TUESDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2000 at 2.20pm in THE SENATE CHAMBER Parliament Buildings
Present: Mr P Doherty (Chairperson) Mr S Neeson (Deputy Chairperson) Mr D S Dalton Ms P Lewsley Ms J Morrice Mr D McClarty Dr D O'Hagan Mr J Wells
Apologies: Mr A Attwood Mr W Clyde
In attendance: Mrs C White Mr J Nesbitt Mr D Donaldson Miss J Presho
Witnesses: Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Mr G McConnell (DETI) Mr M Pinkerton (DETI)
The meeting opened, in public, at 2.20pm
1. Chairperson's business
1.1 The Chairperson reported that Premier Transmission Limited (PTL) have decided, because of unresolved strategic issues, not to attend the Committee meeting arranged for 8 November. The Chairperson stated that PTL had conveyed its apologies to the Committee and hoped to be able to meet the Committee at some future date.
2. Minutes of last meeting
2.1 The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
3.1 Harland and Wolff - the Committee Clerk reported that a letter of support to the MoD was not issued as the announcement of the contract was made on the same day the letter was due to be issued (26 October). A press release was instead issued welcoming the announcement that the shipyard is to build two strategic sealift vessels. A copy of the press release was handed out to members.
3.2 Meeting with Mary O'Rourke TD - the Committee Clerk reported that the meeting had been arranged for 23 November.
Agreed - that members should let the Committee Clerk know by Friday 10 November who would be attending.
4. Strategy 2010 Inquiry
4.1 The Committee Clerk reported that the Specialist Advisors should be presenting their findings on the Inquiry to the Committee by early next week.
Ms Morrice joined the meeting at 2.25pm
5. Public evidence session at 2.30pm on the Programme for Government
5.1 The Minister and his officials gave evidence to the Committee on the Department's Programme for Government. The Minister answered a number of questions on the Programme for Government put by the Committee.
Mr Dalton joined the meeting at 2.40pm Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 2.43pm
The Committee moved into private session at 4.00pm
6. DETI restructuring
6.1 The Chairperson advised that the Minister had requested a response from the Committee on the consultation paper by 24 November.
Agreed - that the Committee should request an extension from the Minister of 1 week for a Committee response. It was also agreed that for week commencing 20 November, the Committee would meet on either Monday or Tuesday (instead of Wednesday).
7. Programme for Government.
7.1 The Committee agreed to formulate a response on the Programme for Government at its next meeting (Wednesday 8 November).
8. Ofreg paper
8.1 The draft response on Ofreg's consultation paper on renewable energy was agreed.
9. Budget proposals 2001/02
9.1 A draft response for the Finance and Personnel Committee on the budget proposals was handed out to members. The Committee agreed to consider this response at the next Committee meeting (Wednesday 8 November).
10. Any other business
10.1 Nortel visit on 8 November- the agenda for this visit was handed out to members.
10.2 Agreed - that a programme of future meetings would be issued to members.
10.3 Agreed - that Energy would be the subject of the next inquiry of the Committee. The terms of reference will be drawn up at a future meeting.
The meeting closed at 4.25pm
Mr P Doherty (Chairperson)
