COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Willie Clarke
Pat Doherty
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
George Savage
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Frank Geddis (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
The meeting opened at 1.35pm in Public Session.
1. Ministerial Attendence
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew MP MLA and the Permanent Secretary, Dr Malcolm McKibben joined the meeting at 1.35pm and presented to Committee on a number of issues relating to the Farm Modernisation Programme of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme, and in respect of the alleged breach of EU Regulations concerning the basis in which applications were being received. Following their presentation, the Minister and official then answered questions from the Members.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.29pm.
The Minister and the Permanent Secretary left the meeting at 2.47pm.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 2.47pm.
Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 2.47pm.
Trevor Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.48pm.
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.50pm .
2. Apologies
As above.
3. Minutes
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 17 February 2009.
4. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 17 February 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 17 February 2009.
(c) Tabled correspondence
The Committee noted tabled correspondence.
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 1.40pm.
5. Presentation – Irish Federation of Sea Anglers – DARD
Garry Grey, a representative from the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers joined the meeting at 2.50pm and presented to Committee on a number of issues that are currently hindering the sport. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Paddy Campbell, departmental official joined the meeting at 3.00pm and presented to Committee, addressing the issues discussed. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 2.55pm.
Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 2.56pm.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 3.00pm.
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 3.09pm.
The meeting was suspended at 3.20pm.
The meeting reconvened at 3.40pm with Dr McCrea, Pat Doherty, Willie Clarke, Edwin Poots and William Irwin present.
Francie Molloy joined the meeting at 3.41pm.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 3.42pm.
The representative and the official left the meeting at 3.43pm.
6. Presentation – DARD – PSA 17 and Axis 3 of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP)
Pauline Keegan and Gareth Evans, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 3.45pm and presented to Committee on a number of issues relating to PSA 17 and Axis 3 of the NIRDP. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Tom Elliott joined the meeting at 3.55pm.
Dr McCrea left the Chair at 3.55pm.
Mr Elliott assumed the Chair at 3.55pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 4.20pm.
Officials left the meeting at 4.21pm.
7. Presentation – DARD – Loughs Agency Regulations
Paul Moore, Jackie McQuillan, Derick Anderson, Barry Fox and Stanley Thorpe, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 4.20pm and made a presentation on two pre-consultations that Loughs Agency intends to issue:
- Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Aquaculture) Regulations 2009;
- The Foyle Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009.
Following the presentations, Members agreed that officials should return and present to Committee with an analytical summary of the consultation responses.
8. Presentation – SL1 – Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Paul Moore, Kackie McQuillan, Derick Anderson, Barry Fox and Stanley Thorpe, departmental officials, made a presentation in respect of the above proposed legislation.
The Committee agreed that the above mentioned draft rule should progress to the next legislative stage.
The officials left the meeting at 4.30pm.
9. Presentation – SL1 – Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and Products of Animal Origin (Disease Control) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Ian McKee and Christine Henderson, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 4.30pm and made a presentation in respect of the above proposed legislation.
The Committee agreed that the above mentioned draft rule should progress to the next legislative stage.
The officials left the meeting at 4.35pm.
10. SR – The Seed Potatoes Originating in Egypt (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Seed Potatoes Originating in Egypt (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
11. Future Presentations
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
12. AOB
The Committee agreed to invite United Dairies and Dairy UK to present to Committee on the issue of milk prices.
Members agreed that the department should update the Committee on the current situation in relation to the ‘Duplicate Fields’ court case.
13. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 3 March 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.42pm.Chairperson
Date