COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2007
ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Dr William McCrea MP (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
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: None
The meeting opened at 2.01pm in Public Session
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes of last meetings
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 4 September 2007.
Mr W Clarke joined the meeting at 2.03pm.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 2.03pm.
3. Matters Arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the previous meeting.
(b) Correspondence Received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 4 September 2007.
(c) SL1 – Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (NI) 2007
Ian McKee, Department official, joined the meeting at 2.04pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule and stated that guidance should be available by the end of September 2007. He then answered questions from the members.
It was agreed that the Committee had no objection to the proposed statutory rule. The official left the meeting at 2.09pm.
(d) SL1 – The Agriculture (Students Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007
Norman Fulton, William Webb and Alan McCartney, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.09pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. They then answered questions from the members.
Although some reservations were expressed regarding the fees, it was agreed that the Committee had no objection to the proposed statutory rule. The officials left the meeting at 2.15pm.
(e) SL1 – The Agriculture and Forestry Processing and Marketing Grant Regulations (NI) 2007
John Speers and Peter Scott, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.15pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. They then answered questions from the members.
Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.17pm
Mr T Clarke left the meeting at 2.23pm.
The Committee noted the concerns of the Ulster Farmers Union and agreed that these should be forwarded to the Department. It was agreed that the Committee had no objection to the proposed statutory rule. The officials remained for the next item.
(f) 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.
It was agreed that the Committee had no objection to the proposed statutory rule. The officials left the meeting at 2.25pm.
Mr Savage joined the meeting at 2.25pm.
(g) SL1 – The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order (NI) 2007
Paddy Campbell, Department official, joined the meeting at 2.26pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule. He then answered questions from the members.
Mr T Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.30pm.
Mt T Burns joined the meeting at 2.31pm.
In agreeing to approve the statutory rule, the Committee emphasised the need for a strong case to be robustly put to the European Commission in December 2007. The Committee will urgently seek the views of industry representatives. Mr Campbell left the meeting at 2.40pm.
4. Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA)
Campbell Tweedie, Phelim O’Neill and Colin Duffy, NIMEA representatives, joined the meeting at 2.41pm and gave a presentation on issues facing the meat processing industry. The representatives then answered questions from the members.
The representatives left the meeting at 3.42pm.
5. FMD Update
Liz Redmond and Colette McMaster, Department officials, joined the meeting at 3.43pm and gave a presentation on the current position in relation to the FMD outbreak. The officials then answered questions from the members.
The officials agreed to keep the Committee informed of the outcome of a forthcoming review. They left the meeting at 4.00pm.
6. Budgets
The Committee agreed to defer further consideration of the issues and to invite the UFU to make a presentation on their views of the proposals.
7. AOB
It was agreed that the Committee would seek information from the Department on the ongoing review of the dangerous dogs legislation.
8. Next Meeting
The Committee will next meet at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 18 September 2007 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 16.10pm.