COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 15 JUNE 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Francie Molloy MLA
Mr George Savage MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MP MLA
In attendance:
Mr Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Mrs Shauna Mageean (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Christopher McNickle (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr William McCrea MP MLA
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. MP MLA (Chairperson)
12.37pm The meeting commenced in public session
12.37pm The Committee Clerk took the Chair for the election of a Committee Chairperson
Motion: That Mr William Irwin does take the Chair of the Committee
Proposer: Mr Jim Shannon
Seconder: Mr George Savage
No further nominees - motion passed
12.39pm Mr Irwin took the Chair
8. Pre-consultation: Code of Practice for using Plant Protection Products
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 8 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
9. Pre-consultation: The Poultrymeat Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 9 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
10. Pre-consultation: Disability Action Plan
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 10 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
11. SL1: Common Agricultural Policy Support Schemes (Review of Decisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 11 as the next item.
Agreed: Members agreed that SL1: Common Agricultural Policy Support Schemes (Review of Decisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 should progress to the next legislative stage.
12. SL1: Animals & Animal Products (Import & Export) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 12 as the next item.
Agreed: Members agreed that Animals & Animal Products (Import & Export) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 should progress to the next legislative stage.
13. SL1: Biomass Processing Challenge Fund Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 13 as the next item.
Agreed: Members agreed that SL1: Biomass Processing Challenge Fund Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 should progress to the next legislative stage.
14. SL1: Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 14 as the next item.
Agreed: Members agreed that SL1: Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 should progress to the next legislative stage.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to release a press release in relation the deliberate infection of cattle in Keady with brucellosis
1. Apologies
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 1 as the next item.
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 2 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 1 June 2010
3. Matters arising
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 3 as the next item.
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 1 June 2010.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 1 June 2010.
12.52pm Mr McCarthy entered the meeting
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Irish Farmers’ Journal in relation to a survey of farmers at Balmoral Show and Members agreed to forward their comments to the Committee Clerk by the end of the week.
1.04pm Mr Savage left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Clarke to seek a further presentation from the Department in relation the cockle fishery in Belfast Lough and agreed that the Clerk should schedule this presentation for a meeting before the end of June 2010.
1.10pm Mr Shannon left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Molloy to seek a further presentation from the Department in relation to issues surrounding payments to An Creag á n for installation of a wind turbine and agreed that the Clerk should schedule this presentation for a meeting before the end of June 2010.
4. Presentation: DARD – Provisional Budget Outturn Report 2009/10
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 4 as the next item.
1.11pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
John Smith - Grade 5, Assistant Secretary
Gerry Lavery – Grade 3, Under Secretary
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Irwin declared an interest
Mr Molloy declared an interest
1.54pm The officials left the meeting
5. Presentation: DARD – Better Regulation and Simplification Review
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 5 as the next item.
1.55pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
Gerry Lavery – Grade 3, Under Secretary
Wendy Johnston – Grade 5, Assistant Secretary
Michelle Bell – Grade 7, Principal Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
2.01pm Mr Doherty left the meeting
2.01pm The meeting was inquorate
2.02pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting
2.02pm The meeting was in quorum
2.09pm The officials left the meeting
6. Presentation: DARD – Re-organisation of Services & Staff
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 6 as the next item.
2.10pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
Gerry Lavery – Grade 3, Under Secretary
Pauline Rooney – Grade 6, Senior Principal Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
2.36pm The officials left the meeting
15. Any Other Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 15 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the publication of the draft public notice for consultation on the Dogs (Amendment) Bill.
7. Presentation: DARD – Equality screening of the Farm Modernisation Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 7 as the next item.
2.38pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
Pauline Keegan – Grade 5, Assistant Secretary
Robin Shaw - Grade 7, Principal Officer
Richard Leeman – DP, Deputy Principal.
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Shannon declared an interest
2.52pm Mr McCarthy left the meeting
2.52pm The meeting was inquorate
2.53pm The officials left the meeting
16. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Tuesday 22 June 2010 at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
2.55pm The meeting was adjourned