Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 17 JUNE 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILIDINGS.

Present: Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Allan Bresland
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Pat Doherty
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
George Savage

In attendance: Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mary Hawthorne (Clerical Supervisor)
Lindsay Dundas (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)

The meeting opened at 1.35pm in Public Session.

  1. Apologies

  2. As above.

  3. Minutes of last meeting

  4. The Committee agreed the Minutes of the last Committee meeting of 12 June 2008.

    The Committee agreed the Minutes of the Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use Inquiry evidence session of 22 May 2008.

  5. Matters arising

    1. Correspondence Issued
    2. The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 12 June 2008.

    3. Correspondence received

    The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 12 June 2008.

    The Deputy Chairperson briefed the Committee on a request from the DARD on the Draft Marine Bill and it was agreed that the document would be forwarded to the Fishing Industry for comments.

    The Deputy Chairperson acknowledged correspondence received from the Chairperson of the Social Development Committee on the Neighbourhood renewal programme. Members agreed to receive a presentation from the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development on the matter in the next session.

    The Deputy Chairperson briefed the Committee on a request from the Kennel Club to present to Committee. It was agreed that they should attend.

  6. Presentation – NORTHERN IRELAND FISH PRODUCERS ORGANISATION LIMITED (NIFPO)

  7. Dick James, Alan Young, Brian Cunningham, Brian McDonald and Paul Forysthe, representatives from the NIFPO, joined the meeting at 1.40pm and presented to Committee on the management of Cockle and Mussels dredging in Belfast Lough. The representatives then answered questions from Members.

    Francie Molloy joined the meeting at 1.40pm.
    PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 1.45pm.
    The representatives left the meeting at 2.06pm.

  8. Presentation – COMMUNITIES AGAINST LOUGH NEAGH INCINERATOR (CALNI)

  9. Tony Campbell, Ray Clarke, Gerry Duffy and James McAlister, representatives from CALNI, joined the meeting at 2.06pm and made a presentation to Committee on their objections to Rose Energy’s proposal to build a energy plant in Glenavy, Co. Antrim. The representatives then answered questions from Members.

    Members agreed to forward a copy of the presentation to the Department.

    PJ Bradley left the meeting at 2.30pm.
    William Irwin left the meeting at 2.45pm.
    William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 2.50pm.
    Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.56pm.
    The representatives left the meeting at 3.00pm

  10. Presentation – BETTER REGULATIONS AND SIMPILFICATION REVIEW

Paul Caskie, David Graham and Dr Brian Jack, Panel and Department officials, joined the meeting at 3.02pm and made a presentation DOE/DARD’s programme to reduce ‘red tape’ in the industry. The officials then answered questions from the Members.

    Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.05pm.
    Allan Bresland left the meeting at 3.06pm.
    Allan Bresland joined the meeting at 3.10pm.
    Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 3.25pm.
    George Savage left the meeting at 3.26pm.
    The officials left the meeting at 3.30pm.

  1. Presentation – WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

  2. Peter Scott and Brian Ervine, Department officials joined the meeting at 3.32pm and made a presentation to Committee on the Department’s role with respect to the Water Framework Directive. The officials then answered questions from the Members.

    George Savage rejoined the meeting at 3.33pm.
    Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.45pm.
    The officials left the meeting at 3.46pm.

  3. SL1 – Rural Development (Financial Assistance) Regulations (NI) 2008

  4. Anne Dorbie and Gareth Evans, department officials joined the meeting at 3.50pm and made a presentation to Committee on proposed changes to the above legislation. The officials then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that it should progress to the next stage.

    The officials left the meeting at 4.16pm.

  5. SL1 – The Specified Animal Pathogens Order (NI) 2008

  6. Jackie Robinson (Mrs) and Christine Henderson, department officials joined the meeting at 4.26pm and made a presentation on the above legislation. The officials then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that it should progress to the next stage.

  7. SL1 – The Lough Agency Regulations (NI) 2008

Derick Anderson, Barry Fox and Paul Moore, department officials joined the meeting at 4.20pm and made a presentation to Committee on the following Statutory Rules –

    1. Foyle Area (Licensing of Oyster Fishing) Regulations 2008
    2. Foyle Area (Designated Landing Areas) Regulations 2008
    3. Foyle Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) Regulations 2008
    4. Foyle Area (Oyster Logbook and Identification Tagging) Regulations 2008
    5. The Foyle and Carlingford Area (Prohibition of Sale of Salmon and Sea Trout Caught by Rod and Line) Regulations 2008

The proposed Loughs Agency legislation was deferred to the meeting of 24 June 2008 subject to the Committee receiving copies of documentation indicating the reasons for screening the legislation out of the equality impact assessment process.

William Irwin left the meeting at 4.11pm.
Allan Bresland left the meeting at 4.25pm.
The officials left the meeting at 4.40pm.

  1. AOB

  2. Members agreed to invite the Permanent Secretary and the Senior Management team to the next meeting to address Committee concerns on a number of matters including the Departments "Wind Energy for Rural Businesses" programme.

    Members were remained of the Countryside Management Visit to the Mournes and Slieve Croob area on Thursday 19 June 2008.

  3. Date of the next meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 24 June 2008 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.44pm.

12 June 08 / Menu