COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 23 JUNE 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Dr William McCrea (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
PJ Bradley
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
George Savage
Pat Doherty
Willie Clarke
Francie Molloy
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Shauna Mageean (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Frank Geddis (Clerical Supervisor)
Kathy Gunduza (Clerical Officer)
Erika Graham (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
The meeting commenced at 1.33pm in Open Session
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 16 June 2009.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 16 June 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 16 June 2009.
(c) Additional Matters arising
Members agreed to progress The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) ( Northern Ireland) Regulations 2009 to the legislative stage.
PJ Bradley entered the meeting at 1.35pm
Trevor Clarke entered the meeting at 1.37pm
4. Presentation – DARD – Rivers Agency Business Plan 2009/10
Jeff Glass and Pat Aldridge, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.39pm and made a presentation regarding the Rivers Agency Business Plan 2009/10. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Thomas Burns entered the meeting at 1.43pm
George Savage entered the meeting at 1.49pm
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 2.06pm
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.23pm
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.31pm
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.35pm
Tom Elliott rejoined the meeting at 2.42pm
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 2.42pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.45pm
5. Presentation – DARD – SL1 Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Aquaculture Licensing) Regulations 2009 and SL1 Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
Paul Moore and Barry Fox, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.46pm and presented to Committee in respect of above SL1s. Paul Moore advised that the SL1 relating to Aquaculture Licensing is not yet ready to progress to legislative stage as licence fees have not yet been set. The Committee noted the numerous concerns expressed by respondees to consultation on the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009. Members agreed to defer the matter to allow for input from industry representatives.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.46pm
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.53pm
George Savage left the meeting at 2.59pm
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.04pm
The officials left the meeting at 3.14pm
6. Presentation – DARD – Responsibility & Cost Sharing and TSE (Amendment) Regulations
Colette McMaster, Kate Davey and Malcolm Hanna, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 3.14pm and presented to the Committee in respect of the Responsibility and Cost Sharing and the proposed TSE (Amendment) Regulations. Following the presentation, Members put questions. The Chair put the motion that the Committee opposed the DARD proposals to amend the TSE Regulations.
Ayes: Dr William McCrea, Tom Elliott, William Irwin, Trevor Clarke, PJ Bradley
Noes: none
Abstentions: Willie Clarke, Pat Doherty
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.19pm
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 3.33pm
Pat Doherty rejoined the meeting at 3.48pm
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.52pm
PJ Bradley rejoined the meeting at 3.55pm
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 3.57pm
PJ Bradley rejoined the meeting at 3.57pm
Francie Molloy left the meeting at 4.08pm
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 4.08pm
Tom Elliott declared an interest
The officials left the meeting at 4.10pm
Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 4.10pm
Tom Elliot left the meeting at 4.10pm
7. Presentation – DARD – Pre-consultation – Revision of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)
Stuart Morwood, departmental official, joined the meeting at 4.10pm and presented to the Committee in respect of the Revision of the UK Forestry Standard. Following the presentation, Members put questions. The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
George Savage rejoined the meeting at 4.14pm
Trevor Clarke rejoined the meeting at 4.19pm
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 4.21pm
The official left the meeting at 4.24pm
8. Pre-consultation – Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations (NI) 2009
The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.
9. SR – The Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Swine Vesicular Disease Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, has no objection to the Rule.
10. SR – The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licensing of Fishing Engines) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules’ Report, 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 requested information from DARD regarding the Single Farm Payment Scheme and also about procedures for the correct disposal of chicken litter.
The Committee also noted the invitation from Royal Ulster Architectural Society to attend a seminar on 1 st July 2009 in respect of ‘Challenges and Opportunities for the Agri-Food Sector’.
The Committee agreed that, subject to responses arising from the short consultation, they would be content to allow the Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 to progress to the legislative stage
13. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 30 June 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.36pm.