COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

BILLS MEETING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2010
ROOM 30 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Stephen Moutray MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr Simpson Gibson 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 Clerk)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: none

The meeting commenced at 10.36 am in Public Session

The following members declared an interest as local government councillors:
Mr Molloy, Mr W Clarke

1. Apologies

As above

2. Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting of 16 November 2010

10.37am Mr Doherty joined the meeting

3. Matters Arising in relation to the Dogs (Amendment) Bill

The Committee noted correspondence issued since the meeting of 16 November 2010.

4. Committee consideration of the Committee Report on the Dogs (Amendment) Bill

10.40am Mr Bradley joined the meeting

The Committee considered the draft Committee Report on the Dogs (Amendment) Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Powers and Membership and the Table of Contents sections of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that, subject to an amendment being made to paragraph 5, it is content with the Executive Summary of the Report.

During consideration of this section:

Mr Savage declared an interest

10.45am Mr Irwin joined the meeting

Mr Irwin and Mr T Clarke declared an interest as local government councillors

Before leaving the meeting, Mr Molloy proposed an amendment to paragraph 26 which relates to the “Summary of the draft Welfare of Animals Bill as presented to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Committee stage” section of the Report.

10.56am Mr Molloy left the meeting

10.56am Mr McCarthy joined the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that, subject to an amendment being made to paragraph 14, it is content with the Recommendations section of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Introduction section of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that, subject to an amendment being made to paragraph 26, it is content with the Summary of the draft Welfare of Animals Bill as presented to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Committee stage section of the Report.
Agreed: Members agreed the Summary of Consideration and Agreed Amendments section of the report.

During consideration of this section:

11.04am Mr Beggs joined the meeting

The meeting adjourned at 11.06

The meeting resumed at 11.41 with the following members present:

Mr Moutray, Mr Beggs, Mr Bradley, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke, Mr Doherty, Mr Gibson, Mr McCarthy, Mr Savage.

The Clerk presented the amendments to the report.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it is content with the amendments made to the report.

The following members declared an interest as local government councilors:

Mr Beggs, Mr T Clarke, Mr W Clarke

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Clause by Clause Scrutiny section of the Report.
Agreed: Members agreed that, in relation to today’s meeting, an unapproved version of the Minutes of Proceedings and Hansard transcript will be included in the appendices of the Report.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that its Report on the Dogs (Amendment) Bill should be laid in the Business Office and that it should be printed.

The Chairperson stated that the laying of the Report and ordering to print results in the end of the Committee stage of the Dogs (Amendment) Bill.

5. Matters Arising in Relation to the Welfare of Animals Bill

The Committee noted correspondence issued since the meeting of 16 November 2010.

6. Clause by Clause consideration of the Welfare of Animals Bill

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting
Colette McMaster - Assistant Secretary;
Kate Davey - Principal Officer;
Paddy McGuckian - Divisional Veterinary Officer); and
Andrew Kell - Deputy Principal

Clause 5 – Prohibited Procedures

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would defer further consideration of clause 5 until the issue on tail docking has been resolved.

Clause 6 – Docking of Dogs

The Chairperson reminded members of the current position on this clause.

The Department briefed the Committee in relation to tabled correspondence.

Members put questions on this clause to the Departmental officials.

11.55am Mr Irwin joined the meeting

Mr. W Clarke proposed the following:

That this Committee is content with the Department’s proposed amendment to Clause 6 of the Welfare of Animals Bill.

Question put

That this amendment be made.

The Committee divided. Ayes 4; Noes 6.

AYES

Mr W Clarke, Mr Bradley, Mr Doherty, Mr McCarthy

NOES

Mr T Clarke, Mr Moutray, Mr Beggs, Mr Gibson, Mr Irwin, Mr Savage

The proposal fell

Mr T Clarke proposed the following

That the Committee seeks to amend the bill in order that it reflect the English model, with the incorporation of the controls that were presented by the Department at the meeting of 16 November 2010.

Question put

The Committee divided. Ayes 6; Noes 3.

AYES

Mr T Clarke, Mr Moutray, Mr Beggs, Mr Gibson, Mr Irwin, Mr Savage

NOES

Mr W Clarke, Mr Doherty, Mr McCarthy

Question put and agreed to.

12.01pm Mr Irwin left the meeting

Clause 12 – Licensing or registration of activities involving animals

The Department briefed the Committee on this clause.

12.05pm Mr McCarthy left the meeting

Agreed: The Committee deferred consideration of this clause until the formal clause by clause scrutiny of the bill.

Clause 17 – Powers in relation to animals in distress
Clause 29 – Power of Councils to prosecute
Clause 45 – Inspectors

The Departmental officials presented to Committee on these three clauses, including a proposed amendment to clause 45.

Members put questions on these clauses to the Departmental officials.

12.11pm Mr Bradley left the meeting

Agreed: The Clerk would write to the Department in relation to the assurances laid out in the Department’s letter of 23 November 2010. A more firm confirmation of these assurances will be requested from the Minister.

Agreed: The Clerk will engage with NILGA in respect of the above.

7. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, 30 November in Room 30 at 10:30pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 12.21pm

Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

Date

16 November 10 / Menu