COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2010
ROOM 30, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Stephen Moutray MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Tom Elliott MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
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 Ashleigh Mitford (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Dr Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Pat Doherty MP MLA

1.32pm The meeting commenced in public session

The Chairperson welcomed Mr Trevor Clarke (replacing Dr William McCrea MP) and Mr Simpson Gibson (replacing Mr Jim Shannon MP) to the Committee. Members noted the Declaration of Interests in respect of the new Members and these are appended to the minutes of the meeting.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above

2. Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 07 September 2010.

3. Matters arising

(a) Matters from the previous meeting

Agreed: Members confirmed a list of witnesses for oral evidence sessions in relation to the Committee stage of the Dogs (Amendment) Bill and the Welfare of Animals Bill

Agreed: Members agreed to consider a later submission in respect of the Welfare of Animals Bill

(b) Correspondence issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 07 September 2010.

(c) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 07 September 2010.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Central Committee Office regarding the publication of Members’ attendance at Committee meetings. Members agreed that they would relay any changes or queries to the Clerk by Thursday, 16 September 2010.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from Mr Ian Paisley MP regarding the impact of Drivers’ Hours Regulations on horse owners. Members agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from the Anglo North Irish Fish Producers Organisation. Members agreed that this correspondence should be forwarded to the Department for its response.

Agreed: The Committee noted correspondence from GMB and agreed to seek further details from the Rivers Agency.

1.37pmMr Clarke joined the meeting

4. Presentation: DARD – Belfast Lough Cockle Fishery

The following departmental officials and representative of AFBI joined the meeting:

Liam McKibben -Grade 5 - Assistant Secretary

Ian Humes - Grade 7 - Principal Officer

Dr Matt Service - Principal Scientific Officer, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) 

1.39pm Mr Bradley joined the meeting

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

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek further information from the Department on a number of issues.

The officials and representative left the meeting

5. Presentation: Alan Young – Belfast Cockle Fishery

The following witnesses joined the meeting:

Alan Young : Cockle Fisherman

Dick James : ANIFPO

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

The witness left the meeting

The following Departmental Officials returned to the table

Liam McKibben -Grade 5 - Assistant Secretary

Ian Humes - Grade 7 - Principal Officer

Members put further questions.

2.25pm Mr Irwin left the meeting

2.26pm Mr Malloy left the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department should present on this matter by the end of September following consultation with stakeholders.

2.36pm Mr Elliot left the meeting

6. Presentation: DARD - Manure Efficiency Technology Scheme (METS) Tranche 2

The following departmental officials joined the meeting:

Brian Ervine -Grade 7 - Principal Officer;

Martin Mulholland - DP - Agriculture Inspector Grade II

2.40pm Mr Irvine rejoined the meeting

Mr Savage, Mr Bradley, Mr Irwin and Mr Gibson declared and interest

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

2.53pm Mr Savage left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek further information from the Department in relation to a number of issues.

The officials left the meeting

3.02pm Mr Irwin left the meeting.

7. Presentation: DARD – SL1: Foyle Area and Carlingford area (Angling Permits) Regulations

The following witnesses joined the meeting:

Paul Moore - Grade 7 - Principal Officer - DARD

John McCartney, Director of Conservation & Protection, Loughs Agency. 

The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.

3.06pm Mr Savage rejoined the meeting.

Agreed: Members agreed that the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Angling Permits) Regulations should progress to the next legislative stage.

8. SR 2010/220: Common Agricultural Policy Support Schemes (Review of Decisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has

considered the Common Agricultural Policy Support Schemes (Review of Decisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would write to the Department on a related issue.

9. SR 2010/230: Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has

considered the Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.

10. SR 2010/231: The Beef and Pig Carcase Classification Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has

considered the Beef and Pig Carcase Classification Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.

11. SR 2010/232: The Plant Health (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010

Agreed: That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has

considered The Plant Health (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2010 and has no objection to the rule.

12. Committee Forward Work Programme

Agreed : The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.

Agreed: The Clerk will confirm arrangements for the timetabling of on-going meetings as soon as possible.

13. AOB

Agreed: Members agreed to hold an external evidence session in respect of The Welfare of Animals Bill and the Dogs (Amendment) Bill at the Dogs Trust, Ballymena on 7 th October 2010.

3.16pm Mr Bradley left the meeting

3.18pm Mr Elliot re-joined the meeting

14. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday 21 September 2010 at 10.30am in Room 30, Parliament Buildings in respect of the Dogs Bill, followed by the Welfare of Animals Bill at 13:30 in Room 30.

The next meeting in respect of on-going Committee business will take place on Thursday, 23 September 2010, in Room 29

3.19pm The meeting was adjourned

Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

07 September 10 / Menu