Minutes of the 91st Meeting of the Board of InterTradeIreland, the Trade and Business
Development Body.
Tuesday 24th February 2009 – InterTradeIreland Offices, Newry (11.00am–1.15pm)
Present:
Board Members:
Dr David Dobbin CBE
Mr John Fitzgerald
Mr Brendan Butler
Mr Ray Doherty
Ms Rosaleen Doherty
Mr Sean Gallagher
Mr Jack Gilmour
Mr Hugh Logue
Mr Padraig MacLochlainn
Mr Tom Scott OBE
Executive:
Mr Liam Nellis
Mr Aidan Gough
Mr Laurence Lord
Ms Margaret Hearty
Ms Orla McGlennon
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Chief Executive
Strategy & Policy Director
Corporate Services Director
Acting Operations Director
Board Secretary
91.1 Apologies.
Apologies were received from Ms Patricia McKeown and Dr Gerard O’Hare.
91.2 Authorisation of Previous Minutes.
The Minutes of the 21st January 2009 Board Meeting were approved by the Board and authorised
by the Chairman. The Board also approved the Summary of Board Minutes of the 21st January
2009 Board Meeting for publication on the InterTradeIreland Website.
91.3 Matters Arising.
The Chief Executive advised that the matters arising would be discussed in the course of the
meeting.
91.4 Chairman’s Business.
The Chairman informed the Board that since the previous Board meeting he had met with
Minister Foster, Minister Dodds, and David Sterling, DETI. He advised that together with the
Vice Chairman he had attended a dinner for the Chairs and Vice Chairs of all of the cross border
Bodies hosted by the NSMC.
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It was hoped that a meeting with DETI, DETE, Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland would be held in
early April to follow up on the strategy review. The Chairman and Chief Executive would be also
be meeting with DETE before this meeting.
91.5 Chief Executive’s Report.
The Board noted the Chief Executive’s Report, which had been circulated in advance of the
meeting which included items on the following:
The Public Accounts Committee will take place at the InterTradeIreland offices on 12 March.
The final of the Ulster Bank Business Achiever’s Awards took place on 9th February at which the
CEO was a member of the judging panel.
A meeting with senior representatives of ISME and the FSB took place and it was agreed that
they would actively support our Business Recruitment Campaign and our Business Monitor.
The first event of InterTradeIreland’s Network & Getwork 3 Programme took place on Thursday
19th February 2009 in the Gresham Hotel in Dublin. The buyers attending were the Bank of
Ireland, Dublin Airport Authority and Ulster Bank.
InterTradeIreland’s annual Private Equity Conference (PEC) is going ahead on 5th March in the
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin. Keynote speakers include Cormac Kilty founder of Biotrin. The
conference theme is “Raising Venture Investment Finance – Experiences Shared and Lessons
Learned.” John Bowman is the conference chair.
Equity Network held a Business Planning workshop in Dublin on 27th January. The purpose of
the event, which was attended by 22 entrepreneurs, was to help companies identify areas of their
business plans for improvement, specifically to assist in fund raising.
Go-2-Tender is being submitted for a National Training Award. The Awards are co-ordinated in
Northern Ireland by the Department of Employment and Learning.
There are four Go-2-Tender workshops planned to date in 2009. They are scheduled to take place
in Belfast, Dublin, Cookstown and Cork.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Programme for 2009 has now been launched and we are seeking to
encourage credible contenders from the eligible entrepreneur community to enter.
The next lecture in the Innovation Programme series will be held on 31st March 2009 at Queen’s
University Belfast and 2nd April 2009 at UCD Dublin. The Chair of Innovation for these lectures
will be Professor Erkko Autio, QinetiQ-EPSRC Chair in Technology Transfer and
Entrepreneurship at Imperial College London.
InterTradeIreland sponsored and presented at the fourth annual conference of the International
Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) which was held in Letterkenny, Co
Donegal on 22-23rd January 2009. The theme of the conference was ‘Achieving Balanced
Regional Development’.
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The Institute for British Irish Regional Studies (IBIS) hosted a seminar on The Impact of
Devolution on Everyday Life: 1999 – 2009 on 6th February 2009 in Dublin. Aidan Gough and
Eoin Magennis prepared a presentation on cross border trade and business.
The Business Monitor results for Financial Quarter 3 2008/09 have been released. The business
monitor surveyed the views of 1000 owner/managers (500 North and 500 South) across the island
for the period October-December 2008. The key themes included the impact of the current
economic downturn, cross-border trade and business linkages and migrant workers.
Further progress has been made with the Agri-Food study. A meeting was held at the start of
February with the Secretary to Northern Ireland’s Industry Advisory Panel to finalise the terms of
reference which will now go back to the Steering Group for final agreement
The Public Procurement research study is well underway with the key phases of buyer and SME
research almost complete. A first draft report will be available in early April.
The launch of the Newry/Dundalk Twin City Region report is due to take place on Friday 27th
February at the Carrickdale Hotel and will be chaired by Aidan Gough. The report will be
officially launched by Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MLA MP and Minister
for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley.
The NSRG Steering Group has been invited to Aras an Uachtarain to hold their last meeting for
the foreseeable future. The Joint Chairs felt that the current model had run its course and
consideration will be given to a new initiative in the future.
Mr Nellis informed the Board that in order to increase levels of financial awareness a series of
workshops had been delivered to staff on issues such as fraud awareness and the linkages between
operational activities and how they impact upon financial measures.
