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COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 31 MARCH 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Pat Doherty
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
Edwin Poots
George Savage

In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Frank Geddis (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Willie Clarke

The meeting opened at 1.35pm in Public Session.

1. Presentation – Ministerial Attendance

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, and departmental officials, Dr Malcolm McKibbin and Keith Morrison joined the meeting at 1.35pm and presented to Committee on a number of issues. These included the Department’s handling of the Farm Modernisation Programme, dioxin scare in Northern Ireland’s pork and beef products, the Department’s Agriculture Hardship Scheme as a result of the flooding event of 15/16 August 2008, the “Wind Energy for Rural Businesses” programme and proposed aid to the Fishing Industry. Following their presentation, the Ministers and officials then answered questions from the Members

Edwin Poots joined the meeting at 1.40pm.
Tom Elliott joined the meeting at 1.45pm.
George Savage left the meeting at 2.15pm.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 2.30pm.
P J Bradley left the meeting at 2.40pm.
The officials left the meeting at 2.45pm.

2. Apologies

As above.

3. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 24 March 2009.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 24 March 2009.

(c) Tabled Correspondence

The Committee agreed to the draft press release relating to the visit to The Netherlands to look at waste disposal facilities.

4. Minutes

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 24 March 2009.

5. Presentation – DARD – DARD/DRD Rural Transport Scheme

Paul Keegan, Paul Donnelly and Gerard Treacy, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.49pm and presented to Committee on DARD/DRD Rural Transport Scheme. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.55pm.
P J Bradley rejoined the meeting at 3.00pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 3.02pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.03pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.06pm.

6. Pre-consultation – Lough Neagh Levels Scheme

Members agreed that officials should return and present to Committee with an analytical summary of the consultation responses.

7. SR – The Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the Rule.

8. Future Presentations

The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.

9. AOB

The Committee were reminded of the visit to The Netherlands on 1 – 3 April 2009 to meet with Members of the Dutch Standing Committee for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality at The Hague and tour waste facilities.

10. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 21 April 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.09pm.

24 March 09 / Menu