COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 23 MARCH 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Dr William McCrea MP MLA
Mr George Savage MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA

In attendance: Mr Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Mrs Shauna Mageean (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Ms Danielle Best (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Michael McCoy (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns MLA

12.32pm The meeting commenced in public session

12.32pm The Committee Clerk took the Chair for the election of a Committee Chairperson

Motion: That Dr William McCrea does take the Chair of the Committee

Proposer: Mr Jim Shannon
Seconder: Mr George Savage

No further nominees - motion passed

12.33pm Dr McCrea took the Chair

1. Apologies

As above

2. Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 16 March 2010

3. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 16 March 2010.

(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 16 March 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from other Committees directly to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for its response.

4. Presentation: DARD – Foyle Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2009

12.35pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:

Paul Moore - Grade 7, Principal Officer

Barry Fox - Director of Aquaculture, Loughs Agency

Ciaran McGonigle - Marine Research Officer, Loughs Agency

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

12.35pm Mr Clarke entered the meeting

12.39pm Mr Shannon left the meeting

12.40pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting

12.40pm Mr Irwin left the meeting

12.41pm Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.

12.45pm The officials left the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed agenda item 8 should be considered next

5. Pre-consultation: The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalophathies ( Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010

Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken

Agreed: The Committee agreed agenda item 9 should be considered next

6. Pre-consultation: The Animals and Animal Products (Examination for residues and maximum residue limits) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken

Agreed: The Committee agreed agenda item 10 should be considered next

7. SR: The Horse Passports Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Horse Passports Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.

Agreed: The Committee agreed agenda item 11 should be considered next

8. SR: The Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Plant Health (Wood and Bark) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 has no objection to the rule.

Agreed: The Committee agreed agenda item 12 should be considered next

9. Engagement: Update on the Balmoral Show event on 13 May 2010

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk should return to the Committee with an update following a meeting with the Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer and the Minister’s Special Advisor

12.49pm The meeting was adjourned

1.01pm The meeting re-opened in public session

Agreed: The Committee agreed agenda item 5 should be considered next

10. Presentation: Bank representatives – Banking & the Agricultural Industry

1.01pm The following representatives joined the meeting:

Brendan Dowdall – First Trust Bank

Stephen Comer – First Trust Bank

Stephen Bloomfield – Regional General Manager – North, Northern Bank

John Henning – Head of Agriculture, Northern Bank

The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

1.06pm Mr Doherty entered the meeting

1.07pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting

1.07pm Mr Bradley left the meeting

1.08pm Mr Bradley rejoined the meeting

1.14pm Mr Shannon left the meeting

1.16pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting

Mr Clarke declared an interest

Mr Irwin declared an interest

Mr Shannon declared an interest

Mr Bradley declared an interest

Mr Doherty declared an interest

1.46pm Mr Shannon left the meeting

1.52pm Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting

1.52pm Mr Irwin left the meeting

1.54pm Mr Bradley left the meeting

1.58pm Mr Bradley rejoined the meeting

2.01pm Mr Shannon left the meeting

2.03pm Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting

2.04pm The representatives left the meeting

11. Presentation: DARD – Progress against Public Account Committee recommendations on the Control of bovine TB in Northern Ireland

2.05pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:

Colette McMaster – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary

Roly Harwood – Grade 6 – Senior Principal Veterinary Officer

Ian McKee – Grade 7 – Principal Officer

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions

2.17pm Mr Doherty left the meeting

2.31pm Dr McCrea left the meeting

2.31pm The Committee Clerk took the Chair for the election of a Committee Chairperson

Motion: That Mr William Irwin does take the Chair of the Committee

Proposer: Mr Jim Shannon

Seconder: Mr Willie Clarke

No further nominees - motion passed

2.32pm Mr Irwin took the Chair

2.32pm Mr Bradley left the meeting

2.32pm The meeting was inquorate

2.40pm Mr Doherty rejoined the meeting

2.40pm The meeting was quorate

Mr Shannon declared an interest

2.54pm Mr Clarke left the meeting

2.54pm The meeting was inquorate

Mr Savage declared an interest

3.04pm The officials left the meeting

12. Presentation: DARD – Nitrates Action Programme including derogation for 2011 – 2014

3.04pm The following departmental officials joined the meeting:

Dr Sinclair Mayne – Grade 5 – Departmental Scientific Advisor

Brian Ervine – Grade 7 – Principal Officer

Alan Galbraith – Grade 7 – Agriculture Inspector Grade 1

Siobhan Bowers – DP – Deputy Principal

The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

3.16pm Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting

3.16pm The meeting was quorate

3.18pm Mr Doherty left the meeting

3.18pm The meeting was inquorate

3.31pm The officials left the meeting

13. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Tuesday 13 April at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings, with lunch at 12.30pm in the Members’ Dining Room with the Northern Ireland Group of the Fellows and Associates of the Royal Agricultural Societies

3.32pm The meeting was adjourned

-------------------------------------------------

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr.

Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development