COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Dr William McCrea MP MLA
Mr Patsy McGlone MLA
Mr Francie Molloy 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)
Mr Michael McCoy (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
The meeting commenced at 1.33pm in Open Session
The Committee welcomed Mr Michael McCoy to the Committee Office team.
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 12 January 2010
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 12 January 2010.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 12 January 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requesting an indication of the timetable for the rollout of financing to the Local Action Groups under Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requesting a presentation from departmental officials on the Lough Neagh Partnership.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that an invitation to present to the Committee should be issued to groups concerned regarding the routing of roads through agricultural land.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Environment seeking the Committee view on the proposed Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and to the Ulster Farmers’ Union for their views on the Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to commission a research paper on the impact on farmers and rural communities of the proposed Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
4. Presentation – Born Free Foundation – Views on Animal Welfare Bill
The following representative joined the meeting at 1.40pm
Mr Chris Draper – Senior Scientific Researcher
The representative presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr McGlone entered the meeting at 1.41pm
Mr Shannon entered the meeting at 1.50pm
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 1.52pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 1.58pm
Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting at 2.05pm
Mr Savage entered the meeting at 2.08pm
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 2.08pm
Mr Molloy entered the meeting at 2.12pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.13pm
The representative left the meeting at 2.17pm
5. SR: Dogs (Licensing and Identification) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
6. SR: Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
7. SR: Oil and Fibre Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Oil and Fibre Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
8. SR: Beet Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Beet Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
9. SR: Fodder Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Fodder Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
10. SR: Cereal Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Cereal Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
11. SR: Vegetable Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Vegetable Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
12. SR: Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
13. Presentation – Loughs Agency – Geographical Information System (GIS)
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.24pm
Rachel Scott – GIS Officer, Loughs Agency
Seamus Cullinan – Fishery Inspector, Loughs Agency
Derick Anderson – Chief Executive, Lough Agency
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.26pm
The officials left the meeting at 2.55pm
14. Presentation – DARD – EU Dairy Fund
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.57pm
Jill Garrett – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Daniel Glenn – Deputy Principal
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 3000pm
Mr Irwin declared an interest
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write Ulster Farmers’ Union and Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers’ Association for their views on the best option for the EU Dairy Fund.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requesting information on the number of dairy farms producing less than 50,000 litres on a regular basis.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Committee view by the deadline of 17 February 2010.
The officials left the meeting at 3.10pm
15. Presentation – DARD – Revised Expenditure Plans
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.13pm
Gerry Lavery – Deputy Secretary
John Smith – Director of Finance
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
Mr Doherty entered the meeting at 3.25pm
Mr Molloy rejoined the meeting at 3.32pm
Mr Elliott declared an interest
Mr Savage declared an interest
Mr Molloy declared an interest
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for a copy of the financial projections prepared at the beginning of the Rural Development Programme for each Axis.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from departmental officials at the meeting of 26 January 2010 on the Department plans on funding for the capital expenditure element of Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to emphasis that departmental officials presenting to the Committee should present information with clarity and detail.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for information on the modulation match funding held by the Department of Finance and Personnel.
The officials left the meeting at 4.08pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 4.08pm
16. Presentation – SL1: Seed Potatoes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 4.08pm
Renee McDowell – Deputy Principal
Jim Crummie - Agriculture Inspector Grade II
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 4.09pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 4.13pm
17. Forestry Bill – Press release for evidence session 21 January 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of the press release.
18. Engagement: Visit to Veterinary Service Central Enforcement Team, Loughry and An Creagán Wind Turbine Scheme, Creggan - 4 February 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to contact the Committee Support Team to advise of their availability to attend this visit.
19. AOB
The Committee expressed their thanks to Ms Erika Graham for her work in the Committee office and wished her well for her future career.
20. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be an all day meeting held on Tuesday 26 January 2010 at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.19pm