1st December 2021

2021-12-01 Draft Minutes.pdf (606.14 kb)

Committee for the Economy

Minutes of Proceedings

1st December 2021

Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Present:                 

Dr Caoímhe Archibald (MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Keith Buchanan MLA

Mr Peter Weir MLA

Mr Stewart Dickson MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne MLA

 

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference: 

Mr Matthew O’Toole MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Ms Claire Sugden MLA

 

Apologies:              

Mr John O’Dowd MLA

Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA

 

In Attendance:      

Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)

Mr Thomas Armstrong (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

 

In Attendance by Video or Teleconference: 

Ms Sinead Kelly (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Mr Michael Greer (Clerical Supervisor)

 

The meeting commenced at 10:05am in open session.

 

 1.     Apologies

 

As noted above.

 

 2.     Draft Minutes

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes from 24th November 2021.  

 

3.     Chairperson’s Business

 

Noted: Members noted an invitation from the Commission for Victims and Survivors to register for the Better Together: Reviewing the needs of victims and survivors of the Troubles/Conflict event on 7th December.

 

Noted: Members noted a memo from the Clerking and Member Support Office regarding an online session on Personal Security as part of the Member Development Programme.

 

Noted: Members noted that, following the Consider Stage of the Parental Bereavement (Leave & Pay) Bill, the Committee’s amendments have been passed and the amended Bill now moves to Further Consideration Stage.

 

Agreed: Members agreed that a briefing on the ERAP to include the full out-workings of the High Street Stimulus Scheme is scheduled for 19th January and that the Ministerial briefing will follow towards the end of January.

 

Agreed: Members discussed the current strike action by the University and College Union and agreed to place on record their support.

 

4.     Small-Scale Green Energy Bill – Oral Evidence from the Utility Regulator

 

Members received a briefing from:

 

John French       Chief Executive, Utility Regulator

Kevin Shiels       Director of Retail and Customer Protection, Utility Regulator

 

 

The witness left the meeting at 11:04am

 

5.     Small-Scale Green Energy Bill: Oral Evidence from NIE

 

Members received a briefing from:

Ronan McKeown     Customer & Market Services Director, NIE Networks

 

Sinead Ferris            Network Connections Manager, NIE Networks

 

Agreed: NIE agreed to provide further information in relation to a number of matters raised.

 

The witnesses left the meeting at 11:41am.

 

 

6.     Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill: Briefing from the Department on the Legislative Consent Motion

 

Members received a briefing from:

 

Keith Foster                  Director of Strategic Policy, DfE

 

Sarah Jones                  Future Sectoral Branch, DfE

 

Stephen Herdman        Future Sectoral Branch, DfE

 

Agreed: Officials agreed to provide clarification in relation to a number of issues raised.

 

The witness left the meeting at 11.58am.

 

 

7.     Matters Arising

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Minister of State in response to the Committee’s letter of 27th September regarding the Community Renewal Fund.

 

Noted: Members noted a Response from the Department regarding the review of caravan legislation.

 

Agreed: Members noted a response from the Department regarding the third call for applications under the European Social Fund Programme and agreed to ask the Department for an update on the current situation as regards match funding.

 

Noted: Members noted a Response from the Department regarding the cost liabilities of amendments to the Parental Leave Bill.

 

Agreed: Members noted a Response from the Department regarding support for mature students in higher education and agreed to forward to the individual who raised the matter.

 

Noted: Members noted a Response from Invest NI regarding the Klarna Operational Model.

 

Agreed: Members noted a Response from Invest NI regarding the Integra Spec Insulating Concrete Formwork Building System and agreed to forward to Ballantine Business Solutions.

 

 

8.     Small-Scale Green Energy Bill

 

Noted: Members noted the Hansards of the oral evidence from Power NI and the RaISE briefing.

 

Noted: Members noted a response from the Department regarding the scrutiny points highlighted in the RaISE paper.

 

 9.     Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill

 

Members noted that the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill passed Second Stage on 29th November 2021 and has been referred to the Committee for Committee Stage.

 

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the list of key stakeholders.

Agreed: Members agreed that a number of amendments be made to the draft survey questions and circulated to members by email for final agreement.

 

Agreed: Members agreed the public notice for the call for evidence.

 

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Examiner of Statutory Rules requesting a report on the delated powers within the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill.

 

Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Justice Committee to ask if they could forward the request for evidence to stakeholders involved in Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill.

 

 

10. Correspondence

 

Agreed: Members noted a letter from the Executive Committee regarding the Travel Agents (Coronavirus) Financial Assistance Scheme and agreed to write to the Minister to raise the issue of support for travel agents.

 

Agreed: Members noted a memo from the Executive Committee regarding Foyle International Language School and support for the English Language Teacher Sector and agreed to respond to TEO Committee reflecting the Department’s position.

 

Noted: Members noted the Sixth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules 2021 – 2022.

 

Noted: Members noted correspondence from Bill Sneyd, Co-Founder and Director of HomeSun Holdings Ltd, regarding microgeneration in Britain.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Health Committee regarding the difficulties people with sensory impairments have in accessing public information

 

Noted: Members noted a memo and letter from the Education Committee raising concerns by the Lord Mayor of Belfast in relation to the lack of structured education provision for young refugee and asylum seekers.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets about amendments of Regulation No (EU) 1025/2012.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets implementing decision (EU) 2021/867.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets implementing decision (EU) 2021/845.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets about amending Regulation (EU) No 651/2014.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets about amending Directive 2014/53/EU.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets

about amending Annexes II and III to regulation (EC) NO 1223/2009

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets amending Directive 2003/87/EC.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets regarding a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament of the Council establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to the BEIS Minister regarding the ARIA Bill.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from the Chair of the EU Sub-Committee on the Protocol to the Minister for Disabled People, Health and about amendments and corrections of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from BEIS & DCMS to the Chair of the Lords European Affairs Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and amending certain union legislative acts.

 

Noted: Members noted a departmental response to Communities Committee regarding the Increase in Domestic Energy Costs.

 

Noted: Members noted a letter from an Individual regarding the leak of the Hatch Report and the impact on communities living in Fermanagh petroleum licence area.

 

11. SR 2021/304 The Insolvency Practitioners (Recognised Professional Bodies) (Revocation of Recognition) Order (NI) 2021

 

Members noted SR 2021/304 The Insolvency Practitioners (Recognised Professional Bodies) (Revocation of Recognition) Order (NI) 2021 which is for information only.

 

12. SL1 - The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Schedule 8) (Early Termination of Certain Temporary Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2021

 

Members noted the SL1 - The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Schedule 8) (Early Termination of Certain Temporary Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2021.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the policy intent of the SL1.

 

13. Any Other Business

 

Members agreed to request further information from the Department in relation to the roll-out of the High Street Voucher Scheme.

 

14. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

 

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Wednesday 1st December 2021 in Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10am.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12.54pm.

 

Dr Caoímhe Archibald MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Economy

8th December 2021   

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