COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
Thomas Burns
PJ Bradley
Trevor Clarke
William Clarke
Pat Doherty
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
Edwin Poots
George Savage
In attendance: Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mary Hawthorne (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: None
The meeting opened at 1.32pm in Public Session.
The Chairman welcomed the Director General of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr Trevor Reaney, to the meeting.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes of last meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 23 September 2008.
Willie Clarke joined the meeting at 1.34pm.
George Savage joined the meeting at 1.35pm.
Tom Elliott joined the meeting at 1.36pm.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 23 September 2008.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 23 September 2008.
(c) The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Measures) (Penalty Notices) (Northern Ireland) Order 2008
The Committee agreed that the above named rule should progress to the next legislative stage.
(d) The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Prohibition of the Sale of Salmon and Sea Trout Caught By Rod and Line) Regulations 2008
The Committee agreed to invite department officials to present on the above mentioned rule and to submit a motion to the Business Committee to pray against the Rule.
4. Presentation – Organic Farming Group (The National Trust)
David Hawthorne, William Brown and Owen McDevitt, representatives from Organic Farming Group (The National Trust) joined the meeting at 1.45pm and presented to Committee on changes in the qualification of Organic Farming Grants from DARD. Following their presentation, the representatives then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that the Committee would write to the department to seek clarification on the above mentioned issues.
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 1.55pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 2.20pm.
5. Committee Bill – Diseases of Animals
The Clerk to the Committee briefed Members on the ‘Clause by clause’ consideration of the Bill, scheduled for the 24 October 2008.
6. Committee Forward Work Programme
Members noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.
7. DARD- District Court Ruling – Suckler Cow Premium
George O’Doherty and Seamus Doran, department officials joined the meeting at 2.25pm and made a presentation on the above mentioned Ruling. Following their presentation, Members asked questions.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.42pm.
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 3.02pm.
Thomas Burns re-joined the meeting at 3.06pm.
PJ Bradley re-joined the meeting at 3.06pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.15pm.
8. DARD – Business Plan 2008- 2009
John Smith, department official joined the meeting at 3.15pm and presented to Committee on DARD’s Business Plan. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 3.40pm.
Edwin Poots re-joined the meeting at 3.43pm.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 3.40pm.
Willie Clarke re-joined the meeting at 3.42pm.
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 3.42pm.
Tom Elliott re-joined the meeting at 3.50pm.
The official left the meeting at 3.50pm.
9. DARD - Floods
John Speers, Peter Toner, Philip Mehaffey and Paddy McCrubben, DARD officials joined the meeting at 3.51pm and represented to Committee on the progress of obtaining aid for flood- effected farmers. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 4.00pm.
Tom Elliott re-joined the meeting at 4.01pm.
The meeting was suspended at 4.08pm.
The meeting re-convened at 4.23pm.
George Savage rejoined the meeting at 4.28pm.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 5.08pm.
The officials left the meeting at 5.08pm.
10. Future Presentations
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
11. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 5.09pm.