Committee for the Economy
Minutes of Proceedings - Wednesday 18 March 2026
Committee for the Economy - Wednesday 18 March 2026.pdf (188.13 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Phillip Brett MLA (Chairperson)
Ms Diane Forsythe (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Declan Kearney MLA
Ms Kate Nicholl MLA
Present via video conferencing:
Mr Pádraig Delargy MLA
Mr David Honeyford MLA
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin MLA
Apologies:
Ms Diana Armstrong MLA
Mr Jonathan Buckley MLA
In Attendance:
Peter McCallion (Assembly Clerk)
Claire Milliken (Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Katie McMaster (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Karen O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Sarah Dowd (Clerical Officer)
The meeting commenced in open session at 10:02am.
1. Apologies
Apologies were as indicated above.
2. Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
3. Chairperson’s Business
3.1 Agenda
Agreed: The Committee agreed to adopt a revised tabled agenda.
3.2 Seagate Visit
The Chairperson reminded Members that the Committee undertook a visit to Seagate Technologies on Wednesday 11 March 2026 and that a summary note of the informal meeting had been circulated.
Noted: The Committee noted the circulated summary note of the informal meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send a letter of thanks to Seagate Technologies.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Economy Committee meeting of 10 March 2026.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the Economy Committee meeting of 11 March 2026.
5. Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
6. Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) – oral and written evidence
The following witnesses joined the meeting at 10:04am:
- John French, Chief Executive, NIAUR;
- Peter Russell, Executive Director Price Controls Networks and Energy Futures, NIAUR;
- Barbara Cantley, Director, Consumer Protection and Compliance and Enforcement, NIAUR;
- Colin Broomfield, Director, Markets, NIAUR; and
- Brian Mulhern, Director of Networks and Energy Futures, NIAUR
Kate Nicholl joined the meeting at 10:12am
Key issues discussed included: guaranteed service standards; smart metering – timelines, data collection, costs, tariff structures and consumer engagement; interconnection; the timeline for developing energy bill cost reduction measures; regulation of domestic home heating oil; customer care register; the Utility Regulator (Preparation for Decarbonisation) Bill etc.; offshore renewable energy and climate change targets.
The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for their evidence.
The witnesses left the meeting at 11:10am.
Some Members recorded concerns in respect of the limited staff resource available to the Department to support offshore renewable policy development.
Other Members indicated that anticipated staff deployments would address all such concerns.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Utility Regulator seeking a timeline for the interaction with the Department on the development of domestic energy bill cost saving measures and for sight of related correspondence.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking a timeline for the development of offshore renewable energy policy and the development of offshore renewable installations.
7. Higher Education Financial Needs Assessment – Departmental oral and written evidence
The following officials joined the meeting at 11:13am:
- Graham Miller, Acting Director of Higher Education, DfE;
- Elaine Dolan, Head of the Higher Education Funding Review, DfE;
- Joanne Hendry, Head of Higher Education Finance, DfE; and
- June Faccini, Head of Higher Education Research, DfE
Agreed: The Committee agreed to continue proceedings in closed session at 11:21am.
Key issues discussed included: the financial needs assessment report, related timelines and redacted information; HE institutions’ views on the report; the review of the UU multi-campus model; cross-subsidisation, capital and research funding; post-graduate award funding flexibility; and the MaSN cap.
Phillip Brett left the meeting 12:03pm – Diane Forsythe assumed the chairpersonship.
Phillip Brett rejoined the meeting at 12:05pm and resumed chairpersonship of the meeting.
Proceedings continued in open session at 12:25pm
The Committee noted clarification from the Department that it was the Minister’s preference rather than an absolute requirement that there should be consensus among the HE institutions in respect of the Terms of Reference of the wider review of Higher Education.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their evidence.
The officials left the meeting at 12:26pm.
Proceedings were adjourned at 12:26pm
Proceedings resumed at 12:33pm
Sinead McLaughlin left the meeting at 12:33pm
8. Post Graduate Tuition Fee Loans (PGTFL) – Departmental oral and written evidence
The following officials joined the meeting at 12:33pm:
- Graham Miller, Acting Director of Higher Education, DfE;
- Shauna Mullan, Head of Higher Education Policy, DfE; and
- Jonathan O’Callaghan, Head of Higher Education Student Finance, DfE
Key issues discussed included: the protocol for consultations; HM Treasury review of student support packages; numbers of NI students eligible for the PGTFL; and student engagement and marketing of the new PGTFL.
Kate Nicholl left the meeting at 12:48pm
The Committee suspended its consideration of this agenda item at 12:50pm and moved to the next item.
9. Parental Bereavement Regulations - Departmental oral and written evidence
The following officials joined the meeting at 12:50pm:
- Colin Jack, Director of Business and Employment Regulation Division, DfE;
- Geraldine Lavery, Head of Employment Relations Work/Life Balance and EU Exit Branch, DfE; and
- Joseph Ward, Employment Relations Work/Life Balance and EU Exit Branch, DfE.
This session was recorded by Hansard.
The Committee considered: the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2026 and the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2026.
Noted: The Committee noted the 60 th report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules and that there was no commentary on the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Miscarriage) Regulations (NI) 2026.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2026 and the Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (Employment and Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2026.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their evidence.
The officials left the meeting at 12:55pm.
The Departmental PGTFL officials rejoined at 12:58pm
The Departmental PGTFL officials left at 1:03pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking information on NI postgraduate student numbers and information on the marketing of the PGTFL changes to employers etc..
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department seeking a timeline for the UU multi-campus review and sight of the related report; and seeking sight of the redacted information contained within the Financial Needs Assessment report
10. Correspondence
10.1 Index
Noted: The Committee noted an index of incoming correspondence.
10.2 Trade Union Recognition
Noted: The Committee noted a Ministerial response confirming that reducing the workplace recognition threshold for trade unions from 21 to 10 workers will be delivered through delegated legislation.
10.3 Apprenticeships issues
Noted: The Committee noted a Departmental response in respect of apprenticeships.
10.4 Spring Statement
Noted: The Committee noted a memo from the Committee for Finance in respect of the outworkings of the additional funding allocated to the Executive following the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.
10.5 High Street and Small Business Challenges
The Committee considered a memo from the Committee for Finance confirming willingness to undertake joint working on High Street and small business challenges.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Clerk to return with proposals on how to undertake the joint working.
10.6 Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill
Noted: The Committee noted a memo from the Committee for Finance on its Committee Stage report on the Administrative and Financial Provisions Bill.
10.7 59th report of the ESR
Noted: The Committee noted the 59th report of the ESR which include no commentary on Draft SR: The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and S.R. 2026/3: The Further Education (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026.
10.8 House of Lords NI Scrutiny Committee - Eco-design
Noted: The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords NI Scrutiny Committee to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in respect of eco-design requirements for external power supplies etc.
10.9 House of Lords NI Scrutiny Committee - AI
Noted: The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords NI Scrutiny Committee to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in respect of the simplification of the implementation of harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence and how the Stormont brake might be applied in this case.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered its forward work programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed its forward work programme, as drafted.
12. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
13. Date, Time and Place of the next meeting
The next scheduled Economy Committee meeting will begin on Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 10:00am in Room 30 Parliament Buildings.
The Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:05pm.
Diane Forsythe MLA
Deputy Chairperson, Committee for the Economy
25 March 2026
