Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday, 21 February 2001
in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters Arising
3. Staturory Rules
4. M1/Westlink Public Inquiry
5. Pedestrian access to Jordanstown train station
6. Port of Belfast
7. Ring of Gullion
8. Belfast to Dublin railway line
9. Review of Roads and Water Services
10. Date of Next Meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr G Savage
Mr J Wells
Apologies:
Mr P McNamee
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mrs S Young (Administrative Support)
The meeting commenced at 10.37am.
1. Minutes of last meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2001 were agreed.
Mr Ervine joined the meeting at 10.40am.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 10.41am.
Mr Byrne joined the meeting at 10.42am.
2. Matters arising.
- Draft Harbour Legislation.
- Titanic Quarter Lease
The Committee discussed the pre-draft papers on proposals to introduce new Harbour Orders for the ports of Belfast, Londonderry and Warrenpoint.
Agreed: That the Department be asked to brief the Committee on the proposals at a meeting in the near future.
The Committee discussed the reply from the Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC).
Agreed: That BHC be asked to provide details of the length of the leases and how long they have to run.
3. Statutory Rules.
- The Committee noted the details of four Statutory Rules which the Department intends to make. They do not have to be laid in the Assembly.
- The Committee noted the Statutory Rule:
Cumberland Drive, Dundonald (Abandonment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
The Department intends to make this Rule which is subject to negative resolution.
The Committee agreed the course of action proposed in the Rule.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 10.46am.
4. M1/Westlink Public Inquiry.
The Committee discussed letters received by the Chairman which questioned the impartiality and fairness of the Inquiry.
Agreed: That clarification be sought from the Department on the system and formalities involved in Public Inquiries.
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 11.02am.
5. Pedestrian access to Jordanstown train station.
The Committee considered the letters received by the Chairman which expressed concern about the lack of safe pedestrian access from the Woodfield development in Jordanstown to the train station. The Committee noted the refusal of the pedestrian access by Planning Section of the Department of Environment (DOE).
Agreed: That replies be sent advising that, as this is primarily a planning issue, the matter has been referred to the Environment Committee and the DOE.
6. Port of Belfast.
The Chairman reported to the Committee on his meeting with the Minister and the meeting he and the Deputy Chairman had with Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The Committee discussed the procedure for announcing its conclusion on the Port of Belfast issue.
Agreed: That the Committee sends its response to the Minister on the economic appraisal on the future of the Port of Belfast.
That the Committee informs the Assembly of its response by way of a take-note motion.
7. Ring of Gullion.
The Committee discussed the letter from Newry and Mourne District Council expressing concern at the Department's advice that there is no legal provision for the erection of bilingual road signs.
Agreed: That the Department be asked to provide clarification on the legal advice which led to this decision.
8. Belfast to Dublin railway line.
The Committee discussed the recent closures of parts of the Belfast to Dublin railway line.
Agreed: That Translink be asked to provide a report on the closures.
The meeting moved to public session.
9. Review of Roads and Water Services.
At 11.22am the Minister and his officials joined the meeting. The officials were:
Mr Ronnie Spence Permanent Secretary
Mrs Linda Brown Deputy Secretary
Mr Graham Fraser Acting Chief Executive, Roads Service
Mr John Kelly Acting Chief Executive, Water Service
Mr Robin Musson Acting Chief Executive, Water Service
Mrs Jackie Kerr Director, Roads and Water Policy
They gave a presentation detailing progress on the proposals on the Roads and Water Services change processes and answered Members questions on them.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 11.44am.
Mr Wells joined the meeting at 11.50am.
The Chairman left the meeting at 12.00 noon and the Deputy Chairman took the Chair.
Mr Ervine returned at 12.01pm.
The Minister gave his apologies and left the meeting at 12.05pm.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 12.05pm.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 12.15pm.
Agreed: That the Department will write and offer a more detailed presentation to the Committee at a date to be arranged.
The presentation ended at 12.32pm.
The meeting returned to private session.
10. Date of next meeting.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 28 February 2001 at 10.30am. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
Agreed: That the Department will be asked to brief the Committee at the meeting on the final draft of the Regional Development Strategy document
The meeting closed at 12.36pm.