COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2007
ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Dr William McCrea MP (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Allan Bresland
Trevor Clarke
Willie Clarke
William Irwin
Gerry McHugh
In attendance: Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Jim Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Mary Hawthorne (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Neill (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Thomas Burns
George Savage
The meeting opened at 1.06pm in Public Session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes of last meetings
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 9 October 2007.
3. Matters Arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 9 October 2007.
(b) Correspondence Received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 9 October 2007.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 1.09pm.
It was agreed to write to the Department for comments on the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety inquiry into the prevention of suicide and self harm.
4. Rural Development Council
Caroline Breakey, Leslie Craig, Martin McDonald, Teresa Canavan and Kenneth Rankin, representatives from the Rural Development Council, joined the meeting at 1.10pm and gave a presentation on the role of the Council.
Mr McHugh joined the meeting at 1.15pm.
The representatives then answered questions from the members.
The Chairperson invited the Council to return in early 2008 to provide an update on their activities and the representatives left the meeting at 2.05pm.
5. Response to Red Meat Task Force Report
The Committee discussed the conclusions and recommendations of the Red Meat Task Force Report and considered its response.
It was agreed to write to the Minister and DEFRA about the Committee’s concerns on the continuing imports of Brazilian beef.
It was agreed that the Committee Clerk would draft a response outlining an agreed range of proposals in response to the report.
6. The Agriculture and Forestry Processing and Marketing Grant Regulations (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 and Forestry Processing and Marketing Grant Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
7. The Agriculture and Forestry Marketing Development Grant Regulations (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 and Forestry Marketing Development Grant Marketing Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
8. The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (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 Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
9. Examiner of Statutory Rules Report
The Committee noted the second report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
10. SL1 - The Plant Health (Phytophthora Ramorun) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2007
Peter Toner and John Finlay, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.25pm and gave a presentation on the above proposed statutory rule.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 2.30pm.
The officials then answered questions from the members.
Mr McHugh left the meeting at 2.35pm.
It was agreed that the Committee had no objection to the proposed statutory rule. The Officials left the meeting at 2.40pm.
11. AOB
The Committee discussed the Departmental response to its query on changes to the arrangements for delivery of the LEADER programme.
It was agreed to write to the Department about its consultation with the local councils.
The meeting was suspended at 2.40pm.
The meeting was reconvened at 3.12pm
Mr McHugh rejoined the meeting at 3.12pm.
12. Thorkild Rasmussen
Thorkild Rasmussen, Head of the Milk Sector, European Commission, joined the meeting at 3.13pm. Mr Rasmussen, accompanied by Paul Archer, Jim Beggs and Peter Davison, Dairy UK, gave a presentation on the current state of the milk industry in Europe and the potential for changes in the future. He then answered questions from the members.
Mr Rasmussen and his colleagues left the meeting at 4.00pm.
13. Date of Next Meeting
The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Thursday, 25 October 2007 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.04pm.