COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
William Clarke
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
George Savage
Edwin Poots
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Frank Geddis (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Pat Doherty
The meeting opened at 1.30pm in Public Session .
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes of last two meeting
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 2 December 2008.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 2 December 2008.
The Committee noted correspondence issued to the department in respect to queries arising from the meeting of 2 December 2008.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 2 December 2008.
(c) Tabled Correspondence
Members noted tabled correspondence.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 1.35pm.
4. Presentation – Local Action Groups (LAGs) – Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme.
Miceal McCoy, Patsy Bradley, Austin Kelly, Vera McWilliams and David Kerr, Chairpersons from the Local Action Groups joined the meeting at 1.35pm and made a presentation on the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. Following their presentation, Members asked questions.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 1.47pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 2.14pm.
5. Presentation – DARD – Wind Energy for Rural Businesses Review
Dr Malcolm McKibben, Kevin Murphy, and Gerry Lavery, department officials joined the meeting at 2.16pm and presented on the above mentioned review. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 2.16pm.
Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 2.20pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.25pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.35pm.
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 3.05pm.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 3.22pm.
Tom Elliott rejoined the meeting at 3.23pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.23pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.35pm.
6. Presentation – Rural Development Council
Teresa Canavan and Martin McDonald, representatives from the Rural Development Council, joined the meeting at 3.36pm and presented on their Rural Network Programme. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 3.40pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 3.41pm.
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 3.43pm.
Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 3.46pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.47pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 3.47pm.
7. Presentation – DARD – Economics Division
Norman Fulton, department official, joined the meeting at 3.48pm and presented to Committee on the department’s business case on flood – affected farmers. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Francie Molloy left the meeting at 3.49pm.
The meeting was suspended at 4.00pm.
The meeting re-convened at 4.31pm.
The Deputy Chairperson took the chair.
Trevor Clarke rejoined the meeting at 4.31pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 4.32pm.
Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 4.35pm.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 4.40pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 4.40pm.
The official left the meeting at 4.47pm.
8. Presentation – DARD/DOE- Better Regulation Review
Paul Caskie, department official, joined the meeting at 4.48pm and presented to Committee on the above mentioned legislation. Following the presentation, Members asked questions. It was agreed that the legislation should move on to the next stage.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 4.48pm.
Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 4.50pm.
The official left the meeting at 4.56pm.
9. Presentation – SL1- Transmissble Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Kate Davey and Andrew Bell, department officials, joined the meeting at 4.56pm and presented to Committee on the above mentioned legislation. Following the presentation, Members asked questions. It was agreed that the legislation should move on to the next stage.
William Irwin left the meeting at 4.59pm.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 4.59pm.
Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 5.00pm.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 5.00pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 5.01pm.
The officials left the meeting at 5.06pm.
10. Pre-consultation – Horse Passport Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
11. SL1 – The Plant Health Regulations (Amendment No.3) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
12. SR – The Plant Health (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Plant Health (Amendment No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
13. SR- The Eggs and Chicks (No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Eggs and Chicks (No.2) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report,
has no objection to the rule.
14. SR –The Scrapies (Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Scrapie (Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the rule.
15. Future Presentation
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
The Committee amended and agreed a press release.
The Committee acknowledged the invitation from the department to attend the Winter Fair on 11 December 2008.
16. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 6 January 2009 at 10.30am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 5.15pm.
Chairperson
Date