Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 30 May 2013
Venue: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
The meeting began at 10.10am in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
Members considered an invitation from the Payment Council to a seminar on 13 June.
Agreed: to inform the Committee Office if interested in attending.
Members considered a draft article for the Institute of Directors’ publication.
Agreed: to submit the article to the IoD.
3. Minutes of meeting held on Thursday 23 May 2013.
Paul Frew joined the meeting at 10.11am
With a slight amendment the minutes were agreed.
4. Matters Arising
Members noted a response from the Department regarding collaborative examples of the work of InterTradeIreland under FP7.
Members noted a response from the Department regarding the timescales for grid connection for the large scale renewables.
Members considered a response from the Department on the Executive Sub Committee on the Economy.
Agreed: to ask the Department to provide detail on the outcomes and achievements of the sub-committee to date.
Members noted a response from the Department regarding Regional Aid Status.
Members noted the list of Consumer Council stakeholders and details of other arm’s length bodies review timescales.
Members noted information provided by the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in the context of the review of the Consumer Council.
Members noted a response from the Department of the Environment to the Committee for the Environment regarding permitted development for the mobile telecommunications industry.
Members considered a draft response from the Committee to the review of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.
Agreed: to stress in the response the need for independence in any future structure.
Members considered a response from the Ulster Bank regarding the progress of the weather fund for farmers and the sectoral breakdown of loans extended under the Funding for Lending Scheme.
Agreed: to forward to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
Agreed: to receive clarification from the Ulster Bank if the funding identified by sector refers to offers made or actual up-take.
5. Report on Economic Growth: - Oral Briefing from Price, Waterhouse Coopers
The Representative joined the meeting at 10.24am
Members received an oral briefing from Dr. Esmond Birnie, Chief Economist, Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Key issues discussed included: improvement in management skills, increase in R&D spending and the property market.
Paul Frew left the meeting at 11.11am
Stephen Moutray joined the meeting at 11.45am
Agreed: to commission research on the impact of reducing VAT on tourism.
Agreed: to receive additional with information if PWC has carried out research on the procurement process.
Agreed: to share with PWC the Committee report on its visit to Brussels.
6. Subordinate Legislation: SL1 The Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013
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 Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
7. Subordinate Legislation: SL1 The Weights and Measures (Specified Qualities) (Unwrapped bread and Intoxicating Liquor) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013
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 Weights and Measures (Specified Qualities) (Unwrapped bread and Intoxicating Liquor) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 and has no objection to the policy implications of the proposed legislation at this stage.
8. Updates on the Report on the Inquiry into Renewable Energy and the Strategic Energy Framework Implementation Plan Written Briefing from DETI
Members considered the written briefing.
Agreed: to receive information from the Department on Invest NI support for the renewable energy sector
Agreed: to receive from the Department for the Environment on the Best Practice Guidance for PPS18 consultation
Agreed: to receive further information on recommendations 1, 13, 14 and 25.
Agreed: to receive a six monthly report only on those recommendations against which there are still actions to be completed.
9. Supermarket Fuel Pricing Written Briefing from Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco
Members considered the briefings from the 3 Supermarkets.
Agreed: to receive oral briefings from Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
Agreed: to commission research to identify an independent representative body for the motor fuel sector
10. Correspondence
Members noted the following items of correspondence for action
From a member of the public regarding financial services.
Agreed: to direct the member of the public to Invest NI and NI Science Park and to forward the letter to Invest NI
Members noted the following invitations
Dairy UK Annual Dairy Dinner
Energy Ireland
NI Assembly and Business Trust
Agreed: to contact the Committee Office if attending.
Members noted the following items of correspondence
From the Department regarding 2012 No. 179 Health and Safety the Control of Asbestos Regulation (Northern Ireland) 2012 – Correction
11. Any other business
Members agreed the changes to the forward work programme.
12. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 6 June 2013 at 10.00 in Room 30.
The meeting moved into closed session at 12.00pm
13. Cross Border Economic Renewal
Members considered the report on Cross Border Economic Renewal.
Agreed: to ask the Department what action is being taken to address the lack of data which describes how economies function at sub regional level
Agreed: to receive a written response from the Department on any action being taken to facilitate local centres of excellence to support enterprises in the border region.
Agreed: to receive a written briefing from DETI and the Department of the Environment on actions being taken to facilitate economic development at sub-regional level post RPA.
Agreed: to ask the Department for its views on, and any consideration that has been given to the development of sub-regional clusters.
Agreed: to receive a written response from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding cross border co-operation between state agencies in cross border economic renewal.
Agreed: InterTradeIreland to provide an oral briefing to update the Committee on its work on the border region economy.
14. Report on the Visit to Brussels
Members considered the report on the Committee’s visit to Brussels.
Agreed: to undertake the number of actions identified from the report.
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 1.10pm
