COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 27 MAY 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Allan Bresland
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
William Clarke
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:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Pat Doherty
The meeting opened at 1.32pm in Public Session .
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes of last meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 13 May 2008.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 13 May 2008.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 13 May 2008.
The Deputy Chairperson briefed the Committee on the response from the Minister regarding the Rural College in Draperstown.
The Deputy Chairperson briefed the Committee on the consultation of the Less Favoured Area compulsory allowance.
The Committee accepted an invitation from Dr John Gilliland from Rural Generation to visit the Wood Energy Centre.
The Deputy Chairperson informed the Committee of the 15 th Examiner’s Report.
The Deputy Chairperson acknowledged a report called ‘Diversity Works’ which was sent to the Committee from the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning. The Committee agreed to forward the report to the Minister.
4. Presentation – DARD- Forward Work Plan
Dr Malcolm McKibben and Ronnie Jordan, Department officials joined the meeting at 1.38pm and presented to Committee on the Department’s input into the Committee’s Forward Work Plan. The officials then answered questions from Members.
The officials left the meeting at 2.05 pm.
5. Presentation – Rose Energy
Eric Reid, Tony O’Neill, Mike Alcorn and Osvaldo Mauro- Hun, representatives from Rose Energy joined the meeting at 2.05pm and made a presentation their proposal to build a bio-mass energy plant near Glenavy, Co. Antrim. The representatives then answered questions from the Members.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.35pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 2.45pm.
The meeting was suspended at 2.45pm.
The meeting reconvened at 2.47pm.
6. Presentation – Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator
James McAllister, Ray Clarke, Danny Moore and Stephen McConnell, representatives from Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator joined the meeting at 2.47pm and made a presentation on their objections to Rose Energy’s proposals. The representatives then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that they would return to present to Committee again at the meeting of the 17 June 2008.
The meeting was suspended at 3.05pm.
The meeting reconvened at 3.35pm.
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 3.35pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 3.40pm.
7. Presentation – Ulster Farmers Union- Rose Energy
Graham Furey, Thomas Douglas, John McLenaghan and Wesley
Aston, representatives from the Ulster Farmers Union, presented to Committee on their stance regarding Rose Energy’s proposals and the economic benefit to poultry farmers. The representatives then answered questions from the Members.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.45pm.
George Savage joined the meeting at 3.46pm.
Trevor Clarke rejoined the meeting at 4.00pm
The representatives left the meeting at 4.15pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 4.15pm.
8. Pre-consultation- Scrapie Monitoring (Fees) Regulations (NI) 2008
Ian McKee, department official joined the meeting at 4.15pm and made a presentation to Committee dealing the process of consultation in relation to Scrapie Monitoring. The official then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed to move the legislation on to the next stage.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 4.20pm.
The official left the meeting at 4.20pm.
9. SLI- Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Martin Mooney, department official joined the meeting at 4.21pm and made a presentation on technical changes to the above legislation. The official then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that the above legislation should move on to the next stage.
The official left the meeting at 4.26pm.
10. SR – The Unlicensed Fishing For Crabs and Lobster Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Unlicensed Fishing for Crabs and Lobster Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
11. SR – The Avian Influenza (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Avian Influenza (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
12. SR – The Common Agriculture Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulation (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
13. SR – The Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulation (NI) 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
14. AOB
Members were reminded of the Committee Visit to the Mournes in association with DARD’s Countryside Management Scheme, scheduled to take place on Thursday 19 June 2008.
15. Date of the next meeting
The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 3 June 2008 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.30pm.
Chairperson
Date