Northern Ireland
Assembly
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
25 February 2009
Dear Joe
FARM MODERNISATION PROGRAMME
I refer to the above.
As you will be aware, the Committee Office received copies of correspondence from the European Commission, dated 15 February 2008 and 12 February 2009, indicating that there was a need for defined criteria for the selection of operations and projects.
Unfortunately, due to the timing of receipt, it was not possible to table these papers at the meeting of 24 February 2009. Members will receive copies of the letters in their meeting packs in advance of the next meeting, scheduled for 3 March 2009.
In anticipation that Members might raise queries with regards to this matter, I would appreciate if you could provide me with copies of the following:
- all correspondence between the Department and the EU Commission with regards to this matter, including emailed correspondence;
- dates of meetings with the EU Commission and the Monitoring Committee on this matter, along with the relevant briefings for and minutes deriving from those meetings;
- dates of internal departmental meetings with regards to this matter, with relevant briefings for the meetings and all internal correspondence, including minutes and emailed correspondence.
I appreciate that this represents a considerable amount of information but I would be grateful if this could be provided by noon, 5 March 2009
Yours sincerely Paul Carlisle
Clerk to the Committee for
Agriculture and Rural Development