COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2007
ROOM 152 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
Francie Molloy
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 1.05pm in Public Session.
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Apologies
As above.
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Minutes of last meetings
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 2 October 2007.
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Matters Arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 2 October 2007.
(b) Correspondence Received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 2 October 2007.
It was agreed to write to the Department about the guidance for the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (NI) 2007.
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Ministerial Attendance
The Minister, Michelle Gildernew MP and Dr Malcolm McKibben, Gerry Lavery, Ronnie Jordan and Pauline Keegan, Department officials, joined the meeting at 1.13pm. The Minister gave a short update on the current position regarding Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Bluetongue and her budget priorities.
Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 1.17pm.
The Minister then answered questions from the members on these topics.
Mr Burns joined the meeting at 2.00pm.
The Minister made a short statement on support for the fishing industry and LEADER +. She then answered questions from the members on these topics.
It was agreed that the Committee would invite the Minister to attend the meeting of 6 November 2007. The Minister and officials left the meeting at 2.20pm.
Mr McHugh left the meeting at 2.20pm.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.20pm.
The meeting was suspended at 2.20pm.
The meeting reconvened at 2.35pm.
The Committee continued to discuss the issues raised during the Minister’s attendance and agreed to write to the Department with a number of outstanding queries.
The Committee agreed to write to the relevant Ministers within the UK and the Republic of Ireland to seek their support for the fishing industry in Northern Ireland.
The Committee agreed to seek further information on the process leading up to the December negotiations in Brussels and how the Committee can play a role in actively supporting the proposals from Northern Ireland.
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Priorities and Budgets
(a) Animal Health/Cost Sharing
Mr T Clarke proposed that the Committee reject the Department’s proposals.
Dr McCrea MP, Mr T Elliott, Mr P J Bradley, Mr A Bresland, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Irwin, and Mr G Savage supported the proposal.
Mr W Clarke and Mr F Molloy abstained.
The motion was carried.
(b) Tuberculosis/Brucellosis Control Programmes
The Chairperson proposed that the Committee should agree the Department’s proposals but that the Committee should demand immediate action towards eradication of the diseases.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(c) Wildlife Intervention
Mr T Clarke proposed that the Committee should reject the Department’s proposal.
The motion was carried unanimously.
It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Department urging eradication of the problem before introducing this proposal.
(d) AFBI
Mr T Elliott proposed that the Committee should defer a decision on the Department’s proposals pending receipt of business cases for the alternative funding of FNMS, including total/partial sale of Crossnancreevy.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(f) Forkhill Army Site
Mr Molloy proposed that the Committee should support the proposals.
Mr P J Bradley, Mr W Clarke and Mr F Molloy supported the proposal. Dr W McCrea MP, Mr T Elliott, Mr A Bresland, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Irwin and Mr G Savage opposed the proposal. The proposal fell.
Mr T Elliott proposed that while the Committee supported the development of the Forkhill Army site, the Department should not be the lead Department in the development or financing of this or any other military site. Consequently, the Committee does not support the Department’s proposals.
Dr W McCrea MP, Mr T Elliott, Mr A Bresland, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Irwin and Mr G Savage supported the proposal. Mr W Clarke and Mr F Molloy opposed the proposal. Mr P J Bradley abstained.
The motion was carried.
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Research Papers
The Committee noted the Assembly Research papers on Alpha Nortestosterone and Botulism. It was agreed to publish research papers on the Assembly website.
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The Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007
Question put and agreed.
That, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
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The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material (Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007
Question put and agreed.
That, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material(Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.27pm.
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The Seed Potatoes (Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007
Question put and agreed.
That, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Seed Potatoes(Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
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The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order (NI) 2007
Question put and agreed.
That, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
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Committee Inquiry
The Committee agreed the Terms of Reference for its proposed inquiry on Renewable Energy/Alternative Land Use.
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AOB
The Committee considered the Department’s response to its query on legislation in relation to dangerous dogs and agreed to write again to the Department to press for immediate action on bringing forward legislative proposals.
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Date of Next Meeting
The Committee will next meet at 1.00pm on Tuesday, 16 October 2007 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.35pm.
Chairperson
Date