MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FRIDAY 26 JANUARY 2001
HELD IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of Proceedings
2. Matters Arising
3. Organic Farming
4. Statutory Rules - formal consideration
5. Statutory Rules
6. EU Report on Non-Compliance with BSE Controls
7. Review of Animal Waste
8. Minutes of Proceedings
9. Matters Arising
10. Any Other Business
11. Date of Next Meeting
Present:Dr IRK Paisley MP MEP (Chairman)
Mr G Savage (Deputy Chairman)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Dallat
Mr B Douglas
Mr D Ford
Mr G Kane
Mr G McHugh
Mr I Paisley Jnr.
Apologies:
In attendance:Mr P Moore
Mrs R Barclay
Miss Kyran Hewitt
The Deputy Chairman called the meeting to order in public session at 10.10am.
1. Minutes of Proceedings on 19 January 2001
1.1 Resolved: that the draft minutes of 19 January 2001 were approved.
Top2. Matter Arising
2.1 Members noted a copy of the letter inviting the Minister to a Committee meeting on 23 February to discuss rural proofing, beef quality and fisheries issues.
2.2 Members also noted a copy of a letter to DARD advising of the Committee's decision on the three Statutory Rules considered on 19 January, which included the additional matters on organic farming as agreed by Members.
2.3 Members noted copies of letters issued to DARD and the two Fish Producers' Organisations on the Restrictive Licensing of Shellfish.
2.4 The Committee was informed that a date for the launch of the Pig Report had not yet been agreed.
Resolved: that the Clerk would liaise with Dr Paisley and Mr Savage to agree a suitable date
Messrs Armstrong, Ford and McHugh attended the meeting at 10.15 a.m.
Top3. Organic Farming
3.1 The Committee invited Mr Christopher Stopes, Elm Farm Research Centre and Mr Ian McKee, DARD to the meeting at 10.15a.m.
3.2 The Members noted a letter dated 25 January from Mr McKibben, DARD, in response to matters arising from their meeting on 19 January 2001.
3.3 Mr Ian McKee introduced Mr Stopes, the consultant carrying out the study into Organic Farming.
Dr Paisley attended the meeting at 10.25 a.m. and assumed the chair.
3.4 Mr Stopes gave a short statement to the Committee, addressed the three main issues concern raised by the Committee and answered members' questions.
Mr Douglas attended the meeting at 10.30 am.
3.5 Resolved: that a copy of The House of Commons Select Committee Report should be obtained for the Members.
Mr Savage left the meting at 11.00 am.
3.6 The Chairman drew discussions to a close at 11.15 am and Mr Stopes and Mr McKee left the meeting.
Top4. Statutory Rules - formal consideration
4.1 Members deliberated on a Statutory Rule: Organic Farming Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001, which they had previously considered at pre-drafting stage.
4.2 Agreed: that the Committee had no objections to the Rule.
4.3 Resolved: that the Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, should write to the Minister re-iterating the points raised in the earlier letter to the Department.
Top5. Statutory Rules
5.1 The Committee noted the contents of a letter from DARD which advised of changes made to a proposed Statutory Rule, Specific Risk Material (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 to meet with new EU regulations. The Rule did not require to be laid before the Assembly.
5.2 Members also noted the Statutory Rule: Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2001 which had been considered and approved by the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting for 5 minutes, reconvening in public session at 11.30 am.
Top6. EU Report on Non-Compliance with BSE Controls
6.1 The Committee welcomed Mr Peter Small, Permanent Secretary, Mr B Houston, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer and Mr S Johnston, Grade 5, Animal Health to the meeting at 11.30 am.
6.2 Mr Small made an opening statement followed by a question and answer session where a number of issues were addressed. These included:
6.2.1 The circumstances surrounding the report, its publication and the press coverage of the Report. (The Department had not realised that the Report had been finalised.)
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 11.50 am.
6.2.2 The three deficiencies identified in the Report, which were:
- Monitoring of BSE
- Implementation of feed ban controls
- Cattle identification
6.2.3 DARD was required to respond to the Report and advise EU on how they were addressing the problem areas. This was already in place or underway.
6.2.4 The Minister will have the opportunity to address contents of Report at the Agriculture Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, 29 January.
6.2.5 A further inspection visit was expected in March 2001
6.2.6 The Department's level of activity regarding dealing with representatives of other member states.
6.2.7 Assurance that N I low incidence was not called into question by the Report.
Mr Dallat returned to meeting at 12.20 pm.
6.3 Resolved: that the Press Release read to Members was approved and should issue immediately.
Top7. Review of Animal Waste
7.1 Copies of the Specialist Adviser's Report and the Terms of Reference were distributed to Members.
7.2 Members were advised that the Report did not appear to address the Terms of Reference.
7.3 Resolved: that members would consider the Report against the Terms of Reference before the next meeting.
7.4 Resolved: that the Clerk should obtain further information from the Specialist Adviser and inform him that it was essential that the Terms of Reference were met precisely.
7.5 Members were reminded that the Adviser was also to provide a Report on EC Proposals concerning TSEs. This is to be discussed at next weeks meeting.
7.6 Members were advised of a proposed draft Statutory Rule which will implement the new EU Feed Controls and appeared to be related to both the Animal Waste Directive and the Commission's Proposals on TSEs.
7.7 Resolved: that the Committee should invite DARD officials to the next meeting to discuss the impact of this proposed legislation on the farming industry and its relationship with the Animal Waste and TSEs issues.
Top8. Minutes of Proceedings on 22 Janaury 2001
8.1 Resolved: that the draft minutes of 22 January 2001 were approved.
Top9. Matters Arising
9.1 Members noted a press release issued on 23 January following the special meeting on the incident of spinal cord in beef imported from Germany.
9.2 The Chairman signed letters to the Minister asking her to capitalise on the German beef controls failure and to Mr Byrne, EU Commissioner for Agriculture inviting him to Northern Ireland to discuss this issue as agreed at the meeting.
9.3 It was agreed that the Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, should write to the German Attaché bringing to his attention the views of the Members on the beef incident.
Top10. Any other business
10.1 The Committee noted a fax from Councillor Burns on behalf of a number of Seed Potato Producers regarding problems facing the industry.
Resolved: to await a written answer to a question on 7 February 01 (AQW 1570/00) by PJ Bradley to the Minister and inform Councillor Burns of this approach.
10.2 Members noted a letter, dated 24 January, from the Minister asking for the Committee's views, by 9 February on the draft DARD Public Service Agreement as part of the Programme for Government.
Resolved: to invite an official from DARD to address the Committee at the meeting on 2 February.
Messrs Ford and McHugh left the meeting at 12.40 pm.
10.3 Copies of the Fisheries Amendment Bill were distributed to Members to note amendments approved at the consideration stage on 22 January.
10.4 Members noted receipt of the following papers:
10.4.1 Consultation on the Report of the PSI Working Party on Travellers (copy available in Committee Office)
10.4.2 Investing in Health, consultation paper (copy available in Committee Office)
10.4.3 A consultation letter being issued by Fisheries Departments in UK on the distribution of the UK's Hague Preference gains for 2001.
10.5 Members agreed a possible date for briefing on the forthcoming Bill (Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries) as 2 March. The Clerk was instructed to seek further information about a possible visit related to the Bill.
10.6 The Members noted the Report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules for the Sheep Annual Premium (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
Top11. Date of next meeting
11.1 Resolved: that the visit to Enniskillen College would proceed on Wednesday, 31 January and the next regular meeting would take place at 10.00 am on Friday 2 February in Room 135.
TopThe Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 1.05 pm.
Ian R K Paisley
Chairman