MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2002
HELD IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Dr IRK Paisley MP MEP(Chairman)
Mr G Savage (Deputy Chairman)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr P J Bradley
Mr B Douglas
Mr D Ford
Mr G Kane
Mr G McHugh
Mr M Murphy
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Apologies: Mr J Dallat
In attendance: Mr P Moore
Mr B Kennedy
Mr J McCourt
Mr S McCann
The Chairman declared the meeting open in private session at 10.06am.
1. Minutes of Proceedings on Friday 19 April 2002.
1.1. Members noted the long list, provided by DARD, of those who had been involved in the search and recovery operation following the loss of the fishing vessel, the Tullamurray Lass, and all those on board. Members agreed a related amendment to the draft minutes.
1.2. Resolved: that the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 19 April 2002 were approved as amended.
2. Matters Arising from the Meeting on 19 April 2002.
2.1. Europe Day Celebration: Reception. A total of three members confirmed their intention to attend this event, to be held on 9 May 2002.
2.2. Rural Sector Seminar on Sustainable Development. The Committee noted that two members had indicated their intention to attend this event, to be held on 9 May 2002 at Loughry College, Cookstown.
3. Legislation.
SR 151/02 - Milk Marketing Board (Residuary Function)(Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002. Mr Kane and Mr Savage declared an interest as having an association with, or involvement in, the milk industry. The Committee, having discussed proposals for these regulations on 22 March 2002, formally considered this Rule.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Milk Marketing Board (Residuary Function)(Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report, has no objection to the Rule.
Mr Armstrong attended the meeting at 10.12am.
3.1. Some members expressed concern about declining milk prices paid to producers. Members deliberated.
Messrs McHugh and Murphy attended the meeting at 10.16am. Mr Savage left the meeting at 10.17am.
Resolved: that the Committee would issue a press notice calling on the Government to take action to secure agrimoney compensation and a further significant increase in dairy export refunds in order to ensure a realistic return for milk producers.
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Regulations (NI) 2002. Members noted DARD's proposal to introduce these regulations as part of its ongoing commitment to the eradication of BSE and to ensure that the EC TSE Regulation is fully reflected in national law. The Committee also noted that the Department had not replied to a letter dated 23 February 2001 seeking further information following discussion with officials on proposals for the control and prevention of animal TSE at that time. Members deliberated.
Mr Kane left the meeting at 10.26am.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister seeking a response to the February 2001 letter; an explanation for the delay in response; and advising that the Committee would meet officials on 10 May 2002 to discuss the proposed regulations, including the timing of their introduction and whether or not they are comparable with corresponding legislation in the rest of the UK.
Mr Kane returned to the meeting and Mr Armstrong left the meeting, at 10.32am.
4. Rural Development Programme Inquiry Draft Report.
4.1. The Committee continued its paragraph by paragraph consideration of the draft report into preparation for the next phase of the Rural Development Programme (2001-2006), begun at the previous meeting:
Third Term of Reference
Paragraphs 19.1 and 19.2 were read and agreed.
The meeting was adjourned due to emergency evacuation of the building at 10.33am and resumed at 11.02am. The Chairman, Messrs Bradley, Douglas, Ford, Kane, Murphy, McHugh and Paisley Jnr were present.
Members agreed a presentational amendment to the third bullet point of paragraph 14.1.
Paragraph 20.1 was read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 21.1 to 21.15 were read and agreed.
Mr Armstrong returned to the meeting at 11.11am.
Paragraphs 22.1 and 22.2 were read and agreed.
Paragraph 22.3 and 22.4 were read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 22.5 to 22.10 were read and agreed.
Paragraph 22.11 and 22.12 were read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 22.13 and 22.14 were read and agreed.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 11.25am.
Paragraph 22.15 was read, amended and agreed.
Mr Armstrong returned to the meeting at 11.28am.
Paragraphs 22.16 to 22.18 were read and agreed.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.32am and Mr McHugh declared an interest as a participant in an ESA project.
Paragraph 22.19 was read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 22.20 and 22.21 were read and agreed.
New paragraph 22.2 was agreed and inserted.
Paragraph 23.1 was read and agreed.
Paragraph 23.2 was read, amended and agreed.
Messrs Ford and McHugh left the meeting at 11.47am.
