COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. (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 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)
Mr Michael McCoy (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
12.38pm The meeting commenced in closed session
Members discussed legal advice regarding ‘policy in confidence’ papers.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to relay the substance of the legal advice and to advise that they still wish to have sight of the papers relating to the various selection criteria options for Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Scheme which were considered by the Minister and then discounted .
12.42pm The meeting commenced in public session.
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 16 February 2010
Mr Elliott declared an interest
12.50pm Mr Molloy entered the meeting.
12.56pm Mr Savage entered the meeting
Mr Irwin declared an interest
Mr Savage declared an interest
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 16 February 2010.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 16 February 2010.
4. Forestry Bill – Clause by Clause Scrutiny
1.00pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
David Small – Chief Executive
Michael McCann – Policy and Legislation Branch
John Joe O’Boyle - Director of Forestry
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
1.00pm Mr Doherty left the meeting
Mr Shannon declared an interest
1.11pm Mr McGlone entered the meeting
Clause 5 – Compulsory Acquisition of land
Question Put and Agreed
“That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development is content with Clause 5 subject to the amendment recommended by the Committee and agreed by the Department”.
Clause 9 - Control (with permission of occupier) of animals on land adjacent to forest
Question Put and Agreed
“That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development is agreed to the insertion of a new clause (Control (with permission of occupier) of animals on land adjacent to forest) after clause 8 of the bill subject to the amendment recommended by the Committee and agreed by the Department”.
1.15pm The officials left the meeting
1.16pm Mr Irwin left the meeting
6. Presentation: Loughs Agency -
- SL1: The Foyle and Carlingford Area (Angling) (Amendment No 2) Regulations 2010
- SL1: The Foyle and Carlingford Area (Conservation of smelt, shad and lamprey) Regulations 2010
- SL1: The Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
1.17pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting
Stanley Thorpe – Legislation Manager, Loughs Agency
John McCartney – Director of Conservation and Protection, Loughs Agency
1.17pm Mr Elliott left the meeting
1.20pm Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting
1.27pm The following departmental official joined the meeting
Paul Moore – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
1.29pm Mr McGlone left the meeting
1.31pm Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting
1.32pm Mr Irwin left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed that all of the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
1.38pm The officials left the meeting
6. Presentation: Mr Kenneth Patterson – views on the Common Fisheries Policy
1.39pm The following representatives joined the meeting
Mr Kenneth Patterson Fisherman
Mr Adrian Coffee Fisherman
Mr Dennis Jones Fisherman
Mr Jim Hill Fisherman
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
1.47pm Mr Burns entered the meeting
1.52pm Mr Doherty rejoined the meeting
2.05pm Mr Shannon left the meeting
2.11pm Dr McCrea left the meeting
2.17pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting
2.26pm Mr Shannon left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee Support Office should endeavour to organise an event for stakeholders in the fishing industry
2.26pm The representatives left the meeting
2.27pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting
7. Pre-consultation: DARD – Foyle Area (Licensing of Oyster Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
8. SL1: The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) Order 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
9. SR: The Lough Neagh (Levels) Scheme (Confirmation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Lough Neagh (Levels) Scheme (Confirmation) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.
2.32pm Mr McGlone left the meeting
10. Presentation: DARD – Re-opening of the Countryside Management and Organic Farming Schemes
2.32pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting
Malcolm Beatty – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Sam Kennedy – Grade 6 – Senior Principal Officer
Richard Crowe – Grade 7 – Agriculture Inspector Grade 1
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Savage declared an interest
2.48pm Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting
2.50pm Mr Doherty left the meeting
2.50pm Mr Burns left the meeting
2.55pm The officials left the meeting
11. AOB
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding selection criteria for Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme with a view to including succession planning in the modernisation scoring mechanism.
12. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be a meeting to review the draft Committee Report on the Forestry Bill at 12.30pm on Monday 1 March 2010 in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
2.56pm The meeting was adjourned