COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2009
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr George Savage MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
In attendance:
Mr Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Mrs Shauna Mageean (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Erika Graham (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
none
The meeting commenced at 1.34pm in Open Session
1. Apologies
As above
Mr Elliott entered the meeting at 1.36pm
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 24 November 2009.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 24 November 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 24 November 2009.
4. Presentation – DARD – Update on Animal Welfare Bill
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 1.37pm
Colette McMaster – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Kate Davey – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Paddy McGuckian – Grade 7 – Divisional Veterinary Officer
Andrew Kell – Deputy Principal
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Shannon entered the meeting at 1.42pm
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 1.51pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 1.53pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 1.53pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.05pm
Mr Clarke declared an interest
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.08pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.11pm
5. Presentation – DARD – Routing Policy
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.12pm
Roy McClenaghan – Grade 3 – Under Secretary
Malcolm Beatty – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Conor Loughrey – DRD Roads Service (Western Division)
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.29pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.32pm
6. Presentation – DARD – Farm Nutrient Management Scheme
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.32pm
Roy McClenaghan – Grade 3 – Under Secretary
Malcolm Beatty – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Seamus Doran – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Jim Freeburn – Grade 7 – Agriculture Inspector – Grade 1
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Savage left the meeting at 2.33pm
The meeting was inquorate at 2.33pm
Mr Irwin declared an interest
Mr Savage rejoined the meeting at 2.44pm
The meeting was in quorum at 2.44pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.46pm
7. SR: Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Nitrates Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the Rule.
8. Presentation – DARD – Fishing Opportunities 2010
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.47pm
Liam McKibben – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Paddy Campbell – Deputy Principal
Dr. Walter Crozier - AFBI
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Burns joined the meeting at 2.47pm
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 2.48pm
Mr Doherty entered the meeting at 2.59pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.59pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.03pm
Mr Savage left the meeting at 303pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 3.10pm
The officials left the meeting at 3.15pm
9. Presentation – DARD – Agricultural Stakeholder Forum on Renewable Energy Report
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.16pm
Liam McKibben – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Peter Scott – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Joyce Rutherford – Deputy Principal
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 3.25pm
Mr Savage rejoined the meeting at 3.27pm
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.35pm
Mr Savage declared an interest
The officials left the meeting at 3.37pm
10. Presentation – DARD - SL1: Sheep and Goat Identification and Movement Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.38pm
Colette McMaster – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Colette Connor – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
David Torrens – Grade 7 – Divisional Veterinary Officer
John McConnell – Deputy Principal
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 3.51pm
Agreed: The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 3.56pm
11. Presentation – DARD - SL1: The Charges for Residues Surveillance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.38pm
John Speers – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Jill Garrett – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Glenn Kennedy - AFBI
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Elliott declared an interest
Agreed: The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 4.15pm
12. Engagement:
Visit to Rural Community Network and Rural Development Council, Cookstown
The Clerk apprised Members of the draft itinerary for this visit on Thursday 3 December 2009 and asked Members to advise the Committee Support Office of their availability to attend.
13. Engagement:
Possible visit to Veterinary Service Central Enforcement Team Headquarters, Loughry
The Clerk apprised Members that an invitation has been received from Veterinary Service Central Enforcement for the Committee to visit their headquarters in Loughry. A provisional date of Thursday 14 January 2010 has been suggested. The Clerk asked Members to advise the Committee Support Office of their availability to attend.
14. AOB
The Clerk reminded Members that there will be an evidence session on the Forestry Bill at 10.30am on Tuesday 8 December 2009 in Room 30.
15. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 December 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.20pm