COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 25 MAY 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Francie Molloy MLA
Mr George Savage 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:
Dr William McCrea MP MLA
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Jim Shannon MP MLA
1.35pm The meeting commenced in public session
1.35pm The Deputy Chairperson, Mr Elliott, took the Chair.
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 18 May 2010
6. Committee for Finance and Personnel Inquiry into the Role of the NI Assembly in Scrutinising the Executive’s Budget and Expenditure
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 6 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee discussed its view on the role of the Assembly in scrutinising the Executive budget and agreed that the Clerk should note the Committee view and prepare a draft response on the behalf of the Committee to be approved at the next meeting on 1 June 2010.
7. Pre-consultation: Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Angling) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 7 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
8. Pre-consultation: Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Tagbook and Logging) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 8 as the next item.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
9. SL1: Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 9 as the next item.
Agreed: Members agreed that SL1: Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 should progress to the next legislative stage.
1.38pm Mr Savage entered the meeting
10. SR 2010/161: Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 10 as the next item.
Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 3 as the next item.
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 18 May 2010.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 18 May 2010.
Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to departmental use of external advisors and agreed to write to the Department seeking details and costs of any external advisors.
Agreed: The Committee noted a research paper from Assembly Research Services in relation to agricultural insurance and noted a proposal from Mr Bradley that the Committee should receive a presentation on the insurance available to farmers. The Committee agreed that the Clerk should arrange a presentation to be scheduled in the future.
4. Presentation: Alan Young – Cockle Fishery, Belfast Lough
1.45pm The following representatives joined the meeting:
Alan Young
Brian McDonald
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
1.55pm Mr Molloy left the meeting
1.58pm The meeting was suspended
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2.39pm The meeting resumed in public session
2.48pm Mr Bradley rejoined the meeting
Agreed: The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Clarke to seek a round table discussion with the Department, cockle fishermen and stakeholders in relation the future of the cockle fishery in Belfast Lough and agreed that the Clerk should schedule this meeting at a date in the future.
2.48pm The representatives left the meeting
5. Presentation: DARD – June Monitoring Round 2010
2.49pm The following departmental official joined the meeting:
John Smith – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
The official presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions
2.49pm Mr McCarthy left the meeting
2.56pm Mr Doherty left the meeting
3.12pm Mr Savage left the meeting
3.12pm The meeting was inquorate
3.28pm The official left the meeting
11. Any Other Business
Noted:The Committee noted a proposal from Mr Bradley to seek a presentation from meat graders in relation to plans for automatic grading systems.
12. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be on Tuesday 1 June 2010 at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
3.31pm The meeting was adjourned