COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
PJ Bradley
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
William Clarke
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
Edwin Poots
In attendance: Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Paul McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
Pat Doherty
The meeting opened at 1.30pm in Public Session .
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Apologies
As above
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Minutes of last two meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 11 November 2008 and 18 November 2008.
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Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meetings of 11 November 2008.
The Committee noted correspondence issued to the department in respect to queries arising from the meeting of 11 November 2008.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 11 November 2008.
The Committee noted correspondence received from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister advising Members that the Agricultural Wages Board will not be included in the Public Authorities (Reform) Bill.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning on the Downturn in the Construction Industry and forwarded it to the Minister.
The Committee noted correspondence received from the Department in respect of Defra and EC Green Paper on Agricultural Product Quality.
(c) Tabled Correspondence
Members noted tabled correspondence.
The Committee agreed to explore the potential for visiting a poultry litter incinerator in Moerdijk, South Netherlands
Edwin Poots joined the meeting at 1.35pm.
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Presentation – Anglo – North Irish Fish Producers Organisation
Alan McCulla, Anglo- North Irish Fish Producers Organisation, joined the meeting at 1.41pm and made a presentation on the Fishing Industry’s responses to EC Fish quotas. Following their presentation, Members asked questions.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 1.56pm.
The representative left the meeting at 2.13pm.
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Presentation – DARD – Anti Poverty Framework
Liam McKibben, Keith Morrison, Paul Donnelly and Zita Murphy, department officials joined the meeting at 2.13pm and presented on the above mentioned scheme. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 2.15pm.
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Presentation – DARD – Rural Champion and Enhancements to Rural Proofing consultation responses
Liam McKibben, Keith Morrison, Paul Donnelly and Zita Murphy, department officials presented on the responses to their consultation on DARD’s Rural Champion and Rural Proofing. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 3.02pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.15pm.
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SL1 – The Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Valerie Bell, Seamus Doran and Liz McWatters, department officials, joined the meeting at 3.15pm and presented to Committee on the above mentioned legislation. Following the presentation, Members asked questions. It was agreed that the above legislation should move on to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 3.24pm.
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SL1 – The Seed Potatoes (Levy) Revocation Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Renee McDowell and Niall McGrath, department officials, joined the meeting at 3.24pm and presented to Committee on the above mentioned legislation. Following the presentation, Members asked questions. It was agreed that the department would seek the views of the industry on the above legislation before it should move on to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 3.34pm.
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Presentation – DARD – Publication of Payment Timetable for Single Farm Payment
Bregeen Glendinning, department official, joined the meeting at 3.34pm and presented to Committee on DARD’s Publication of Payment Timetable for Single Farm Payment. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
The official left the meeting at 3.40pm.
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Pre-consultation – BSE Testing – Food Standards Agency
The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
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SL1 – The Scotch Whisky Regulations
The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation.
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SR – The Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
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Future Presentation
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
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Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 2 December 2008 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.44pm.
Chairperson
Date