COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 28 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
Edwin Poots
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 1.32pm in Public Session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 21 April 2009.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issuedThe Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 21 April 2009.
(b) Correspondence receivedThe Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 21 April 2009.
4. Presentation – DARD- Hardship Payments for Fishing Industry
Paddy Campbell and Ronnie McBride, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.35pm and presented the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Tom Elliott joined the meeting at 1.36pm.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 1.40pm.
Trevor Clarke joined the meeting at 1.42pm.
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 1.42pm.
The officials left the meeting at 1.50pm.
5. Presentation – DARD – Less Favoured Areas (Compensatory Allowances) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2009
Keith Morrison, Malcolm Beatty, Rosemary Agnew and Valerie Bell, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.50pm and presented to Committee on the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Tom Elliott rejoined the meeting at 1.57pm.
P J Bradley left the meeting at 2.00pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.01pm.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 2.03pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.05pm.
The officials left the meeting at 2.10pm.
6. Presentation – DARD – Animal Health Regulations
Barbara Cooper, Ian McKee and Austin Brown, department officials joined the meeting at 2.1pm and made a presentation on two pieces of subordinate legislation that the department wishes to implement:
(a) SL1 – The Control of Salmonella in Briolers Flocks Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 and;
(b) SL1 – The Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Francie Molloy joined the meeting at 2.17pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.30pm.
Following the presentation, Members put questions. It was agreed that departmental officials would return to Committee with more details in relation to the proposed legislation.
The officials left the meeting at 2.35pm.
7. Presentation - DARD – Forestry Bill
David Small and Michael McCann, departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.40pm and presented on the above proposed Bill.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.45pm.
P J Bradley rejoined the meeting at 2.46pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.00pm.
Pat Doherty rejoined the meeting at 3.01pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.22pm.
The meeting was suspended at 3.23pm.
The meeting reconvened at 3.40pm with all Members present.
8. SL1– The Plant Health (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009
It was agreed to progress the above mentioned legislation to the next stage.
9. SR – The Aquatic Animal Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Question put and agreed.
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Aquatic Animal Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the Rule.
10. Future Presentation
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
11. AOB
The Committee agreed to have an exhibition stand at the Ballymena Agricultural Show on Saturday 30 May 2009.
The Committee noted the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.
The Committee agreed to write to the department in relation to the Court Ruling on ‘Duplicate Fields’.
The Committee agreed to write to the department in relation to the compensation of livestock caught up in the recent dioxin contamination scare.
Members were reminded of the Committee Visit to AFBI Loughgall on Friday 8 May 2009.
12. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 5 May 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.50pm