Committee for the Economy - Minutes of Proceedings
Wednesday 25 June 2025
Committee for the Economy - 25 June 2025.pdf (168.48 kb)
Meeting Location: Foyle Port
Present:
Mr Phillip Brett MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Gary Middleton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA
Mr David Honeyford MLA
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA
Ms Emma Sheerin MLA
Apologies:
Ms Diana Armstrong MLA
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA
Ms Kate Nicholl MLA
In Attendance:
Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Katie McMaster (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Karen O'Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Stuart Gilmour (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced in public session at 10:01am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Declarations of Interest
Gary Middleton declared an interest in respect of his wife being a board member of Foyle Port.
3. Chairperson's Business
3.1 FSB NI
The Chairperson advised Members of a recently produced survey and report from the Federation of Small Businesses NI in respect of the impact of the Windsor Framework.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an evidence session with FSB NI in order to receive an update on these matters.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Economy Committee meeting of 18 June 2025.
5. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
6. North West Tourism - evidence session
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 10:03am:
- Ciaran Doherty, Head of Regions, Tourism NI;
- Helen McGorman, Head of Northern Ireland Stakeholder Engagement, Tourism Ireland;
- Odhran Dunne, Chief Executive, Visit Derry; and
- Aeidin McCarter, Head of Culture, Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Key issues discussed included: Local Economic Partnerships; place-making and destination marketing; the Experience Development Programme; the North West Tourism Collaborative Group; river tourism, Halloween tourism, the Walled City Festival, night-time tourism, the Sperrins (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) management plan and the associated economic opportunities; competition with RoI including the challenges of the VAT rate, the introduction of ETA and the Dublin Airport cap; the of lack of indoor venues and infrastructure challenges including the role of City of Derry Airport (CoDA); the revised position on the extension of the Wild Atlantic Way and connectivity with the Causeway Coastal Route; destination levies; and visitor spend disparities.
Emma Sheering joined the meeting at 10:14am.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their evidence.
The witnesses left the meeting at 11:38am.
Emma Sheerin left the meeting at 11:38am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Derry City and Strabane District Council seeking clarity as to whether the £3m of support originally earmarked for CoDA will be invested in enhancing the tourism offer in the North West.
7. North West Tertiary Education cluster (NWTEC) - evidence session
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 11:40am:
- Dr Orla Flynn, President, Atlantic Technological University (ATU);
- Malachy O'Neill, Director of Regional Engagement, Ulster University;
- Ciaran O'Brien, Director of Further Education and Training, Donegal Education & Training Board; and
- Leo Murphy, Principal & Chief Executive, North West Regional College (NWRC).
Padraig Delargy declared an interest in that he is a graduate of two of the institutions providing evidence.
Emma Sheerin rejoined the meeting at 11:43am.
Key issues discussed included: the Smart Industry Board informing skills development; engagement with schools; student mobility; the North West Depth project; the STEM passport to inclusion; East West connectivity; competition and budget pressures; and trans-jurisdictional apprenticeship passports.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their evidence.
The witnesses left the meeting at 12:28pm.
8. Foyle Port - evidence session
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 12:30pm:
- Brian McGrath, Chief Executive, Foyle Port
- Ryan McCready, Chairman, Foyle Port
Key issues discussed included: the employment impact of the port; the re-designation of the trust ports; Enhanced Investment Zone issues; the Artificial Intelligence Growth Zone; cruise ship tourism and the need for a related cross border feasibility study; the challenge of skills shortages and an aging workforce; and offshore renewable energy opportunities.
Gary Middleton left the meeting at 12:56pm.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their briefing.
The witnesses left the meeting at 1:04pm.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Science Innovation and Technology indicating the Committee's support for Foyle Port's Artificial Intelligence Growth Zone application.
Agreed: The Committee also agreed to seek further information from Foyle Port on its plans to support the development offshore renewable energy.
9. Industrial Training Levy - delegated legislation
David Honeyford declared an interest in that he is a director of a construction company.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the statutory rule in respect of the Industrial Training Levy until its meeting on 2 July 2025.
10. Correspondence
10.1 Index
Noted: The Committee noted an index of incoming correspondence.
10.2 Ministerial oral statement
Noted: The Committee noted a copy of the Ministerial oral statement on post-school education.
10.3 Net Zero Accelerator Fund
Noted: The Committeenoted a Departmental response in respect of the Net Zero Accelerator Fund.
10.4 Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) Scheme
Noted: The Committee noted a Departmental response in respect of the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) Scheme.
10.5 Overgrown Trees
Noted: The Committeenoted a response from DAERA in respect of overgrown trees and electricity infrastructure storm damage.
10.6 HoL NI Scrutiny Committee
Noted: The Committeenoted a copy of correspondence from the HoL NI Scrutiny Committee to SoS NI in respect of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
10.7 GCCNI ARA 2023-24
Noted: The Committeenoted a copy of the Annual Report and Accounts for the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (GCCNI) 2023-24.
10.8 Pivotal Report
The Committee considered the Pivotal report on policy delivery by the Executive, and a related email requesting to brief the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would not schedule a related evidence session owing to forward work programme pressures.
10.9 Riverside Theatre in Coleraine
The Committee considered correspondences from a concerned individual in respect
of the closure of the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine and a request to brief the
Committee including a related briefing paper.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would not schedule a related evidence session owing to forward work programme pressures.
10.10 Post-19 SEN
The Committee considered further correspondence from a number of individuals in respect of post-19 SEN.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the concerned individuals indicating that it is awaiting the outcome of the ETI review of FE provision and the other next steps from the Minister's recent statement.
10.11 QUB
Noted: The Committeenoted a tabled copy of a letter issued to the Minister from Queen's University Belfast, in respect of the delay to the outcome of the June Monitoring round and the implications for research capital expenditure in the Higher Education sector.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered its forward work programme including: an informal meeting with the International Agreements Committee; an Assembly Research briefing on NI's renewable energy position; a Departmental briefing on the Administrations and Financial Provisions Bill; and an update from Invest NI.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its forward work programme, as amended.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the proof of a newspaper advertisement in respect of the anticipated call for evidence for the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill.
12. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
13. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next Economy Committee meeting is scheduled to begin on Wednesday 2 July 2025 at 10:00am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:10pm.
Phillip Brett MLA
Chairperson, Committee for the Economy
2 July 2025
