Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Dr William McCrea MP (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
Allan Bresland
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Willie Clarke
William Irwin
Gerry McHugh
George Savage

In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Jim Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Mary Hawthorne (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Neill (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Francie Molloy

The meeting opened at 10.30am in Public Session

  1. Apologies

As above.

  1. Minutes of last meetings

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meetings of 3 July 2007 and 21 August 2007.

  1. Matters Arising  
(a) Correspondence Issued 

The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the previous meetings.  

(b) Correspondence Received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 3 July 2007.

(c) SL1 – Seed Potatoes (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007

Peter Toner and Reid Coleman, Department officials joined the meeting at 10.33am and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. They then answered questions from the members.

It was agreed that the Committee had no objection to the proposed statutory rule. The officials left the meeting at 10.37am.

(d) Pre Consultation Paper – Draft Meat (Disease Control) Regulations (NI) 2007

Following the receipt of an e-mail from the Ulster Farmers Union on 5 July 2007 which indicated that they had no concerns about this matter, the Chairperson had agreed to allow the Department to proceed with the consultation exercise with the proviso that the Committee is provided with a detailed analysis of the outcome of the exercise. Members were informed of this in a letter on 20 July 2007.

(e) SL1 – The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order (NI) 2007

Paddy Campbell, Department official, joined the meeting at 10.40am and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. He then answered questions from the members.

Mr Irwin joined the meeting at 10.50am.

It was agreed that the Committee would seek the views of industry representatives on the matter. Mr Campbell left the meeting at 11.00am.

(f) SL1 – Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (NI) 2007

Ian McKee, Department official, joined the meeting at 11.01am and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule.

Mr T Clarke joined the meeting at11.02am.

Mr McKee answered questions from the members on the matter.

It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Department for clarification of specific issues. Mr Mckee left the meeting at 11.18am.  

  1. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Update

Liz Redmond, Michael Geddis and Peter Scott, Department officials, joined the meeting at 11.20am and gave a presentation on the current position relating to the FMD outbreak. The officials then answered questions from the members.

While urging continued caution, the Committee was satisfied with the progress to date. It was agreed that the Committee would be provided with a copy of the official report into the outbreak as soon as it becomes available. The officials left the meeting at 11.43am.

  1. Budget Issues

John Smith and Tom Rogers, Department officials, joined the meeting at 11.44am and gave a presentation on the Department’s budgetary proposals. The officials then answered questions from the members.

The meeting was suspended at 12.37pm.
The meeting reconvened at 1.30pm.

The meeting resumed with continued questioning of the officials.

Mr Burns joined the meeting at 2.54pm.

It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Department with outstanding concerns and reconsider the proposals at its next meeting. The officials left the meeting at 2.18pm.

  1. The Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007  

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report, has no objection to the rule. 

  1. The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007  

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report has, no objection to the rule. 

  1. The Animals and Animal products (Import and Export) (Circuses and Avian Quarantine) Regulations (NI) 2007  

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Animals and Animal products (Import and Export) (Circuses and Avian Quarantine) Regulations (NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report has, no objection to the rule. 

  1. The Plant Health Act (Amendment) Order (NI) 2007  

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Plant Health Act (Amendment) Order(NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report has, no objection to the rule.

  1. The Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report has, no objection to the rule.

  1. The Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (No 2) Regulations (NI) 2007

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (No 2) Regulations (NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report, has no objection to the rule.

  1. The Pig Production Development Committee (Winding Up) Order (NI) 2007

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered thePig Production Development Committee (Winding Up) Order (NI) 2007 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report, recommends that be affirmed by the Assembly. 

  1. SL1 – The Agriculture and Forestry Processing and Marketing Grant Regulations (NI) 2007

John Speers, Daniel Glenn and Peter Scott, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.23pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. They then answered questions from the members.

The Committee agreed to seek the views of industry representatives and to reconsider the proposal at its next meeting. The officials remained for the next item. 

  1. SL1 – The Agriculture and Forestry Marketing Development Grant Regulations (NI) 2007

The officials gave a presentation on the proposed rule and then answered questions from the members.

The Committee agreed to seek the views of industry representatives and to reconsider the proposal at its next meeting. The officials left the meeting at 2.40pm.

  1. SL1 – The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007

Peter Toner and John Finlay, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.41pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. They then answered questions from the members.

It was agreed that the Committee had no objection to the proposed rule. The officials left the meeting at 2.45pm.

  1. SL1 – The Agriculture (Students Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007  

Norman Fulton, William Webb and Alan McCartney, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.46pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. They then answered questions from the members.

It was agreed that the Department would provide more details of the outcome of an earlier consultation exercise and reconsider the issue at next week’s meeting. The officials left the meeting at 2.52pm.

  1. Miscellaneous Issues

(a) The Committee considered a letter from Jim Allister QC MEP and agreed to refer it to the Department for comment.

(b) The Committee considered a letter from the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance and agreed to refer it to the Department for comment.

(c) The Committee agreed to receive presentations from:-

(i)Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association

(ii) National Beef Association

(iii) Ulster Farmers Union

(iv) Residents concerned at the A6 dual carriageway proposals

(d) The Committee agreed to sponsor a forthcoming event in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings on behalf of Dairy UK.

  1. AOB  

It was agreed that the Committee would consider arrangements for holding a meeting in Enniskillen.

  1. Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 15.11pm.

Chairperson

Date

21 August 2007 / MENU