Committee for the Economy

Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 7 May 2025

Committee for the Economy, Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 7 May 2025.pdf (155.18 kb)

Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

 

Present:

Mr Phillip Brett MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Gary Middleton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Ms Diana Armstrong MLA 

Mr David Honeyford MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

 

Present  by video-conferencing:

Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA

Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA

Ms Emma Sheerin MLA

 

Apologies:

Ms Kate Nicholl MLA

 

In Attendance:

Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)

Katie McMaster (Assistant Assembly Clerk)

Karen O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)

Stuart Gilmour (Clerical Officer)

Nathan Mulholland (Research Officer) – item 6 only

Anne-Marie Fleming (Education Officer) – item 7 only

The meeting commenced in public session at 10:01am.

 

1. Apologies

Apologies were as indicated above.

 

2. Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3. Chairperson’s Business

3.1 Informal Meeting

The Chairperson reminded Members of the Committee’s informal meeting with Royal Portrush Golf Club on 30 April 2025. The Committee noted the summary of the informal meeting that had been circulated.

 

4. Draft Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Economy Committee meeting of 30 April 2025.

 

5. Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

 

6. Assembly Research – Social Enterprise International Best Practice – oral briefing session

Nathan Mulholland joined the meeting at 10:02am.

Key issues discussed included: the classification of the social economy and social enterprises, Scottish Social Enterprise Framework; Netherlands cities’ support for social enterprises; USA case studies and the prevalence of private funding in that jurisdiction; the voluntary register of social enterprises; and the role of women in the sector.

The Chairperson thanked Nathan for his briefing.

Nathan Mulholland left the meeting at 10:24am.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission RaISe to produce a further paper on social enterprises including the state of play in NI; the availability of support by district council area; the impact of the EU commission action plan; comparisons with the RoI; the role of women in social enterprises and the linkage with the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Clustering strands of the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme.

 

7.  Speakers for Schools – Work Placements - oral evidence session

The following witnesses joined the meeting at 10:25am:

Karen Hillis, Head of Engagement NI, Speakers for Schools;

Nuala Ryan, Head of Careers, Belfast Boys' Model School;

Danielle Keenan, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Kainos; and

Anne-Marie Fleming, Education Officer, NI Assembly Education Service

 

Key issues discussed included: work placement options including in-person, virtual provision and SME bundles; the issue of significant applicant over-subscription and limited employer engagement; the focus on June placements; paperwork and insurance challenges; limited employer uptake in the health sector; the UKG’s anticipated 2-week work experience offer; the RoI transition year programme; Year 10 programmes in Northern Ireland; the value of work experience in the curriculum; the need for best practice guidance; and women-only work placement options.

The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their evidence.

The witnesses left the meeting at 11:22am.

 

Proceedings were suspended at 11:22am.

Proceedings resumed at 11:29am.

 

8.  Dr David Jordan – Productivity - oral evidence session

The following witness joined the meeting at 11:29am:

Dr David Jordan, QUB Business School.

 

Key issues discussed included: levels of FDI; productivity policy focus in DfE and productivity focused support by Invest NI; measures of productivity; the proposed Productivity and Growth Board and the co-ordination of actions by departments; untapped potential of NI graduates; FE role in regional balance; barriers to businesses achieving enhanced productivity; the need for better productivity data; and the comparison with RoI interventions.

Padraig Delargy declared an interest in that he is a former graduate of QUB Business School.

The Chairperson thanked the witness for their evidence.

The witness left the meeting at 12:11pm.

 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking commentary as to how it is to take forward the NI Productivity 2040 report including the establishment of the Productivity and Growth Board and the development of improved data including a measure of capital in the economy.

 

Padraig Delargy left the meeting at 12:12pm.

 

9.  Delegated Legislation – Freight Container Safety – written evidence

The Committee considered the proposed statutory rule: The Freight Container (Safety Convention) Regulations Order (Northern Ireland) 2025

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the rule.  The Committee also agreed to write to the Department seeking clarity on the delay to the NI regulations.

 

10. Correspondence

10.1 Index

Noted: The Committee noted an index of incoming correspondence.

10.2 Offshore Renewable Energy

Noted: The Committee noted a Departmental response in respect of the SEA/RIAA consultation on offshore renewable energy, pending the post consultation brief.

