Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 05 July 2007,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea

In Attendance:
Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Officer)
Mr Kendrew Colhoun (Assembly Research and Library Services)

Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Alex Maskey
Mr Daithí McKay
Mr Peter Weir

The meeting opened at 10.32am in public session.

  1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

  1. Minutes

Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.

  1. Climate Change Bill – Legislative Consent Motion (Sewell)

The Minister, Arlene Foster, briefed the Members on the Climate Change Bill.
10.40 am. Mr Boylan joined the meeting
The Minister answered questions from the Members.
The Minister, Arlene Foster, briefed the Members on the Review of Public Administration.
The Minister answered questions from the Members.
Agreed – Committee to provide response on Climate Bill to Minister by October 2007
Agreed – Minister to respond to Committee
Agreed – Committee to send copy of response to Climate Change Coalition NI for their comments on questions.
Agreed – Department to provide Committee with briefing on “emerging findings” by the end of September 2007.
Agreed – Minister to provide Committee with an early sight of recommendations.

  1. Matters arising

Members noted the briefing paper on PPS 12.
Agreed – Committee to write to DRD Committee to request an appropriate input/consultation into the review of PPS 12.
Members noted the draft motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Taxis Bill.
Members noted the copies of PPS 15 and Information Leaflet No. 7.
Members were advised that the Department’s disability action plan has now been signed by the Secretary and the Minister and issued to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Members noted the Press Release circulation list as requested at the meeting on 28 June 2007.
Agreed – Members to provide details of local radio stations to be added to circulation list.

  1. Climate Change Coalition

Mr Ford declared an interest in that he has previously been involved with the organisations present.

Neil Alldred, Deborah Doherty, Sue Christie and James Robinson, Climate Change Coalition NI, briefed the Committee on climate change in Northern Ireland and answered questions from the Members.

  1. Foundations for the Future – The Review of Environmental Governance – Final Report

Sharon Turner, joint author, briefed the Members on the Foundations for the Future – The Review of Environmental Governance – Final Report.

Ms Turner answered questions from the Members.

  1. Draft Waste Management Licensing (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) Consultation 2007

Wesley Shannon, Departmental official briefed the Members on the Draft Waste Licensing (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) Consultation 2007.

Mr Shannon answered questions from the Members.

Members noted the Department’s consultation paper.

  1. Correspondence
    1. Letter from Rural Community Network requesting the opportunity to address the Committee on planning issues.

    Agreed – Committee to issue invite for organisation to address Members after recess.

    1. Letter from the Department re: the Disability Action Plan.

    Agreed - The Committee noted this piece of correspondence.

    1. Letter from William Black re: Taxis legislation.

    Agreed – Members to treat as a written submission for the Committee Stage of the Taxis Bill.

    1. Letter from Mourne Heritage Trust requesting meeting re: proposed Mourne National Park.

    Agreed – Committee to advise Mourne Heritage Trust, that they will consider request to address Members, whenever a proposal to establish a National Park has been submitted. The Committee to seek clarification from the Department on the timescales for any proposal. The Clerk for the Agriculture Committee will be notified of any presentation.

    1. Letter from the Association of Preservation Trusts requesting the opportunity to brief the Committee on their work, and attached list of projects completed by Preservation Trusts.

Agreed – Members to treat as a written submission for the Committee Stage of the Taxis Bill.

  1. Response received from Department providing further information on the proposed fee increases by DVA in respect of road freight and passenger operator licensing.

12.40pm. Mr Gallagher left the meeting.

  1. Any other business

Agreed – The Committee to include the following key elements in the Forward Work Programme:
Consideration of the Review of Environmental Governance
Input into the review of the local government aspects of RPA
Input into draft UK Climate Change Bill (Legislative Consent Motion)

Agreed – Committee to request research briefing on Sewell motions.
Agreed – Committee to issue press release (and copy to Members) outlining main items covered at meeting.
Agreed – The Clerk and Chairperson to liaise regarding correspondence and urgent matters during the recess period.

  1. Date, time and place of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 06 September 2007 at 10.30am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.48pm.

Patsy McGlone
Chairperson, Committee for the Environment.
05 July 2007

28 June 2007 / Menu