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
27 November 2008
Dear Joe
COMMITTEE MEETING – 25 NOVEMBER 2008
I refer to the above meeting.
The Committee received a presentation from the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers Organisation in respect of the current negotiations on days at sea and fish quotas. The Committee calls on the Department to provide it with the reference baseline data in respect of the calculation of days at sea, asserts that this baseline should provide maximum benefit to the Northern Ireland fishing fleet and that it should not be negatively influenced by the requirements of outside of Northern Ireland fleets. The Committee also calls on the Department to promote the priorities of the Northern Ireland fleet at forthcoming negotiations with DEFRA and in Europe.
The Committee would request a presentation from the Department on the farm maps process. The Committee has asked that this be scheduled for the meeting of 10 February 2009. The Committee would also wish to be apprised of progress against the published single farm payment targets as part of this presentation.
The Committee agreed that the following consultation proceed but will require the Department to return to it with a detailed analysis of responses:
- The TSE Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee agreed to progress the following items to the legislative stage:
- The Less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowances Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee deferred the following matter to allow for additional information from industry representatives to be considered:
- The Seed Potatoes (Levy) Revocation Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee noted the following:
- The Scotch Whiskey Regulations 2008.
The Committee approved the following statutory rule:
- The Products of Animals Origin (Disease Control) 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 Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee agreed that officials would not be required to present in respect of the following matter:
- The European Fisheries Fund (Grants) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee agreed that officials would not be required in the Public Gallery in respect of the following matter:
- The Organic Farming (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels) 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.
You will be aware that the Northern Ireland Assembly will be in Recess from 13 December 2008 until 4 January 2009. I would appreciate, therefore, if responses to the attached queries could be returned to the Committee Office by noon, 4 December 2008 for consideration at the final meeting before Recess, currently scheduled for 9 December 2008.
I am happy to discuss.
Yours sincerely