COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 15 APRIL 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Allan Bresland
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
William Clarke
Pat Doherty
William Irwin
George Savage
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mary Hawthorne (Clerical Supervisor)
Jonathan Young (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: None
The meeting opened at 1.35pm in Public Session.
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Apologies
As above.
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Minutes of last meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 8 April 2008.
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Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 8 April 2008.(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 8 April 2008.
The Committee acknowledged the correspondence received from DARD concerning the copying of all correspondence between the Minister and the Department of Finance and Personnel to the Committee.
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Presentation- Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
Valerie Bell, Anne Dorbie, Pauline Keegan and Harry Gracey, Department officials joined the meeting at 1.40pm and made a presentation on their Equality Impact Assessment on the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. The officials answered questions from Members.
George Savage joined the meeting at 2.02pm.
Willie Clarke joined the meeting at 2.05pm.
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 2.12pm.
The officials left the meeting at 2.15 pm.
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Presentation – Rivers Agency Business Plan
John C Clarke and Philip Mehaffey, department officials joined the meeting at 2.15pm and made a presentation on the Rivers Agency Business Plan for the period from 1 April 2008 to the 31 March 2009. The officials then answered questions from the Members.
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 2.50pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.55pm.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 2.55pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 3.05pm.
Tom Elliott rejoined the meeting at 3.05pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.10pm.
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SL1 – The Financial Assistance for Young Farmers Scheme (Amendment) Order (NI) 2008
Rosemary Agnew and Esther Moore, Department officials, joined the meeting at 3.10pm and made a presentation on the proposed changes in submission and completion dates for Young Farmers who wish to participate in the Scheme. The officials then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that the matter proceed to the next stage.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.20pm.
The official left the meeting at 3.25pm.
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Statutory Rule - Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ report has no objection to the rule.
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AOB
The Committee noted the indicative timings and dates for oral submissions to the Committee Inquiry into Renewable Energies and Alternative Land Use.
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation and it was decided to invite them to present to Committee.
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Date of Next Meeting
The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.38pm.
Chairperson
Date