COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FORESTRY BILL EVIDENCE SESSION
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2010
GRANGE OFFICES, CASTLEWELLAN FOREST PARK
Present:
Mr Ian Paisley Jnr. MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Burns MLA
Mr Willie Clarke 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 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
The meeting commenced at 10.09am in Public Session
1. Apologies
As above
2. Presentation –Northern Ireland Environmental Link – Oral evidence on the proposed Forestry Bill
The following representatives joined the meeting at 10.10am:
Professor Sue Christie OBE – Director, NIEL;
Geoff Nuttall – Head of WWF Northern Ireland.
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Elliott declared an interest
The representatives left the meeting at 11.02am
3. Presentation – ConFor – Oral evidence in relation to the proposed Forestry Bill
The following representatives joined the meeting at 11.03am:
Stuart Goodall - Chief Executive, ConFor
Lord Hamilton – Chairman, ConFor NI
Brendan Friel - Director - Balcas Timber Ltd
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
The representatives left the meeting at 11.50am
4. Presentation – Ulster Farmers’ Union – Oral evidence in relation to the proposed Forestry Bill
The following representatives joined the meeting at 11.51am:
Gregg Shannon - Chairman of Legislative Committee Wesley Aston – Policy Director
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
The representatives left the meeting at 12.24pm
The meeting was adjourned at 12.24pm
The meeting reopened at 12.28pm
5. Presentation –Countryside Access & Activities Network – Oral evidence in relation to the Forestry Bill
The following representatives joined the meeting at 12.28pm:
Dr Caro-lynne Ferris – Executive Director
Dawson Stelfox – Chair of CAAN and Board Member
Brian Murphy – Director on Board
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Clarke declared an interest
The representatives left the meeting at 1.05pm
The meeting was adjourned at 1.06pm