Friday 4 August 2000 at 11.00am in Room 152 Parliament Buildings

Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)     Mr A Attwood     Mr D Shipley Dalton     Ms P Lewsley     Dr A McDonnell   Ms J Morrice

In attendance: Mrs C White, Mr J Nesbitt,   Miss M Higgins, Miss J Presho

In attendance for public evidence session at 11.25am: Belfast City Council - Cllr. M Jones, Cllr. R Stoker, Dr E Jackson, Ms M McGivern

In attendance for public evidence session at 12.27pm: Derry City Council - Cllr. P Kelly, Ald. J Guy, Mr M Lusby

The meeting opened, in private, at 11.07am

1. Chairperson's business

i. Cross-cutting issues - the Chairperson reported on a letter he had received from Dr Esmond Birnie, the Chairperson of the Higher and Further Education and Training and Employment Committee, on cross-cutting issues, particularly in relation to R&D.

Agreed - that the Chairperson should meet with Dr Birnie in September to consider how best to take these issues forward.

Mr Attwood joined the meeting at 11.08am

ii. Appropriation Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 - the Chairperson pointed out the reference in the Appropriation Act (in relation to expenditure by the Department) to "residual costs in connection with the privatisation of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland".

Agreed - that clarification should be sought from the Minister on these "residual costs".

iii. The Chairperson reported that a submission had been received from North Down Borough Council. He explained that the Council had stated they had made a submission in February, but that it had not been received in the Committee Office.

Agreed - to accept the submission made by North Down Borough Council.

2. Apologies

Apologies were received from Dr D O'Hagan, Mr D McClarty, Mr S Neeson and Mr W Clyde.

3. Minutes of last meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.

4. Matters arising

There were no matters arising.

5. Public evidence session - Belfast City Council at 11.25pm

Belfast City Council gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Strategy 2010.

Dr McDonnell and Mr Attwood declared their interests as members of Belfast City Council and members of the Economic Development Sub-Committee of Belfast City Council.

6. Public evidence session - Derry City Council at 12.27pm

Derry City Council gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Strategy 2010.

The meeting resumed in private at 1.15pm

7. Strategy 2010 Inquiry

Special Advisor -

Agreed - to appoint Professor John Bradley, Professor Frances Ruane, and Professor Vani Borooah as Special Advisors to the Committee.

8. Any other business

Visit to US - the Committee Clerk reported that there may be a change in the programme with a possible visit to Denver included at the end.

Agreed - that the Committee members travelling to the US should visit Denver if this was deemed necessary.

Mr Attwood left the meeting at 1.25pm

9. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Monday 4 September at 10.30am in Room 144.   

The meeting closed at 1.29pm

Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)