COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Willie Clarke
William Irwin
George Savage
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Frank Geddis (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Pat Doherty
Edwin Poots
The meeting opened at 10.35am in Public Session .
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes of the meeting of 6 January 2009
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 6 January 2009.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 13 January 2009.
The Committee noted correspondence issued to the Minister and department in respect to queries arising from the meeting of 13 January 2009.(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 13 January 2008.
The Committee noted copies of an explanatory booklet and application form relating of the department’s Farm Modernisation Scheme.
The Committee noted correspondence from the department in respect of queries arising from the December Monitoring Round.(c) Tabled correspondence
The Committee noted legal advice on the Disease of Animals Bill from the Director of Legal Services.
The Committee noted the department’s response to Committee amendments of the Diseases of Animals Bill, arising from the meeting of 6 January 2009.
The Committee accepted a request from Norbrook Laboratories to hold a meeting at their Newry facility.
4. Committee Bill – The Diseases of Animals Bill – ‘Clause by Clause’ Consideration
Clause 1 - Extension to power to slaughter
Members were briefed by department officials on the particulars of Clause 1 - Extension to power to slaughter . Following discussions, the Committee approved the clause as drafted but agreed to launch an inquiry into the prevalence of TB in Badgers and Cattle in Northern Ireland.
Clause 4 - Powers of Entry
Members were briefed by department officials on the particulars of Clause 4 – Powers of Entry. Following discussions, officials were asked to return to Committee and provide Members with the proposed amendment.
Tom Elliott joined the meeting at 11.17am
Clause 6 - Fixed Penalties for certain offences
Members were briefed by department officials on the particulars of Clause 6 – Fixed Penalties for certain offences. Following discussions with officials the Committee could not agree with the department’s amendments to the clause. It was therefore agreed that the Committee’s proposed amendment to the clause should be debated in Plenary.
Clause 8 - Bio-Security Guidance
Members were briefed by department officials on the particulars of Clause 8- Bio-Security Guidance. Following discussions, officials were asked to return to Committee and provide Members with the proposed amendment to clause 8.
Clause 11- Deliberate Infection
Members were briefed by department officials on the particulars of Clause 11- Deliberate Infection. Following discussions the Committee agreed to approve the clause as drafted.
The meeting was suspended at 11.56am
The meeting re-convened at 1.35pm with Dr McCrea, P J Bradley, Tom Elliott, Willie Clarke, William Irwin and George Savage present.
5. Presentation- DARD – Dioxin Update
Bert Houston and Liam McKibben, department officials joined the meeting at 1.35pm and updated Members on the current situation regarding the dioxin scare in the Northern Ireland beef and pork industry. Following the brief, Members asked questions.
Trevor Clarke joined the meeting at 1.37pm
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 1.45pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.10pm
6. Presentation – The Convener for Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, Scottish Parliament, Roseanna Cunningham MSP
Roseanna Cunningham MSP joined the meeting at 2.14pm and briefed Members on the work of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee in the Scottish Parliament.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.32pm
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 2.45pm
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.46pm
George Savage left the meeting at 3.00pm
The Convener left the meeting at 3.04pm
7. Presentation- DARD – Pre-consultation - Implementation of the CAP Healthcheck Milk Quotas Increase
Jill Garrett and Daniel Glenn joined the meeting at 3.04pm and presented to Committee on the above mentioned pre-consultation. Members agreed that officials should return and present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
The officials left the meeting at 3.07pm.
8. Date of the next meeting
The Committee will resume their clause by clause scrutiny of the Diseases of Animals Bill on Tuesday 27 January 2009 at 10.30am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.07pm.
Chairperson
Date