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

12 November 2008

Dear Joe

COMMITTEE MEETING – 11 NOVEMBER 2008

I refer to the above meeting.

With regards to hardship payments for farmers impacted by the severe weather conditions of 16 August 2008, he Committee recorded a vote of no confidence in the business case and in the author(s) of the business case. The Committee requests that the Department forward all documentation submitted to the Department for Finance and Personnel on 30 October 2008, including any cover notes and supporting documentation. In addition, the Committee would request that the Department forward correspondence and supporting documentation from the Minister to Executive colleagues issued on 11 November 2008.

The Committee received a presentation on the proposed disallowance of the Single Farm Payment and would offer whatever the Department its support and assistance in ensuring that the disallowance penalty is minimised as much as is possible.

The Committee received a presentation detailing the processes that the Department will apply to the closure of the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme. The Committee asks that the Department provide it with detailed written guidance of the process, including all conditions applying to the closure of the scheme. The Committee would appreciate if this guidance could be forwarded to them urgently.

The Committee agreed that the following consultations proceed but will require the Department to return to it with a detailed analysis of responses:

• The Recreational and Social Use of Forest Service Forests; and
• The Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

The Committee agreed to progress the following items to the legislative stage:

• The Plant health (Amendment No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008;
• The Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Sea Fishing (Marking and Identification of Passive Fishing Gear and Beam Trawls) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.

The Committee approved the following statutory rule, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rule’s report:

• The Conservation of Scallops Regulations (Northern Ireland) 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 response:

• The TSE Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

The Committee agreed that officials would not be required to present in respect of the following matter:

• The Scotch Whiskey Regulations 2008.

The Committee agreed, however, that officials would be required to present to them in respect of the following matters:

• The Seed Potatoes (Levy) (Revocation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008; and
• The Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee agreed that officials would not be required in the Public Gallery in respect of the following matter:

• The Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) Regulations (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

Paul Carlisle
Clerk to the Committee for
Agriculture and Rural Development

COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

QUERY SHEET

 

Date of Committee Meeting: 11 November 2008	Agenda Item: 5 - Floods	Response Required by: noon, 20 November 2008

 

Query Detail: Does the department recognise that farmers have lost money in respect of these floods and that these losses were beyond their control? How can the department justify stating that the floods were exceptional and losses were incurred but, because they were not severe enough or widespread enough, they don’t meet the government rationale to intervene? How did these floods differ from those in Belfast, in respect of their severity and the geographical spread of the floods?

Departmental Response: (please attach additional comments to this sheet)

Committee comments:

 

COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

QUERY SHEET

 

Date of Committee Meeting: 11 November 2008	Agenda Item: 8 – Strategic flood maps	Response Required by: noon, 20 November 2008

 

Query Detail: The flood maps now show people that are living and working within areas that are susceptible to flooding. Does this provide the Agency the opportunity to delegate some of its responsibilities since people now know they are at risk and should, perhaps in the Agency’s view, be making their own contingencies? Will this map help the agency reduce the number of properties at significant risk of flooding and, if so, how?

Departmental Response: (please attach additional comments to this sheet)

Committee comments: