COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DOGS (AMENDMENT) BILL EVIDENCE SESSION
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 30 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Stephen Moutray MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Simpson Gibson MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Francie Molloy MLA
In attendance:
Mr Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Mrs Ashleigh Mitford (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
The meeting commenced at 10.35am in Closed Session
The Committee considered legal advice on legal competence in relation to the Dogs (Amendment) Bill.
The meeting moved into open session at 10.36am
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed : The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 02 November 2010
The following interests were declared
Mr Moutray as Councillor, Craigavon Borough Council
Mr Beggs as Councillor, Carrickfergus Borough Council
Mr W Clarke as Councillor, Down District Council.
Mr Malloy as Councillor, Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council
Mr McCarthy as Councillor, Ards Borough Council
3. Matters Arising
The Committee noted correspondence issued since the meeting of 02 November 2010
The Committee noted correspondence received since the meeting of 02 November 2010
The Clerk briefed the Committee
4. Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Dogs (Amendment) Bill
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting
John Terrington - Head of Dog Control Bill Team;
Martin Mooney - Dog Control Bill Team.
Clause 2 – Microchipping
The Chairperson confirmed the Committee’s current position on this clause.
The Departmental officials addressed the Committee.
Members put questions on this clause to the Departmental officials.
10.52am Mr Gibson joined the meeting
Agreed: It was agreed that further information should be provided to the Committee on Omagh District Council’s parallel micro-chipping and licensing scheme.
11.07am Mr. Bradley joined the meeting
Agreed: The Committee confirmed its position that this clause be made dormant. The clause should remain dormant until appropriate consultation with councils is undertaken and costs are reviewed.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the enabling power to this dormant clause should be subject to the affirmative process
Agreed: The Committee agreed to propose that an amendment be made in relation to the compulsory micro-chipping of new dogs through breeding establishments. This amendment would not be linked to licensing. The details of this amendment will be explored and discussed at the next meeting.
Clause 3- Licensing of Dangerous Dogs
Members put questions on this clause to the Departmental officials.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that it was content with this clause at this stage, subject to concerns around costs to councils.
Agreed: The Department would provide further information around legal costs.
Clause 4 – Fees
Members put questions on this clause to the Departmental officials.
12.00pm Mr Irwin joined the meeting
Agreed: The Department would provide information on submissions from councils to its consultation that have been ratified by councilors.
Agreed: The Committee agreed an increase in the fee for a dog license to £12.50
Agreed: The Committee proposed an amendment that, while micro-chipping is not compulsory, a reduced fee is charged to owners who voluntarily micro-chip their dogs. The Committee also discussed the possibility that this reduction could be included in guidance issued to councils.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department remove article 77B from this clause. The article’s removal is a consequential amendment to the change in controls to the affirmative resolution process.
Clause 5 – Contingent Destruction orders where no prosecution
Agreed: The Committee deferred consideration of this clause until the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the bill.
Clause 6 – Setting on or urging a dog to attack
Clause 7 – Attack by a dog on a person or another dog
The Departmental officials presented amendments to the Committee on these clauses.
Members put questions on this clause to the Departmental officials.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with clauses 6 and 7 as amended and presented by the Department and that it would defer consideration until the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the bill.
Clause 8 – Control conditions on dog licenses
The Chairperson stated that the Department agreed that education and training courses should be provided as additional options under control conditions.
The Department presented amended text to the Committee in relation to this clause.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content with the amended text and that they would defer consideration until the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the bill..
Clause 9 – Contingent destruction orders on conviction
Agreed: The Committee deferred consideration of this clause until the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the bill.
Clause 14 – Amount of fixed penalty
The Department presented to the Committee on this clause.
Members put questions on this clause to the Departmental officials.
Agreed: The Committee deferred consideration of this clause until the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the Bill.
Changes to Assembly Controls
The Departmental Officials presented to the Committee
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it is content with the text of a new clause that is to be inserted in order to take into account agreed changes to Assembly controls.
Agreed : The Committee will write to the Department in relation to clause 2
Agreed: The Clerk agreed to forward Hansard transcripts to Mr Bradley in relation to micro-chipping.
5. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting in relation to the Dogs Bill will be on Tuesday, 16 November at 10.30 in room 30.
The meeting was adjourned 12:22PM
Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
09 November 10 Welfare of Animals Bill / Menu |
