COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
PJ Bradley
Trevor Clarke
William Clarke
William Irwin
Edwin Poots
George Savage
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Joanne McCarter (Clerical Officer)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Pat Doherty
Thomas Burns
The meeting opened at 1.31pm in Public Session .
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes of last meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 30 September 2008.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 30 September 2008.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 30 September 2008.
The Committee agreed to forward a request to the Minister for departmental officials to provide evidence to the Committee for the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill
(c) Tabled Correspondence
The Committee noted the tabled correspondence and agreed to receive an urgent presentation from the Newry and Mourne Weanling Exporters Group.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 1.36pm.
George Savage joined the meeting at 1.37pm.
4. Ministerial Attendance
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, supported by her Senior Management Team, joined the meeting at 1.40pm and presented to Committee on a number of issues including the current animal diseases situation, the Department’s response to the flooding event of 15/16 August 2008 and the “Wind Energy for Rural Businesses” programme and the Ministers’ future priorities. Following their presentation, the Ministers and officials then answered questions from the Members
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.12pm.
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.13pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.20pm.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 2.34pm.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.34pm.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 3.00pm.
5. Presentation – SR- The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Prohibition of Sale of Salmon and Sea Trout by Rod and Line) Regulations (NI) 2008
Paul Moore, Jack McQuillan and Derek Anderson, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 3.00pm and presented to Committee the above mentioned Rule. The officials then answered questions from the Members.
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Prohibition of Sale of Salmon and Sea Trout by Rod and Line ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
The officials left the meeting at 3.15 pm.
6. Presentation- The Woodland Trust
Patrick Cregg and Sue Holden, representatives from the Woodland Trust, joined the meeting at 3.15pm and made a presentation on their new Strategic Plan. Following their presentation, Members asked questions.
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 3.32pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 3.40pm.
7. Presentation – DARD – High Court Ruling – Duplicate Fields
George O’Doherty, department official, joined the meeting at 3.40pm and made a presentation on the above mentioned ruling. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 3.50pm.
The official left the meeting at 3.51pm.
8. SL1 – The Scrapie (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 .
Ian McKee and Thomas Craig, department officials, joined the meeting at 3.51pm and made a presentation on the above mentioned legislation. Following the presentation, Members asked questions. Members agreed to defer the matter until the next meeting to allow the Department to undertake analysis of fee levels in other jurisdictions.
The officials left the meeting at 4.00pm.
9. SL1 – The Conservation of Scallops Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Ian Humes and Paddy Campbell, department officials, joined the meeting at 4.01pm and made a presentation on the above mentioned legislation. Following the presentation, Members asked questions. It was agreed that the matter be deferred and that officials should return and present again to Committee at the next meeting.
The officials left the meeting at 4.10pm.
10. Pre-consultations – DARD
i) The Seed Potatoes (Crop Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
ii) The Control of Salmonella (Broiler Flocks) Order 2008 and Zoonoses and Animal- by Products (Fees) Amendment Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
iii) Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
11. Future Presentation
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
13. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 October 2008 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.11pm.
Chairperson
Date