held on 14 June 2012

Agreed: The draft minutes of the meeting on 14 June were agreed.

3.      Chairperson’s Business

The Chair reminded members that the Committee will receive an oral briefing at next week’s meeting from Trading Standards Service in relation to payday lending.

Agreed: to contact the Irish League of Credit Unions, the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions, Citizens Advice and Advice NI to obtain their views relating to payday lending.

Agreed: to contact the Committee for Finance and Personnel to ascertain if they have a view on this issue.

4.      Matters Arising

Members discussed a written briefing from the Department on June Monitoring 2012.

Steven Agnew joined the meeting at 10.40am.

Robin Newton joined the meeting at 10.41am.

Agreed: to write to the Department on the issue of late papers to the Committee.

Agreed: to ask the Department for further information on proposed reallocations in respect of Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Telecom Broadband.

Members considered a draft response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Inquiry into Public Procurement in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: to send the response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.

Members noted press releases from the National Trust and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) on the Runkerry Golf Club Development.

Daithí McKay joined the meeting at 10.56am.

Agreed: to commission Assembly Research & Information research on other world heritage sites in which development has taken place which has been in keeping with UNESCO status and sites where world heritage status has been lost and the subsequent impact on tourism.

Members noted correspondence from the Green Energy Store to Mr Steven Agnew MLA and from the Utility Regulator on the issue of NISEP funding for Solar PV systems.

Members noted a response from the Department on the Race Relations Order 1997.

Members noted a response from the Department on EU Regional Aid Post 2013. 

5.      Shale Gas Exploration: Oral briefing from GSNI

Officials joined the meeting at 11.14am. 

Members received an oral briefing from Mike Young, Director; Derek Reay, Senior Scientific Officer, Geological Survey Northern Ireland and Mike Thompson, Head of Tourism, Telecoms and Geological Survey Policy Division.

Key issues discussed included the purpose of the licence, future requirements before a licence can be granted to extract shale gas and estimated timescales.

Paul Frew left the meeting at 11.42am.

Stephen Moutray left the meeting at 11.52am.

Phil Flanagan declared an interest as a family member who owns land in the Fermanagh area.

Agreed: to write to the Department asking for responses to additional questions.

Agreed: for GSNI to provide information on where shale gas has been extracted without the use of chemicals

Officials left the meeting at 12.47pm.

Steven Agnew left the meeting at 12.47pm.

6.      Shale Gas Exploration: Oral Briefing from Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network (FFAN)

Officials joined the meeting at 12.48pm.

Members received an oral briefing from Dr Carroll O’Dolan, Chairperson, Davide Galazzi, Geologist, Isobel Leonard, Outdoor Activities Operator and John Sheridan, Farmer.        

          Key issues discussed included the concerns on the impact of extracting the gas on the environment, health, agri-food and tourism.

Steven Agnew returned to the meeting at 12.50pm.

Robin Newton left the meeting at 1.38pm.

Officials left the meeting at 1.46pm.

7.      SL1-The Health & Safety (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Members considered a 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 Health & Safety (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012  and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.

8.      DETI Operating Plan 2011/12

         Members noted the written briefing.

9.      Energy Bill Consultation Document

Members discussed the written briefing.

Agreed: to await the outcomes of the consultation.

Agreed: for Assembly Research & Information to consider potential consultees at this stage.

10.    Consultation on the Designation of Provisions of EU Regulations No.714/2009 and No.715/2009 as Relevant Requirements

Members noted the written briefing.

11.     Correspondence

Members noted the following items of correspondence:

1. Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Inquiry into Research & Development.

2. Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the Future of EU Funding.

3. Correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on Common European Sales Law.

4. AQW to Phil Flanagan MLA regarding the Events Fund.
Agreed  to receive for copies of the evaluations from the Department.

5. Meeting request from NIIRTA on “Town Centre First”. 
Agreed: to consider the request when developing the Forward Work Programme for the next session.

6. Response from the Department on the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme.

7. Letter from the Minister on provisions in the Financial Services.

12.    Any other business

Members noted a press article on the manufacturing sector in Scotland.

Agreed: to defer the issue for discussion at next week’s meeting.

13.    Date, time and place of next meeting 

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 28 June at 10.00am, Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

The Chair adjourned the meeting at 1.51pm.

Mr Alban Maginness
Chair
Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment

28 June 2012