COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 2011
ROOM 30 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Stephen Moutray MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Francie Molloy MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Simpson Gibson MLA

In attendance:
Mr Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mr George Savage MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA

1.33pmThe meeting commenced in Closed Session.

1. Welfare of Animals Bill – Legal Advice

The Committee considered legal advice in respect of its proposed amendments to the Bill.

1.34pmMr Irwin joined the meeting

1.35pmMr Doherty joined the meeting

1.38pmThe meeting moved into Public Session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to send its condolences to Mr T Clarke and Mr Savage on the death of their respective mothers.

2. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

3. Minutes of 14 December 2010

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 14 December 2010.

4. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 14 December 2010.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 14 December 2010.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would forward relevant correspondence to the Department for a response.

Agreed: The Committee agreed its response to items of correspondence that were received from The Kennel Club and D Robinson in relation to the Welfare of Animals Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Young Farmers’ Club of Ulster and from the Forum of Renewable Energy Development in Northern Ireland to make presentations to the Committee on 08 February 2011.

Agreed: The Committee considered an item of correspondence from B Rodgers and M Shannon. It was agreed that the issues raised in the correspondence are not within the Committee’s remit but that it should be forwarded to the Audit office.

5. Welfare of Animals Bill – Committee Amendment

The Clerk briefed the Committee.

1.56pmMr Doherty left the meeting

2.02pmThe meeting moved into Closed Session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that this item be deferred to the next meeting.

2.23pmThe meeting moved into Public Session.

Mr Moutray left the meeting

6. Presentation - DARD: Budget 2011 – 2015

The following Departmental Officials joined the meeting:

• Gerry Lavery - Acting Permanent Secretary;
• John Smith - Acting Grade 3 - Under Secretary; and
• Jim McGuinness-  Grade 7 - Principal Officer .   

The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.

Following the presentation, Members put questions.

2.38pmMr Moutray re-joined the meeting

2.50pmMr W Clarke joined the meeting

3.25pmMr Irwin left the meeting

Mr Beggs declared an interest in relation to a family farm.

The officials left the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would write to the Department on a number of issues.

Agreed: The Department would provide further information on a number of issues.

7. Pre-Consultation - Draft DARD Equality Scheme

Agreed: The Committee was content that the matter moves to consultation provided that the department returns to the Committee with a detailed analysis of consultation responses.

8. Pre-Consultation: Aquatic Animal Health (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content that this matter should move to consultation stage, provided that the Department returns with a detailed analysis of consultation responses.

9. SL1 - Biomass Processing Challenge Fund (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland 2011

Agreed: Members agreed that Biomass Processing Challenge Fund (Amendment) Regulations Northern Ireland 2011 should progress to the next legislative stage.

10. European Issues Report to OFMDFM Committee

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk would write to the Department in respect of European funding.

11. AOB

Agreed: The Committee agreed preliminary arrangements for its visits to the proposed A5, the Ports and Brussels.

No other items were raised

12. Date of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 25 January 2011.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.37pm

Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

14 December 10/ Menu