Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held on
Wednesday, 14 June 2000 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of the Last Meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Presentation by the Minister and Senior Officials
4. Port of Belfast
5. Any Other Business
6. Date of Next Meeting
Apologies:
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Rt Hon J D Taylor
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2000 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
(a) Parliamentary Private Secretary Post - Potential Conflict of Interests.
The matter has been resolved.
(b) Free travel for older people.
The Committee noted the report on the pilot scheme completed by Castlereagh and Newry and Mourne District Councils.
Agreed: That the Committee will return to the matter when the further research proposed in the report is complete and when all documentation has been received from the Department after the recess.
(c) The Draft Equality Scheme.
Agreed: That Members will return to the matter when the Department is reconsidering its scheme after the Equality Commission has examined it.
(d) Use of the Senate Chamber for Committee meetings.
Members noted the response.
(e) Committee's programme of work.
Agreed.
3. The Minister and his senior officials joined the meeting at 10.47am.
The officials were:
Mr Ronnie Spence Permanent Secretary
Mr Robert Brown Chief Executive Water Service
Mr Colin James Chief Executive Roads Service
Ms Linda Brown Head of Corporate Services.
The Minister assured the Committee that his party's policy of rotating Ministers would not cause disruption to the work of the Department.
The Minister gave a presentation on the key issues the Department will be dealing with. And he and the officials then answered Members' questions.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.27am.
Mr Hay left the meeting at 11.53am.
The Chairman thanked the Minister and his officials for their presentation and they left the meeting at 12.00 noon.
Mr Byrne left the meeting at 12.00.
He returned at 12.01pm.
Mr Hutchinson left the meeting at 12.01pm.
He returned at 12.02pm.
(f) Cryptosporidium - health scare.
The Committee noted the Department's report.
Agreed: That the Department is asked to provide more background information on Cryptosporidium. That the Department is asked to provide information on the treatment of water at the Silent Valley and the other reservoirs in Northern Ireland.
4. Port of Belfast
Agreed: That the Committee will take oral evidence from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners in a public session on 21 June 2000.
That further information on the cost analysis will be sought from the Department.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 12.29pm.
5. AOB
(a) The quality of water and the effects of pollution in Larne Lough.
Agreed: That Members would have a presentation on this matter in December 2000 when a preliminary investigation is complete.
6. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Friday 16 June 2000 at 10.30am. in room 144 Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 12.34pm.