COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 12 JANUARY 2010
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
Dr William McCrea MP MLA
Mr Patsy McGlone MLA
Mr Francie Molloy 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)
Ms Diane McClean (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: None
The meeting commenced at 1.36pm in Open Session
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 8 December 2009
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 8 December 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 8 December 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requesting information on the number and amounts of payments outstanding to companies involved in disposals of products following the dioxin contamination incident of December 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should request a meeting between the Committee Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and the Ministers for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Agriculture and Rural Development regarding payments to companies involved in disposal of products following the dioxin contamination incident and that this correspondence will be copied to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for their information.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence received regarding the refit of the new Loughs Agency vessel to the Department for a response.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive presentations from Countryside Alliance Ireland and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation in relation the proposed Animal Welfare Bill, to be scheduled by the Clerk.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Members should advise the Clerk if they wish to participate in a visit to the An Creagán wind turbine project on 4 February 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requesting information on the number of wind turbines which have received funding but are not operational.
4. Presentation – DARD - Papers
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 1.47pm
Dr Malcolm McKibbin – Permanent Secretary
Ms Wendy Johnston – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Mr Joe Cassells – Grade 7 – Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
The Chairperson put on record the Committee’s outrage at the recent incident in Co. Armagh where evidence was found of a criminal attempt to deliberately infect cattle with brucellosis.
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 1.51pm
Dr McCrea rejoined the meeting at 1.54pm
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 1.55pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 1.57pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.03pm
Mr McGlone entered the meeting at 2.07pm
Mr Doherty entered the meeting at 2.09pm
Mr Shannon declared an interest
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 2.27pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should provide a breakdown of the specific reasons for delays in forward work plan items.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should provide information on the role and terms of reference of the Fisheries Forum.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should provide confirmation of the Department priorities in relation to “spend to save”.
The officials left the meeting at 2.29pm
5. Presentation – Rose Energy – Proposed Power Plant
The following representatives joined the meeting at 2.30pm
Osvaldo Mauro-Hun – Chief Executive, Rose Energy
Tony O’Neill – Chairman, Rose Energy and Managing Director, O’Kane Poultry
Eric Reid – Principal Consultant, Moy Park
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.35pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.54pm
Mr Savage left the meeting at 3.01pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 3.07pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.10pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 3.12pm
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 3.15pm
Mr Doherty left the meeting at 3.24pm
The representatives left the meeting at 3.26pm
6. Presentation – DARD & AFBI – Disposal of Poultry Litter
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.27pm
Brian Ervine – Grade 7 – Head of Environmental Policy Branch
Dr Sinclair Mayne – Grade 5 – Departmental Scientific Advisor
Dr Bob Foy - AFBI
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 3.28pm
Mr Savage rejoined the meeting at 3.31pm
Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting at 3.25pm
Mr Doherty rejoined the meeting at 3.38pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 3.42pm
Question: That, in the absence of any commercial alternatives and on the basis that the precise scientific advice provided by the Department, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development accepts that the only viable option that will safeguard the future of the poultry sector and the farm businesses which depend on it, as well as helping the industry meet the challenge of EU Environmental Directives, is that proposed by Rose Energy.
Ayes: Mr Paisley Jnr., Mr Elliott, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Irwin
Noes: Mr Doherty, Mr Clarke, Mr Burns, Mr McGlone
Abstentions: none
Motion passed
The officials left the meeting at 3.51pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 3.52pm
7. Presentation – DARD – Amendments to the Employment Bill re the Agricultural Wages Board
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.53pm
Peter Toner – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Davy Millar – Deputy Principal
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 3.58pm
Mr Elliott declared an interest
Mr Irwin declared an interest
Mr Savage declared an interest
Question: That this Committee has previously opposed the Agricultural Wages Board on the basis that it is bureaucratic and places an unnecessary administrative burden on the industry and does not, therefore, support these amendments. The Committee agrees that this should be related to the Committee for Employment and Learning and that Members can present their views on these amendments during the Consideration Stage of the Employment Bill.
Ayes: Mr Paisley Jnr., Mr Elliott, Mr Savage, Mr Shannon, Mr Irwin
Noes: Mr Doherty, Mr Clarke
Abstentions: none
Motion passed
The officials left the meeting at 4.10pm
8. Presentation – DARD – Research Challenge Scheme
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 4.11pm
Norman Fulton – Grade 5 – Chief Agricultural Economist
Elaine McCrory – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 4.13pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 4.18pm
Mr Paisley Jnr. left the meeting at 4.20pm
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 4.20pm
The Deputy Chairperson, Mr Elliot, took the Chair at 4.20pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 4.21pm
The officials left the meeting at 4.23pm
9. SR – Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
10. Pre-consultation: The Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
11. Pre-consultation: The Draft Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) Amendment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
12. SL1: Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
13. Forward Work Plan
The Clerk to Committee discussed the Committee Forward Work Plan and the workload for the Committee particularly with regard to the intensive legislative programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to additional Committee meetings in order to deal with the workload – possibly on Monday afternoons or Tuesday evenings.
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting
14. Forestry Bill – Evidence Session on 21 January 2010 in Castlewellan Forest Park
Agreed: The Committee agreed to contact the Committee Support Team to advise of their availability to attend the evidence session.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 4.35pm
15. AOB
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in light of the Ministerial statement on the outcome of the December Fisheries Council
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the new EU Commissioner for Fish inviting her to meet with the Committee and representatives of the fleet at the fishing villages
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the UK Minister seeking an analysis of the December Council decisions, specifically in respect to the varying treatment of our industry as opposed to the Scottish.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for further information regarding the latest expenditure positions under Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme.
16. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 19 January 2010 at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.40pm