COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. (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 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)
Mr Michael McCoy (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: None
The meeting commenced at 1.01pm in Open Session
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 26 January 2010
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 26 January 2010.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 26 January 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development regarding non payment of an invoice to Interfrigo stating that the Committee does not accept that this is a purely commercial issue and that the Minister should do all within her power to ensure that payment is forthcoming.
Mr Elliott entered the meeting at 1.03pm
4. Presentation – League Against Cruel Sports – Sale, use and manufacture of snares
The following representatives joined the meeting at 1.05pm
Douglas Batchelor – Chief Executive
Louise Robertson – Deputy Head of Campaigns and Communications
Mary Friel – Northern Ireland Campaigner
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Dr McCrea entered the meeting at 1.18pm
Mr Elliott left the meeting 1.33pm
Mr Elliott rejoined the meeting at 1.34pm
Mr Elliott left the meeting at 1.46pm
Mr Doherty left the meeting at 1.55pm
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 1.58pm
The representatives left the meeting at 2.04pm
5. SR: Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Conservation of Eels) Regulations 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Conservation of Eels) Regulations 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
6. SR: Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Coarse Angling) Regulations 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Coarse Angling) Regulations 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
7. SR: Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Angling) Amendment Regulations 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Angling) Amendment Regulations 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
8. Presentation – Chairs of the Rural White Paper Stakeholder Subgroups – Rural White Paper
The following representatives joined the meeting at 2.06pm
Diane Ruddock - External Affairs Manager -The National Trust
John Thompson - Deputy President, Ulster Farmers’ Union;
Martin McDonald – Chief Executive, Rural Development Council
Miceal McCoy – Chairman, SOAR Local Action Group
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.07pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 2.10pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.11pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.15pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.27pm
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 2.35pm
The Chairperson declared an interest
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.45pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.49pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.55pm
Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting at 3.12pm
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 3.12pm
The representatives left the meeting at 3.15pm
The meeting was adjourned at 3.15pm
The meeting re-opened at 3.50pm
9. Presentation – DARD – Rural White Paper
The following departmental official joined the meeting at 3.50pm
Keith Morrison - Assistant Secretary
The official presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.52pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 3.55pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.03pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 4.07pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.10pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 4.12pm
Mr Elliott left the meeting at 4.15pm
The official left the meeting at 4.17pm
10. Presentation – DARD – February Monitoring Round
The following departmental official joined the meeting at 4.18pm
John Smith – Director of Finance
The official presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.18pm
The official left the meeting at 4.39pm
11. Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development submission to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on DARD proposals under the Review of Spending Plans 2010-11
Agreed: The Committee agreed to amend the text of the submission and agreed that subject to this amendment, the submission should be forwarded to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 4.43pm
Mr Elliott rejoined the meeting at 4.44pm
The meeting was adjourned at 4.47pm
The meeting re-opened at 5.37pm
12. Presentation: DARD – Customer Channel Strategy
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 5.37pm
Gerry Lavery – Deputy Secretary
Pauline Rooney – Head of Food Delivery and Customer Service Unit
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
Mr Elliott declared an interest
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 5.53pm
The officials left the meeting at 5.55pm
13. Engagement: Press Release for visit to Veterinary Service Central Enforcement Team, Loughry and An Creagán Wind Turbine Scheme, Creggan - 4 February 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of the press release.
14. AOB
Agreed: The Committee agreed write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to seek information on the status and future of ‘Rural Support’ and to seek confirmation that this charity will continue to be jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
15. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be a meeting for clause by clause scrutiny of the Forestry Bill at 12.30pm on Monday 8 February 2010 in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 5.56pm