COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2009
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Ian Paisley Jnr. (Chairperson)
Tom Elliott (Deputy Chairperson)
George Savage
Pat Doherty
Willie Clarke
Francie Molloy
Thomas Burns
Patsy McGlone
Jim Shannon
William Irwin
Dr William McCrea
In attendance:
Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Shauna Mageean (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Paul Stitt (Clerical Supervisor)
Erika Graham (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
The meeting commenced at 12.45pm in Open Session
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Minutes
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 8 September 2009.
The Committee noted the declaration of interest submitted by Jim Shannon.
The Committee offered their thanks to Edwin Poots and Trevor Clarke for their contribution to the work of the Committee and welcomed Dr. William McCrea and Jim Shannon to the Committee.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 8 September 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 8 September 2009.
Jim Shannon left the meeting at 12.56pm
4. Presentation – DARD – Ministerial Attendance – Diseases of Animals Bill
Michelle Gildernew, Minister for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Owen Denny and Colette McMaster, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.56pm and presented to Committee in respect of Clause 8 of the Diseases of Animals Bill. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Francie Molloy entered the meeting at 1.06pm
George Savage declared an interest
Jim Shannon rejoined the meeting at 1.19pm
Patsy McGlone left the meeting at 1.30pm
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 1.32pm
5. Presentation – DARD – Fishing Opportunities 2010
Liam McKibben, Dr. Walter Crozier and Paddy Campbell, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.34pm and presented to Committee in respect the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 1.55pm
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 2.00pm
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.03pm
Pad Doherty left the meeting at 2.07pm
Willie Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.08pm
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.10pm
William McCrea left the meeting at 2.10pm
Jim Shannon left the meeting at 2.18pm
The meeting was inquorate at 2.18pm
Tom Elliott rejoined the meeting at 2.19pm
The meeting was in quorum at 2.19pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.25pm
George Savage left the meeting at 2.25pm
The meeting was inquorate at 2.25pm
6. Presentation – DARD – Post consultation on EU Directive 2007/43/EC on the Welfare of Meat Chickens
Colette Connor and Paddy McGuckian, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.25pm and presented to Committee in respect the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
Jim Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.30pm
The meeting was in quorum at 2.30pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.45pm
7. Presentation – DARD - September Monitoring Round
John Smith, departmental official, joined the meeting at 2.45pm and presented to Committee in respect the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 2.48pm
Jim Shannon left the meeting at 2.48pm
Pat Doherty rejoined the meeting at 2.50pm
George Savage rejoined the meeting at 2.55pm
Tom Elliott declared an interest
Jim Shannon rejoined the meeting at 3.12pm
Francie Molloy left the meeting at 3.13pm
William Irwin declared an interest
Jim Shannon left the meeting at 3.25pm
The official left the meeting at 3.26pm
8. SL1: Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) Amendment Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage
9. SR – The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) ( Northern Ireland) Regulations 2009
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Horses (Zootechnical Standards) ( Northern Ireland) Regulations 2009 a nd has no objection to the Rule.
10. SR – Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the Rule.
11. Primary Legislative Programme
The Committee noted the legislative programme for the primary legislation expected from the Department.
12. AOB
The Committee noted the Committee visit to Mash Direct Ltd. on Friday 18 September 2009. It was agreed that Members should advise the Committee office if they wish to attend.
The Committee noted the invitation from the Department to attend a workshop on Animal Welfare in Northern Ireland: Proposals for new Primary Legislation, to take place on 17 September 2009. It was agreed that Members should advise the Committee office if they wish to attend.
The Committee noted the forthcoming study visit to the EU Parliament in Brussels.
13. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 22 September 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.31pm