COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 26 JANUARY 2010
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
Dr William McCrea MP 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)
Mr Michael McCoy (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mr Patsy McGlone MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.35pm in Public Session
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meetings of:
8 December 2009
19 January 2010
21 January 2010
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 19 January 2010.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 19 January 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requesting a response to correspondence received from Mr John Henderson regarding damage to potato crops caused by bad weather.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to decline a request from Mr Kevin Taylor to present to Committee on alternatives to poultry waste incineration as the Committee have already passed a motion stating its position on this issue.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward various correspondence received seeking the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s views directly to the Department for their consideration.
Agreed: The Committee agreed write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development seeking details of the terms of reference for the proposed commercial body which is to be established to replace the Livestock and Meat Commission.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development seeking an update on the Red Tape Review.
The Deputy Chairperson commented on the inadequacy of the rural proofing of roads policy and put on record his view that in order to be effective, the process of rural proofing must have a legislative basis.
4. SL1: Less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowance Scheme 2010
Mr Shannon entered the meeting at 10.44am
Mr Elliott declared an interest
Agreed: The Committee agreed the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
5. Presentation – DARD – Revised Expenditure Plans
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 10.45am
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 Shannon left the meeting at 10.49am
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 10.53am
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 10.59am
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 11.00am
Mr Elliott declared an interest
The Deputy Chairperson put on record his absolute discontent that there is no money allocated for Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme.
Mr Molloy declared an interest
Mr Savage declared an interest
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for a copy of the correspondence in relation to accessing rolled up modulation match funding.
The officials left the meeting at 11.48am
6. Presentation – Forest Service – Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Forestry Bill
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 11.50am
David Small – Chief Executive
Stuart Morwood – Director of Woodland Development and Strategies
John Joe O’Boyle – Director of Forestry
Michael McCann – Policy and Legislation Branch
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
Mr Elliott left the meeting at 11.55am
Dr McCrea entered the meeting at 12.00pm
Mr Shannon declared an interest
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 12.04pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 12.10pm
Mr Elliott rejoined the meeting at 12.19pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 12.21pm
The meeting was adjourned at 12.31pm
The meeting reopened at 1.34pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 1.37pm
Mr Molloy rejoined the meeting at 1.38pm
Mr Savage left the meeting at 1.50pm
Mr Elliott rejoined the meeting at 2.00pm
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 2.01pm
Mr Savage rejoined the meeting at 2.01pm
Mr Burns entered the meeting at 2.07pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.09pm
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 2.23pm
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 2.24pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.37pm
Dr McCrea rejoined the meeting at 2.38pm
Mr Clarke left the meeting at 2.39pm
Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting at 2.46pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.56pm
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 3.01pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 3.02pm
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 3.05pm
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 3.07pm
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should schedule a meeting with Forest Service to discuss the clauses prior to next week’s meeting.
The officials left the meeting at 3.24pm
7. Timetable for additional Committee meetings for Forestry Bill Clause by Clause scrutiny
The Committee was apprised of the schedule for additional forthcoming Committee meetings on Mondays as well as the revised timings for the Committee meeting of Tuesday 2 February 2010.
8. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Monday 1 February 2010 at 12.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.29pm