Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2009
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr George Savage MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA

In attendance:
Mr Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Mrs Shauna Mageean (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Erika Graham (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
none

The meeting commenced at 1.34pm in Open Session

1. Apologies

As above

Mr Elliott entered the meeting at 1.36pm

2. Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 24 November 2009.

3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued

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

(b) Correspondence received

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

4. Presentation – DARD – Update on Animal Welfare Bill

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 1.37pm

Colette McMaster – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Kate Davey – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Paddy McGuckian – Grade 7 – Divisional Veterinary Officer
Andrew Kell – Deputy Principal

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Shannon entered the meeting at 1.42pm
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 1.51pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 1.53pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 1.53pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.05pm

Mr Clarke declared an interest

Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.08pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.11pm

5. Presentation – DARD – Routing Policy

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.12pm

Roy McClenaghan – Grade 3 – Under Secretary
Malcolm Beatty – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Conor Loughrey – DRD Roads Service (Western Division)

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.29pm

The officials left the meeting at 2.32pm

6. Presentation – DARD – Farm Nutrient Management Scheme

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.32pm

Roy McClenaghan – Grade 3 – Under Secretary
Malcolm Beatty – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Seamus Doran – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Jim Freeburn – Grade 7 – Agriculture Inspector – Grade 1

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Savage left the meeting at 2.33pm

The meeting was inquorate at 2.33pm

Mr Irwin declared an interest

Mr Savage rejoined the meeting at 2.44pm

The meeting was in quorum at 2.44pm

The officials left the meeting at 2.46pm

7. SR: Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the Rule.

8. Presentation – DARD – Fishing Opportunities 2010

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.47pm

Liam McKibben – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Paddy Campbell – Deputy Principal
Dr. Walter Crozier - AFBI

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Burns joined the meeting at 2.47pm
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 2.48pm
Mr Doherty entered the meeting at 2.59pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.59pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.03pm
Mr Savage left the meeting at 303pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 3.10pm

The officials left the meeting at 3.15pm

9. Presentation – DARD – Agricultural Stakeholder Forum on Renewable Energy Report

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.16pm

Liam McKibben – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Peter Scott – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Joyce Rutherford – Deputy Principal

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.25pm
Mr Savage rejoined the meeting at 3.27pm
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.35pm

Mr Savage declared an interest

The officials left the meeting at 3.37pm

10. Presentation – DARD - SL1: Sheep and Goat Identification and Movement Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.38pm

Colette McMaster – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Colette Connor – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
David Torrens – Grade 7 – Divisional Veterinary Officer
John McConnell – Deputy Principal

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Irwin left the meeting at 3.51pm

Agreed: The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.

The officials left the meeting at 3.56pm

11. Presentation – DARD - SL1: The Charges for Residues Surveillance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.38pm

John Speers – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Jill Garrett – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Glenn Kennedy - AFBI

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Elliott declared an interest

Agreed: The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.

The officials left the meeting at 4.15pm

12. Engagement:
Visit to Rural Community Network and Rural Development Council, Cookstown

The Clerk apprised Members of the draft itinerary for this visit on Thursday 3 December 2009 and asked Members to advise the Committee Support Office of their availability to attend.

13. Engagement:
Possible visit to Veterinary Service Central Enforcement Team Headquarters, Loughry

The Clerk apprised Members that an invitation has been received from Veterinary Service Central Enforcement for the Committee to visit their headquarters in Loughry. A provisional date of Thursday 14 January 2010 has been suggested. The Clerk asked Members to advise the Committee Support Office of their availability to attend.

14. AOB

The Clerk reminded Members that there will be an evidence session on the Forestry Bill at 10.30am on Tuesday 8 December 2009 in Room 30.

15. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 December 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.20pm

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr.
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

24 November 09 / Menu