COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 13 APRIL 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Francie Molloy MLA
Mr George Savage MLA
In attendance:
Ms Roisin Kelly (Clerk to the Committee)
Mrs Shauna Mageean (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Michael McCoy (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. MLA (Chairperson)
10.38am The meeting commenced in public session
10.38am Mr Elliott, the deputy Chairperson, took the Chair
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 23 March 2010
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 23 March 2010.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 23 March 2010.
Agreed: The Committee noted c orrespondence from EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş and agreed to accept his invitation to Brussels at a date to be scheduled by the Committee Clerk.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from other Committees directly to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for its response.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to the effects of recent poor weather on hill farmers and ask if the department will be implementing a compensation scheme and what additional support it is providing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ascertain its performance against the 10 day payment of invoices target.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a presentation from Assembly Research and Library Services on Future Cohesion Policy and Structural Funds
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a presentation from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in relation to designation of Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in relation to the Gangmaster Licensing (Exclusion) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed to request a presentation from Ulster Farmers’ Union and departmental officials on this issue with a view to resolving outstanding issues and progressing the legislation
Agreed: The Committee noted the invitation to attend the National Energy Action Fuel Poverty seminar on 26 th April 2010 and agreed to contact the Committee office if they wish to attend.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from Mr Alan Young regarding the cockle fishery in Belfast Lough at a date to be scheduled by the Committee Clerk.
4. Presentation: Ulster Bank – Banking and agriculture industry
10.53am The following representatives of the Ulster Bank joined the meeting:
Henry Elvin - Head of Business Banking Northern Ireland
Cormac McKervey – Senior Agricultural Manager
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for further details on withdrawal of the interest subsidy provided to qualifying New Entrant farmers following switching of bank accounts.
11.35am The representatives left the meeting
11.35am Mr Savage left the meeting
11.35am The meeting was inquorate
5. Presentation: DARD – Organic Farming
11.35am The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
Brian Ervine- Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Richard Crowe – Grade 7 – Agriculture Inspector Grade I
Manus McHenry – DP – Agriculture Inspector Grade II
David Garrett – SO – Staff Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
11.37am Mr Savage rejoined the meeting
11.37am Mr Irwin left the meeting
11.55am Mr Molloy entered the meeting
11.55am The meeting was in quorum
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to request that the Organic Farming Bulletin published by the Department three times a year is also forward to the Committee for consideration.
11.58am The officials left the meeting
6. SL1: The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Ulster Farmers’ Union and the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers’ Association for their views on the proposed legislation
12.01pm The following departmental official joined the meeting:
Valerie Bell – Grade 7
Members put questions in relation to the proposed regulations.
12.01pm Mr Doherty left the meeting
7. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Tuesday 20 April at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
12.14pm The meeting was adjourned
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr.
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development