COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 19 MAY 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
P J Bradley
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Pat Doherty
William Irwin
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:
Willie Clarke
The meeting opened at 1.34pm in Public Session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 12 May 2009.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 12 May 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 12 May 2009
(c) Tabled Papers
The Committee agreed to the draft press release and public notice in respect of the Committee’s attendance at the Ballymena Agriculture Show on 30 May 2009.
4. Presentation – DARD- Review of Education and Skills
Pauline Keegan, Gareth Evans, Paul Donnelly and David Barr, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.37pm and presented to Committee on the department’s Review of Education and Skills. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 1.50pm.
Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 1.58pm.
Trevor Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.00pm.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 2.24pm.
The officials left the meeting at 2.31pm.
5. Presentation – DARD – Consultation Responses – CAP Healthcheck – Policy Options
Norman Fulton, Mark McLean and Seamus McErlean, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.31pm and presented Committee with an analytical summary of consultation responses. Following the presentation, Members put questions
The Chair declared an interest.
Tom Elliott declared an interest.
George Savage declared an interest.
The officials left the meeting at 2.48pm.
6. Presentation – DARD Direct offices
Roy McClenaghan and Pauline Rooney, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.48pm and gave an update on the proposed locations positioning DARD Direct offices throughout Northern Ireland. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.
Edwin Poots joined the meeting at 3.03pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.12pm.
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.13pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 3.23pm.
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 2.26pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.26pm .
7. SL1 – The Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowance (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009. >
It was agreed that the above mentioned Subordinate Legislation should proceed to the next legislative stage.
8. AOB
It was agreed that the department should update Committee on progress of Axis 3 in relation to Council Clusters.
It was agreed that the Committee would write to Marks and Spencers expressing their concerns over the labelling of certain food products.
9. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 26 May 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.30pm.