Committee for the Economy - Minutes of Proceedings - 16 October 2024.pdf (172.4 kb)
Committee for the Economy
Minutes of Proceedings - 16 October 2024
Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Stormont
Present: Mr Phillip Brett MLA (Chairperson)
Ms Diana Armstrong MLA
Mr David Honeyford MLA
Mr Philip McGuigan MLA
Present via Video-Conferencing:
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA
Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA
Apologies:
Mr Gary Middleton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Kate Nicholl MLA
In Attendance:
Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Anthea Matthews (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Karen O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Supervisor)
The meeting commenced in public session at 9:32am
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Chairperson’s Business
3.1 Harland & Wolff
The Chairperson welcomed reports that a buyer may have been secured for Harland and Wolff. The Chairperson advised that the Department’s 2022-23 annual report and accounts indicated that all shares in the company are owned by the Department.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking clarity on the anticipated H&W purchase and the consequences in terms of the assets and liabilities for the tax-payer.
3.2 Community Wealth Building
The Chairperson advised that the Department’s business plan refers to the progression of recommendations from the Independent Report on Community Wealth Building. The Chairperson also referred to a recent AQO 937/22-27 which refers to the Department’s engagement with Community Wealth Building initiatives to reduce economic inactivity in Larne and the North West.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and seek clarity on the Community Wealth Building initiatives that it is supporting.
3.3 Motor Insurance
The Chairperson referred Members to the informal meeting hosted by the Committee for Justice with the Association of British Insurers which took place on 15 October 2024. It had been suggested that there were regulatory gaps in Northern Ireland in respect of Claim Management Companies and concerns in respect of the significantly higher costs of credit hire vehicles (used during the period that a motor vehicle is being repaired) in Northern Ireland. Both of these were described as increasing motor insurance costs in this jurisdiction.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department and seek clarity in respect of Trading Standards’ role in respect of Claim Management Companies and credit hire costs and to also seek its view on the claim that a current deficit in motor body repair skills in Northern Ireland leads to poor competition in the sector and thus adversely affects motor insurance costs.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Economy Committee meeting of 9 October 2024.
5. Matters Arising
Further to the meeting of 9 October 2024, Jonathan Buckley referred to the costs associated with supporting City of Derry Airport and the likely liability and the impact of the possible withdrawal of relevant public service obligations.
Sinéad McLaughlin set out the importance of air connectivity and the need to retain support for City of Derry Airport.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to await responses from the Department on the City of Derry Airport business case and in respect of related viability questions.
The Committee considered a draft response to the Committee for TEO on the draft PfG following the related evidence session on 9 October 2024.
Sinead McLaughlin indicated that although she would support the response, as a member of the Opposition, she would likely subsequently also set out other and additional positions to those in the response.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft response (as amended) and agreed that it should be shared with the Committee for TEO.
The Chairperson advised that the RHI tariff regulations would come before plenary for debate on 21 October 2024.
6. Invest NI – Business Strategy and Action Plan Progress - oral and written evidence session
Officials joined the meeting at 9:43am.
The Committee received oral evidence from:
- Kieran Donoghue, Invest NI CEO; and
- Paul Grocott, Head of Economic Strategy Group, DfE
Noted: The Committee noted tabled correspondence on the Regional Property Programme
Key issues discussed included: DfE’s/Invest NI’s progress in achieving action plan actions; parameters investors consider prior to investing in NI; targets for regional entrepreneurship, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and reinvestment by existing firms; changes to the overseas Invest NI footprint; the new Invest NI corporate reporting framework; developing value propositions with district councils and other partners; promotion of dual market access; an Invest NI entrepreneurship event; the development of the Green Economy; the Department’s work in encouraging entrepreneurship at schools; lessons from RoI on the balance of investment between the capital and other sub-regions; and new funding streams for Invest NI.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their evidence.
The officials left the meeting at 10:59am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking: clarity on the reported 3 year / £45m support for LEPs; clarity on the 65% outside BMAP investment target; sight of written advice to Invest NI on good jobs, regional balance etc; information on how the international relations strategy developed at the Executive will dovetail with changes to the Invest NI overseas footprint; and an update on school entrepreneurship engagement.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Invest NI seeking: clarity in respect of the interaction between land use for investment and existing development plans; and information on the previous 5 years of FDI projects including the numbers that were site specific or site agnostic.
7. Correspondence
7.1 Index
Noted: The Committee noted an index of incoming correspondence.
7.2 Employment Bill
Noted: The Committee noted a Departmental response in respect of the Employment Bill pending a further briefing in November/December.
7.3 PfG - Energy Issues
Noted:The Committee noted a Departmental response in respect of the PfG confirming that the Energy Strategy will be reviewed in 2025 and a further consultation on grid connections and the socialisation of charges will follow before the end of this calendar year
7.4 3 Year Budget Information Gathering Exercise
The Committee considered a Departmental briefing paper on the 3 year budget information gathering exercise.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a Departmental briefing in early December when the draft budget is available and to also forward this submission to the Committee for Finance.
7.5 Productivity Measures
Noted: The Committee noted a Departmental response indicating that the Department is planning to work with NISRA to develop NI-based multifactor productivity data sets.
7.6 August 2024-25 OFO
Noted: The Committee noted information on the August 2024-25 Outturn and Forecast Outturn (OFO) budget position for all departments, pending a Departmental briefing at January Monitoring.
7.7 Magee expansion
Noted: The Committee noted a response from Ulster University on Magee expansion indicating that a detailed breakdown of the 2024-25 student numbers and course allocation can be provided in December 2024.
7.8 Disability Fora
Noted: The Committee noted correspondence to the Department from the Committee for Communities about engagement with disability fora.
7.9 23rd and 24th reports of the Examiner of Statutory Rules
Noted: The Committee noted the 23rd and 24th reports of the Examiner of Statutory Rules indicating that the ESR had no comments on:
- S.R. 2024/146: The Industrial Training Levy (Construction Industry) Order (NI) 2024;
- S.R. 2024/161: The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2024; and
- Draft S.R.: The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2024.
7.10 SONI - Winter Outlook 2024-25
Noted: The Committeenoted correspondence from SONI including its Winter Outlook 2024-25.
7.11 RHA to the Minister for the Economy
Noted: The Committeenoted a copy of correspondence from the Renewable Heat Association to the Minister for the Economy requesting that draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be withdrawn.
David Honeyford recorded his concerns that the RHI tariff solution was not consensual and that not all information had been provided by the Department.
7.12 RHA to the NIO
Noted: The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Renewable Heat Association to the Northern Ireland Office on RHI issues.
7.13 Invitation to Boots
The Committee considered an invitation to visit Boots Donegall Place store to discuss building sustainable workforces and revitalising high streets.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to decline as Members have all received related constituency invitations.
7.14 invitation to the Law Society NI breakfast event
The Committee considered an invitation to the Law Society NI breakfast event at the Mac on Thursday 17 October 2024 covering possible changes to conveyancing arrangements in NI which may have an impact on the housing market.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking clarity on the proposed conveyancing changes. The Committee also agreed to forward the correspondence to the Committee for Justice.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk could attend the event, subject to his availability.
8. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered its Forward Work Programme.
Jonathan Buckley suggested that the Committee visit the Game of Thrones studio in Banbridge when it is considering the work of the creative industries in NI.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its Forward Work Programme, as amended.
9. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
10. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next Economy Committee meeting is scheduled to begin on Wednesday 23 October 2024 at 10:00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:09am.
Phillip Brett MLA
Chairperson, Committee for the Economy
23 October 2024
