Paul Carlisle
Clerk to the Committee for
Agriculture and Rural Development
Parliament Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3XX
Joe Cassells
Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer
Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development
Room 509
Dundonald House
Belfast
BT4 3SB
5 November 2008
Dear Joe
COMMITTEE MEETING – 4 NOVEMBER 2008
I refer to the above meeting.
The Committee is very concerned at the potential disallowance of £28.5 million being faced by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the impact that this will have on the industry and rural communities. The Committee requests that senior officials attend the meeting of 11 November 2008 to apprise Members on the reasons for this disallowance and the steps being taken by the Department to ensure that the impact of any such disallowance is minimised as much as is possible.
The Committee noted departmental responses in respect of the matters below and would make the following comments:
- FNMS : the Committee would again argue that the case for exceptional circumstances has been made and accepted by the European Commission and that the Department should not be placing a “burden of proof” on the farming community. The Committee, therefore, requests that officials update them at the meeting on 11 November 2008 on how they intend implementing a flexible and proactive approach with regards to the closure of this scheme.
- August Floods : the Committee expresses its extreme disappointment that a business case has not yet been presented to the Department of Finance and Personnel for consideration and calls on the Department to issue this immediately. The Committee is also opposed to the exclusion of conacre rents as a legitimate expense and wishes to see these costs incurred by the farm businesses included in the business case. The Committee calls on officials to present to them at the meeting of 11 November 2008 and that a copy of the business case submitted to Finance and Personnel is forwarded immediately.
The Committee would again state that it is opposed to the use of resources to conduct another study into the prevalence of TB in badgers. The Committee calls on the Department to maximise the potential budget of approximately £69 million required to control TB and Brucellosis for the period 2008 – 2011 and that this be used to implement an immediate eradication programme.
The Committee has received a response from the Italian Consulate for Scotland and Northern Ireland in respect of a ban on the export of weanlings to certain Italian regions. This response indicates that no such ban exists. In light of the Chief Veterinary Officers discussions with his Defra counterpart, the Committee has asked that the Department seek to confirm that such a ban is in place and provide the Committee with a written update on progress being made to ensure that export markets are reopened. I have attached a copy of the relevant correspondence for your information.
The Committee agreed that the following consultation proceed but will require the Department to return to it with a detailed analysis of responses:
- The Wild Mussel Fishery in the Foyle and Carlingford Areas
The Committee agreed to progress the following items to the legislative stage:
- The Rural Development (Financial Assistance) (Public Expenditure) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Local Government (Constituting a Joint Committee) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The EC Fertilisers (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee noted the following proposed legislation rules:
- The Spirit Drinks Regulations 2008.
The Committee agreed that officials would not be required to present in respect of the following matters but requests that it is provided with a detailed analysis of consultation responses:
- Loughs Agency Public Consultation on Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2008; and
- The Strategy to Develop the Recreational and Social use of the Forest Service forests.
The Committee agreed that officials would not be required to present in respect of the following matter:
- The Sea Fishing (Marketing and identification of Passive Fishing Gear and Beam Trawls) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee agreed, however, that officials would be required to present to them in respect of the following matters:
- The Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Plant Health (Amendment No 2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee has a number of queries arising out of the meeting which are detailed in the attached proforma. I have separated these into specific query sheets for ease of reference. I would appreciate if you could bring these to the attention of your colleagues.
I am happy to discuss.
Yours sincerely