Paragraphs 23.3 to 23.9 were read and agreed.
Fourth Term of Reference
Paragraphs 24.1 to 24.3 were read and agreed.
Mr Bradley returned to the meeting at 11.49am.
Paragraphs 25.1 to 25.3 were read and agreed.
Paragraph 26.1 was read and agreed.
Mr McHugh returned to the meeting and Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting, at 11.56am.
Paragraphs 26.2 to 26.5 were read and agreed.
Paragraph 26.6 was read, amended and agreed.
Paragraphs 26.7 to 26.16 were read and agreed.
Paragraphs 27.1 to 27.7 were read and agreed.
Conclusions
Paragraphs 28.1 to 28.6 were read and agreed.
Paragraphs 29.1 to 29.5 were read and agreed.
Paragraphs 30.1 to 30.3 were read and agreed.
Mr Savage returned to the meeting at 12.27pm.
Paragraph 30.4 was read, amended (including consequential amendment to paragraph 23.8) and agreed.
Paragraphs 30.5 was read and agreed.
Paragraphs 31.1 to 31.3 were read and agreed.
4.2. Members discussed further deliberations on, and handling of, the Inquiry report.
Resolved: that the Committee would consider the draft Executive Summary, a draft Motion for debate in the Assembly, and a draft Press Notice at the meeting on 3 May 2002, and that the agreed motion should be put forward for debate in the Assembly on 20 May 2002.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 12.36pm. Mr Murphy left the meeting and Mr Paisley Jnr returned to the meeting, at 12.36pm.
5. Any Other Business.
5.1. The Northern Ireland Scrapie Plan. Members considered a letter from the Suffolk Sheep Society about action needed to improve the scrapie resistance of Northern Ireland flocks. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister, enclosing a copy of the Suffolk Sheep Society correspondence, and advising that this subject would be added to the agenda for the meeting with the Minister on 3 May 2002.
5.2. Farm Subsidy Payments. Members noted an update report showing the position regarding the payment of farm subsidies as at 11 April 2002. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister advising that premia payments would be added to the agenda for the meeting with the Minister on 3 May 2002.
Mr Murphy returned to the meeting at 12.46pm.
6. Committee Forward Work Plan.
6.1. Members considered and agreed proposals for items of business to be discussed at the next three Committee meetings.
Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting at 12.52pm.
Resolved: that the Committee would consider, on 3 May 2002, suitable dates and arrangements for the previously-agreed visit to Wilson's Country Ltd., Portadown, and that written responses to the Committee's letters would be sought from the packers.
Mr Paisley Jnr returned to the meeting at 12.56pm.
7. Committee's Inquiry into the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak.
7.1. Members considered a draft press notice and a draft public notice, together with a proposed list of those to be specifically invited to submit evidence, and a paper from the Assembly Research Services setting out their proposals for assisting the Committee with this Inquiry and the parallel animal diseases Inquiry. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee staff were instructed to issue the press notice together with the public notice and letters inviting submissions.
Resolved: that the Coleraine and District Motorcycle Club and the Women's Institute, Northern Ireland should be added to the list of those being invited to make submissions, and that members should inform Committee staff of any others to be added to the list.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister inviting a submission to the Inquiry.
Resolved: that members are content for the researchers to proceed as proposed.
8. Any Other Business - continued.
8.1. Rural Crime. A member raised the matter of the rising level of crime against farmers and the rural community in general. Members were unanimous in voicing their concern. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Acting Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland, expressing that concern and asking for a report on action being taken and/or proposed, to address the rising level of crime in rural areas.
8.2. Committee Inquiry into Animal Diseases. A member raised the matter of publication of a transcript of the evidence session with officials on 22 March 2002 on TB and Brucellosis testing.
Resolved: that the Committee would publish the minutes of evidence of the Committee's discussion with officials on 22 March 2002 covering TB and Brucellosis testing.
8.3. Education and R&D in Agriculture and Food Science Review. Members noted a letter and advance press notice from DARD advising the forthcoming publication, on 29 April 2002, of the review panel's report.
9. Date of Next Meeting.
9.1. Resolved: that the next meeting will take place on Friday 3 May 2002 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings, at 9.30am.
The Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 1.14pm.
George Savage
Deputy Chairman