COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 21 APRIL 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:
Edwin Poots
The meeting opened at 1.32pm in Public Session.
1.Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 31 March 2009.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 31 March 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 31 March 2009.
4. Presentation – Freshwater Taskforce on River Basin Management Plans
John Martin, Dr Claire Cockerill and Robbie Marshall, representatives from the Freshwater Taskforce on the River Basin Management Plans joined the meeting at 1.51pm and presented the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 1.55pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.00pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.15pm.
Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 2.25pm.
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.25pm.
Trevor Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.30pm.
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 2.32pm.
Pat Doherty rejoined the meeting at 2.32pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 3.06pm.
5. Presentation – DARD – Review of Rural Education/Skills
Pauline Keegan, Paul Donnelly, Gareth Evans and Rosemary Agnew, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.40pm and presented to Committee on the above. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Tom Elliott rejoined the meeting at 2.40pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.55pm.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.10pm.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 3.21pm.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 3.22pm.
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 3.25pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.25pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.30pm.
6. Presentation – DARD – Pre-consultation- Horticulture Act (Amendment) Regulations 2009
Seamus Hughes, John Finlay and Jonathan McAdams, department officials joined the meeting at 3.30pm and made a presentation on the above mentioned pre-consultation. Following the presentation, Members agreed that officials should return and present to Committee with an analytical summary of the consultation responses.
The officials left the meeting at 3.30pm.
7. Pre-consultation – Charges for Residues Surveillance Regulations 2009
Members agreed that officials should return and present to Committee with an analytical summary of the consultation responses.
8. Presentation - SL1s – Loughs Agency Regulations
Paul Moore, Derek Anderson, Stanley Thorpe, department officials joined the meeting at 3.45pm and made a presentation on a number of Regulations which the Loughs Agency intents to implement:
(a) Regulations of Wild Mussel Fishery in Foyle Area and Carlingford Area
(b) Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Coarse Angling) Regulations 2009
(c) Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Bass Angling) Regulations 2009
(d) Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Conservation of Tope) Regulations 2009
PJ Bradley rejoined the meeting at 3.45pm.
George Savage left the meeting at 3.45pm.
George Savage rejoined the meeting at 3.46pm .
Following the presentation, Members asked questions. It was agreed that the above mentioned Regulations should progress to the next legislative stage.
The officials left the meeting at 3.51pm .
9. SR – The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the Rule.
10. SR – The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the Rule.
11. Future Presentation
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
12. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 28 April 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.55pm