91.6 Discussion on the Current Economic Climate
The Board had a wide-ranging discussion on the current economic climate and how
InterTradeIreland should respond to maximise its relevance and support to businesses across the
Island. The discussion had two core themes. Firstly the need to maximise the economic outcomes
from expenditure and programme activity and ensure that all our activities are economically
relevant and appropriately packaged. Secondly, that InterTradeIreland co-operate with sponsoring
Departments North and South to identify opportunities to address the current economic downturn.
The discussion was informed by the Quarterly Business Monitor results and included
consideration of current company and business requirements. The Board noted that these
included:
o
o
o
o
o
Information on access to finance
Information on cash management
Assistance with cost control, such as energy, waste, transport
Information on speeding up payments
Information on new products and services
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91.7 Board Sub Committee/Steering Committee Reports
Communication Sub Committee Report
Mr Butler reported back from the Communications Sub Committee meeting held on 4th February
and provided an update on the Business Outreach Campaign to the Board. He advised that a lot of
preparatory work had already begun and it is hoped that the campaign will begin in April and be
completed at the end of June.
Acumen Steering Committee
Mr Gilmour reported from the Acumen Steering Panel meeting held on 18th February. An
Acumen project applications report was circulated to all Board members. With the endorsement
of the Acumen Steering Panel, the Board approved the 10 projects presented and noted the 5
projects deferred and the 4 projects rejected.
91.8 Projects/Programmes - For Decisions
Innova Project Development Support
Ms Hearty reported that at the November Board meeting the Board had approved match funding
of 50% up to a maximum of £5,000 per project to assist partner companies with the completion of
Innova applications. The Executive have now completed the assessment process for the
Expressions of Interest received and 26 projects have been invited to submit full applications.
Feedback from companies and further discussions with the agencies has indicated that a higher
level of support could significantly assist some companies with the planning stages of the project.
This would improve the quality of proposals in terms of market development, technology and
commercial benefit. Ms Hearty recommended that by increasing the financial support to £10,000
per collaborative partnership would enable companies, particularly SMEs to adequately plan and
define their collaborative projects.
With the endorsement of the Innova Sub Committee, the Board approved the increase in the level
of financial assistance for preparing an Innova application. InterTradeIreland will fund up to
50%, up to a maximum of £10,000 per application.
Go-2-Tender – Increased Activities
Ms Hearty updated the Board on the achievements of the Go-2-Tender Programme. She advised
that in the current economic climate more companies are considering public sector tendering
opportunities, both in their own jurisdiction and increasingly across the island. In response to the
obvious demand from companies interested in public sector tendering opportunities and the Go-2Tender Programme, the Executive seek approval to increase current activities in this area. This
would involve matching up companies from both jurisdictions who could benefit from joint
proposals or tenders to the all island procurement market and provide more tailored mentoring to
companies who have participated on the Go-2-Tender Programme. After discussion and with the
endorsement of the Go-2-Tender Steering Committee, the Board approved the increase in
activities on the Go-2-Tender programme. Ms Hearty acknowledged the work of the Project
Manager Jenny Williamson in developing this programme.
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MicroTrade – Extension
Ms Hearty gave details of the MicroTrade Programme which aims to develop and support the
creation of an all-island enterprise network and provide support to micro enterprises on the island.
The Board approved the extension of the programme for a period of 3 months.
Cross Border Economic Co-operation Impact Model – Revised Proposal
The Board discussed the proposed options for the Cross Border Economic Co-operation Model
and it was agreed that the executive hold a Forum of senior economists with business
representatives drawn from across the island to discuss various economic issues relevant to both
jurisdictions.
“Bridging the Border” – InterAgency Networking Seminars
Mr Gough reported on the successful inter-agency seminars held during 2007/08 in collaboration
with Enterprise Ireland and Invest NI. These events were aimed at providing businesses with
information on collaborative funding opportunities on a cross border basis. These seminars are
unique in that they focus on technology partnerships. The Board approved funding of a ”Bridging
the Border” seminar in Dundalk in partnership with Invest N.I. and Enterprise Ireland.
All Island Polymer & Plastics Network
Mr Gough informed the Board that InterTradeIreland currently funds and supports the All Island
Polymer & Plastics Network. This network facilitates the sharing of knowledge and best practise
and assists in the development of links between industry and academia within this sector. The
network has identified the need for a Simple Guide to the Polymer and Plastics Sector on the
island which will provide signposting for businesses both in terms of funding supports and
information relating to career opportunities within this sector. The Board approved the
production and print of the guide.
91.9 For Noting and Approval Governance and Financial Matters & Summary Business Plan Progress Report
The Board noted the Governance and Financial Matters and Business Plan Progress Reports.
91.10 For Information
Accounts
The Board noted the Accounts and Financial Commentary for January 2009.
Communications Update
The Board noted the Communications Update for February 2009.
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January 2009 Summary & Detailed Business Plan Progress Report
The Board noted the contents of the January 2009 summary and detailed Business Plan Progress
Reports.
The Board noted the following:
Regulatory Barriers to Cross Border Trade & Business – Executive Summary
Updated List of InterTradeIreland Board Sub Committees
InterTradeIreland Current Economic Conditions; Business Customer Survey
91.11 Any Other Business
Mr Gilmour accepted the invitation to sit on the tender assessment panel for the Performance
Management System.
…………………………………………Authorised by:
Dr David Dobbin CBE
Chairman, InterTradeIreland
31st March 2009
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