COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 24 JUNE 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILIDINGS.
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Allan Bresland
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Willie 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:
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
The meeting opened at 1.39pm in Closed Session .
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes of last meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the last Committee meeting of 17 June 2008.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 17 June 2008.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 17 June 2008.
4. Presentation – Committee Inquiry
Special Advisor, Mr Jim Kitchen, joined the meeting at 1.41pm presented to Committee the recommendations of the Committee’s Inquiry into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use. The Committee deliberated the draft report.
The Committee read and agreed the Membership and Terms of Reference.
The Committee read and agreed paragraphs 2-22
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 1.44pm.
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 1.46pm.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 1.48pm.
The Special Advisor left the meeting at 2.10pm.
The meeting moved into Public session.
5. Presentation – Permanent Secretary
Dr Malcolm McKibbin, DARD’s Permanent Secretary, and Gerry Lavery, Bert Houston and Roy McClenaghan, DARD’s Senior Management Team , joined the meeting at 2.10pm and made a presentation to Committee on the June Monitoring Round, Provisional Outturn and DARD’s ‘Wind Energy For Rural Business Programme’. The officials then answered questions from Members.
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.04pm.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 2.15pm.
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.35pm.
George Savage left the meeting at 2.37pm.
George Savage rejoined the meeting at 2.53pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 4.10pm.
The officials left the meeting at 4.10pm.
6. Pre-Consultation – Consultation on DARD Direct Roll Out Offices
Roy McClenaghan and Pauline Rooney, Department officials, joined the meeting at 4.10pm and made a presentation DARD Direct Roll Out Offices. The officials then answered questions from the Members. The Committee agreed that the Consultation process should progress to the next stage.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 4.15pm.
The officials left the meeting at 4.16pm.
7. Pre-Consultation– Common Agricultural Policy Health Check
Norman Futlon, Seamus McErlean and Mark McLean , Department officials joined the meeting at 4.16pm and made a presentation to Common Agricultural Policy Health Check. The officials then answered questions from the Members. The Committee agreed that the Consultation process should progress to the next stage
Allen Bresland left the meeting at 4.20pm.
Allen Bresland rejoined the meeting at 4.24pm.
The officials left the meeting at 4.27pm.
8. Pre-Consultation- Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations (NI) 2008
Liz Redmond, Kate Davey and Andrew Kell, Department officials joined the meeting at 4.27pm and made a presentation to Committee on the above proposed consultation. The officials then answered questions from the Members. The Committee agreed that the Consultation process should progress to the next stage.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 4.37pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 4.40pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 4.41pm.
PJ Bradley rejoined the meeting at 4.45pm.
The officials left the meeting at 4.45pm.
9. SL1 – Diseases of Animals (Approval of Disinfectants) Order (NI) 2008
Ian McKee, Department official joined the meeting at 4.45pm and made a presentation on the above legislation. The official then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that it should progress to the next stage.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 4.45pm.
10. SL1 – Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) Regulations (NI) 2008
Ian McKee, Department official made a presentation on the above legislation. The official then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that it should progress to the next stage.
The official left the meeting at 4.47pm.
11. SL1- Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
Jill Garrett, Naill Heaney and Perpetua McNamee, Department officials, joined the meeting at 4.48pm and made a presentation on the above legislation. The officials then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that it should progress to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 4.50pm.
12. SLI – Loughs Agency Regulations
The Committee considered the screening process of following proposed legislations:-
- Foyle Area (Licensing of Oyster Fishing) Regulations 2008.
- Foyle Area (Designated Landing Areas) Regulations 2008.
- Foyle Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) Regulations 2008.
- Foyle Area (Oyster Logbook and Identification Tagging) Regulations 2008.
- The Foyle and Carlingford Area (Prohibition of Sale of Salmon and Sea Trout Caught by Rod and Line) Regulations 2008.
It was agreed that they should progress to the next stage.
13. SL1- Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) Regulations (NI) 2008
Jill Garrett and Daniel Glenn, Department officials, joined the meeting at 4.55pm made a presentation on the above legislation. The officials then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that it should progress to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 4.58pm.
14. Axis 1- Measures under the Rural Development Programme
Annie Dorbie and Tom Sherry, Department officials joined the meeting at 4.58pm and made a presentation on the following proposed legislations:-
- Vocational Training and Information Actions Grants Regulations (NI) 2008.
- Farm Modernisation Programme Regulations (NI) 2008.
- Supply Chain Development Programme Grant Regulations (NI) 2008.
The officials then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that they should progress to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 5.02pm.
15. AOB
The Committee acknowledged correspondence from the Department relating to the Part-Payment Facility – Farm Nutrient Management Scheme (FNMS).
The Committee were informed by the Clerk that the Motion for the Committee’s Inquiry into Renewable Energy and Alternative Land Use is scheduled for debate in the Chamber at 3.00pm on Tuesday 1 July 2008.
The Committee were reminded that they will be hosting the ‘Red Meat Seminar- Follow-up’ meeting, which is to be held in the Long Galley in Parliament Buildings on Thursday 3 July 2008 at 9.30am.
16. Date of the next meeting
The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Thursday 3 July 2008 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 5.05pm.
Chairperson
Date