COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 5 MAY 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
Francie Molloy
George Savage
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Emma Patton (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Frank Geddis (Clerical Supervisor)
Steven Mealey (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
The meeting opened at 1.30pm in Public Session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 28 April 2009.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 28 April 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 28 April 2009.
4. Presentation – Cool Milk Ltd
Jacqueline McShane and Mike Cassidy, representatives from Cool Milk in Schools Ltd, joined the meeting at 1.35pm and presented on a scheme to provide free semi-skimmed milk to schools in Northern Ireland. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 1.36pm.
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 1.37pm.
Tom Elliott joined the meeting at 1.37pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.03pm.
George Savage left the meeting at 2.15pm.
The representatives left the meeting at 2.15pm.
5. Presentation – DARD – Forest Service Business Plan 2009/2010
David Small and Gerry Hill, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.15pm and presented to Committee on the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.23pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.24pm.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 2.30pm.
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.31pm.
Francie Molloy left the meeting at 2.37pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.43pm.
The officials left the meeting at 2.45pm.
6. Presentation – DARD – EC Review of EU Animal By-Products Regulation (EC No. 1774/2002) Consultation Responses
John McConnell and Iqnatius McKeown, department officials joined the meeting at 2.45pm and made a presentation on the consultation responses on the above mentioned Regulation.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 2.51pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.00pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.00pm .
7. Terms of Reference – Dioxins Incident Inquiry
The Committee were briefed on the Terms of Reference for the above mentioned Inquiry. It was noted that Mr W Clarke asked that the inquiry be postponed until other external inquiries were completed. However, Members agreed to proceed and suggested amendments to the terms of reference. Members agreed to the amended Terms of Reference.
8. Future Presentation
The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.
9. AOB
Members were reminded of the Committee Visit to AFBI Loughgall on Friday 8 May 2009.
10. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 May 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.07pm.