10.3 Miscarriage Leave

Noted: The Committee a noted Departmental response in respect of the anticipated response paper on Miscarriage Leave.

10.4 Game of Thrones Studio Tour

The Committee considered a Departmental response in respect of marketing support for the Game of Thrones Studio Tour by Tourism NI.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking further information as to the extent to which Tourism NI’s marketing supports public tourism projects in preference to private tourism projects like Game of Thrones Studio Tour.

10.5 Student Loans

Noted: The Committee noted a Departmental response in respect of tuition fee loans for 2nd degrees.

10.6 Tariff Mitigation

The Committee considered a Departmental response setting out the terms of reference and the membership of the Department’s tariff mitigation working group.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing from the working group, as required.

10.7 Contracts for Difference

Noted: The Committee noted the Departmental response in respect of the delayed renewable energy support scheme and Contracts for Difference auction, pending a briefing later in May 2025.

10.8 Overseas Students

Noted: The Committee noted the response from the UKG Minister for Migration, in respect of changes to immigration rules for international students and their dependants.

10.9 ISNI Capital Report

Noted: The Committee noted the ISNI Capital Activity Report for April 2025.

10.10 Vehicle Emissions Regulations

The Committee considered a response from the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee in respect of EU regulations relating to vehicle emissions and the consequent impact on the regulatory regime in NI compared to GB.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek evidence from stakeholders in respect of the vehicle emissions regulations regime in NI.

10.11 Spending Outturn

Noted: The Committee noted the 2024-25 spending outturn information for all departments forwarded by the Committee for Finance.

10.12 Agricultural Shows

Noted: The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (CAERA) to the Department in respect of funding for agricultural shows.

10.13 Balmoral Show

The Committee considered an invitation from CAERA to an informal Q&A session with Young Farmers NI at the Balmoral Show.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to accept the invitation and that Members would advise the Clerk accordingly.

10.14 ESR’s Report

Noted: The Committee noted the 38th report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules including reference to S.R. 2025/32: The Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025.

10.15 Product Regulation and Metrology (PRaM) Bill

Noted: The Committee noted correspondence relating to the PRaM Bill from the House of Lords NI Scrutiny Committee.

10.16 BORMAC

The Committee considered an invitation to a meeting of the Border Region Manufacturing Cluster (BORMAC) with the Minister for the Economy on 3 June 2025, at Stormont.

Agreed:The Committee agreed that Members would advise the Clerk if they were to attend.

10.17 Mineral Prospecting

Noted: The Committee noted Departmental correspondence advising of the granting of mineral prospecting licences.

10.18 NSMC Tourism Meeting

Noted:The Committee noted a tabled copy of the Minister’s statement on the meeting of the North South Ministerial Conference in tourism format.

10.19 NSMC Business Development Meeting

Noted: The Committee noted a tabled copy of the Minister’s statement on the meeting of the North South Ministerial Conference in business development format.

10.20 PRaM Bill

The Committee consider a tabled copy of the legislative consent memorandum in respect of the PraM Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek further evidence on the PRaM Bill in anticipation of the legislative consent plenary debate.

10.21 Budget 2025-26

The Committee consider a tabled copy of Ministerial correspondence including further information on budget allocations for 2025-26.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek  further evidence from the Department on the 2025-26 budget.

 

 

11. Forward Work Programme

The Committee considered its forward work programme including in respect of evidence sessions relating to: the PRaM Bill; budget 2025-26; telecommunications in rural areas; and AI.

Agreed: The Committee agreed its forward work programme, as amended.

 

12. Any Other Business

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to NRC students recording the Committee’s thanks for the excellence service and delicious meal which students of Northern Regional College provided during the visit to the Coleraine campus on 30 April 2025.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Deluxe Group congratulating it on winning the King’s Award for exports.

Noted: The Committee noted that the Department of Finance’s Cost of Doing Business in NI research had been published.

There was no other business.

 

13. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next Economy Committee meeting is scheduled to begin on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 9:30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

A joint concurrent meeting of the Economy Committee and Education Committee is scheduled to begin on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 10:30am in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.

The Committee meeting was adjourned at 12:26pm.

 

Phillip Brett MLA

Chairperson, Committee for the Economy

7 May 2025