16th February 2022
20220216 Draft Minutes.pdf (156.85 kb)
Committee for the Economy
Minutes of Proceedings
16th February 2022
Meeting Location: Room 30
In Attendance:
Dr Caoímhe Archibald (MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Matthew O’Toole MLA
Mr Stewart Dickson MLA
Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA
Mr John O’Dowd MLA
Mr Stephen Dunne MLA
Mr Peter Weir MLA
Mr Keith Buchanan MLA
In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Apologies:
Ms Claire Sugden MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Thomas Armstrong (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Aaron Pakenham (Clerical Officer)
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 above.
2. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes from 9th February 2022.
3. Chairperson’s Business
Noted: Members noted an oral statement from the Minister of Finance providing an update on Budgetary Matters.
Agreed: Members noted correspondence from the Economy and Finance Ministers regarding European Social Fund match funding and agreed to write to the Department to seek clarity in relation to match funding for community groups.
Noted: Members noted the slides from Hydrogen NI following the informal meeting on 10th February.
Noted: Members noted the new date for the postponed Inter-Parliamentary Forum on Brexit which the Committee previously agreed would be attended by the Chair.
4. Department and Fibrus Briefing – Project Stratum
Members received a briefing from:
- Jeremy Gardner Director – Telecoms and Tourism, DfE
- Nigel Robbins Project Director, DfE
- Trevor Forsythe Project Manager, DfE
- Conal Henry Chairman, Fibrus
- Dominic Kearns Chief Executive, Fibrus
- Shane Haslem Programme Director – Project Stratum, Fibrus
Issues discussed included: the progress of the project and roll-out to new customers; levels of customer satisfaction; ongoing monitoring; project funding; environmental impact and value for money.
The witness left the meeting at 11.33am.
5. Employment (Zero Hours Workers and Banded Weekly Working Hours) Bill
Members heard oral evidence from:
- Kevin Doherty Union Services Officer, NIC - ICTU
- Patricia McKeown NIC-ICTU Member, UNISON
- Paul MacFlynn Co-Director, Nevin Economic Research Institute
Issues discussed included: support for the general principles of the Bill; the impact of similar legislation in the Republic of Ireland; the prevalence and use of zero hour contracts; potential loopholes and the practical outworking of the Bill.
Agreed: Members agreed to follow up with the Bill Sponsor in relation to Clause 14 and the potential loophole in relation to banded hours including whether any legal advice has been sought.
6. RaISe Briefing – Company Law Common Frameworks
Members received a briefing from:
- Aidan Stennett Research Officer, RaISe
The briefing covered: a general overview of the background and need for Common Frameworks; the principles underpinning the Common Frameworks; and the impact of other legislation such as the Internal Market Act.
Agreed: Members agreed to respond to the Department highlighting the scrutiny points set out in the RaISe paper and drawing on the issues raised by the Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee.
7. Matters Arising
Members agreed to deal with Agenda item 7 via correspondence due to time constraints.
8. Onshore Fracking (Prohibition) Bill
Members noted that the Committee has invited the Bill Proposer, Aine Murphy MLA and an expert from Geological Survey NI to discuss the Bill and its objectives. A paper has also been requested from RaISe.
Agreed: Members agreed that, due to the significant time constraints, it could not proceed with a survey or consultation on the Bill and the Committee would therefore reserve its position on the Bill.
9. SL1 - Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2022
Members considered the SL1 – Education (Student Support, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2022.
Agreed: The Committee agreed it was content with the policy intent of the SL1, and agreed to write to the Department regarding the level of funding and access to the Student Hardship Fund.
10. Correspondence
Members agreed to deal with Agenda item 10 via correspondence due to time constraints.
11. Any Other Business
There were no items of business.
12. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Wednesday 23rd February 2022 in Room 30, Parliament Buildings at 10am.
The meeting was adjourned at 12.56pm.
