16th March 2022
2022-03-16 Draft Minutes.pdf (186.31 kb)
Committee for the Economy
Minutes of Proceedings
16th March 2022
Meeting Location: Senate Chamber
In Attendance:
Dr Caoímhe Archibald (MLA (Chairperson)
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA
Mr Stewart Dickson MLA
Mr Keith Buchanan MLA
Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA
Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Matthew O’Toole MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Ms Claire Sugden MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Thomas Armstrong (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Aaron Pakenham (Clerical Officer)
Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Mr Michael Greer (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Sinead Kelly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
The meeting commenced at 10:07am in open session.
1. Apologies
As noted above.
2. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes from 9th March 2022.
Agreed: Members agreed to amend the Record of Decisions from 9th March to share letter from Neill O’Brien to Finance Minister and agreed the Record of Decisions as amended.
3. Chairperson’s Business
Noted: Members noted a letter from the Head of the Civil Service regarding Permanent Secretary appointments.
Agreed: Members noted the update following the meeting with the Chair and panel of the Independent Review of Invest NI and agreed that the Clerk would forward the Committee’s Micro Inquiry reports would be forwarded to the Review.
Members agreed to move to closed session 10.14am
4. Briefing from the NI Audit Office – Department for the Economy Annual Report and Accounts 2020-2021
Members received a briefing in closed session from:
Kieran Donnelly Comptroller & Auditor General, NI Audit Office
Rodney Allen Chief Operating Officer, NI Audit Office
Members agreed to move to open session at 11.52am
5. Employment (Zero Hours and Banded Weekly Working Hours) Bill – Draft Committee Report
The Committee considered the draft report on the Employment (Zero Hours and Banded Weekly Working Hours) Bill.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Executive Summary as drafted.
The Committee considered the Introduction and Committee Approach as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Introduction and Committee Approach as drafted.
The Committee considered the Consideration of the Bill as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Consideration of the Bill as drafted.
The Committee considered the Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Bill as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Bill as drafted.
The Committee considered the List of Appendices as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the List of Appendices as drafted.
6. Onshore Fracking (Prohibition) Bill – Draft Committee Report
The Committee considered the draft report on the Employment (Zero Hours and Banded Weekly Working Hours) Bill.
The Committee considered the Executive Summary as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Executive Summary as drafted.
The Committee considered the Introduction and Committee Approach as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Introduction and Committee Approach as drafted.
The Committee considered the Consideration of the Bill as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Consideration of the Bill as drafted.
The Committee considered the Others Issues Raised in the Consideration of the Bill as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Other Issues raised in the Consideration of the Bill as drafted.
The Committee considered the Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Bill as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Bill as drafted.
The Committee considered the List of Appendices as drafted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the List of Appendices as drafted.
Members agreed to move to Agenda Item 8
8. SR 2022/75 The Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022
Members noted a response from the Department in relation to the queries raised on this SR.
Members considered the SR 2022/75 The Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Question out and agreed:
“That the Committee for the Economy has considered SR 2022/75 The Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022, and has no objection to the Rule, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.”
Members agreed to move to Agenda Item 10.
10. Committee for the Economy Draft Legacy Report 2017-2022
The Committee considered the Legacy Report 2017-2022.
The Committee considered the Title page, Table of Contents and Committee Powers and Membership.
Agreed: Members agreed the Title page, Table of Contents and Committee Powers and Membership.
The Committee considered the Review of the 2017-2022 Mandate – Scrutiny.
Agreed: Members agreed the Review of the 2017-2022 Mandate – Scrutiny.
The Committee considered the Review of the 2017-2022 Mandate – Approach.
Agreed: Members agreed the Review of the 2017-2022 Mandate – Approach.
The Committee considered the Review of the 2017-2022 Mandate – Suggested Issues for the Successor Committee.
Agreed: Members agreed the Review of the 2017-2022 Mandate – Suggested Issues for the Successor Committee.
The Committee considered the List of Appendices.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the List of Appendices.
Members agreed to move to Agenda Items 14 – 19
14. SR 2022/101 The Employer’s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022
Members considered SR 2022/101 The Employer’s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee for the Economy has considered 2022/101 The Employer’s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022, and has no objection to the Rule, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.”
15. SL1 - The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Administration) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022
Members considered SL1 - The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Administration) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the policy intent of the SL1.
16. SL1 - The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations (NI) 2022
Members considered SL1 - The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Persons Abroad and Mariners) Regulations (NI) 2022.
Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the policy intent of the SL1.
17. SL1 - The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022
Members considered SL1 - The Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the policy intent of the SL1.
18. SL1 - The Parental Bereavement Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022
Members considered SL1 - The Parental Bereavement Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022.
Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the policy intent of the SL1.
Members considered SL1 - The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations (NI) 2022
Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the policy intent of the SL1.
Members agreed to move to Agenda Item 7
7. Matters Arising
Noted: Members noted a letter from the Committee for Infrastructure to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury regarding rebated fuel entitlement and fuel duty.
Noted: Members noted the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill – Minutes of Proceedings and Annotated Marshalled list for Consideration Stage.
Noted: Members noted correspondence from the Minister to the Committee regarding Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Regulations.
Members agreed to move to Agenda Item 11
11. InterTradeIreland Briefing - Annual Report and Accounts 2020
Members noted the InterTradeIreland Annual Report and Accounts 2020.
12. Correspondence
Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the Protocol Sub-committee to BEIS regarding the Subsidy Control Bill.
Noted: Members noted the Examiner of Statutory Rules - Eighteenth Report of Session 2021-2022.
Noted: Members noted correspondence from an individual regarding the DfE Audit Qualification of 2020-21 Accounts.
Noted: Members noted the Examiner of Statutory Rules - Nineteenth Report of Session 2021-2022.
Agreed: Members noted the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill 2022 and agreed to respond to the Department to indicate that the Committee had no objections to the Bill.
Noted: Members considered correspondence from an individual regarding QUB’s Annual Report 2020-21.
13. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members discussed the apparent use of Russian coal at Kilroot Power Station and agreed to seek clarity from the Department, the Utility Regulator, DAERA and Belfast City Council as to the official position and what instruction there has been from the UK Government in this regard.
Agreed: Members discussed the increasing fuel prices and agreed to write to the Competition and Markets Authority regarding value for money for consumers and the potential for unusual practices.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department to ask whether any discussions have taken place around the potential for an essential user rebate in relation to fuel prices, for example, for hauliers and taxi drivers.
Agreed: Members discussed the International Holocaust Remembrance definition of anti-Semitism and agreed to ask the University of Ulster and Queen’s University for their position on adopting this definition.
14. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Wednesday 9th March 2022 in Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10am.
The meeting was adjourned at 12.34pm.
Dr Caoímhe Archibald MLA
Chairperson, Committee for the Economy
