NI Assembly Banner

Homepage > The Work of the Assembly > Committees > Agriculture and Rural Development > Minutes

COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2011
ROOM 30 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr Stephen Moutray MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Simpson Gibson MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr George Savage MLA
Mr Francie Molloy MLA

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

Apologies:
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA

1.30pm The meeting commenced in Public Session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Minutes of 1 February 2011

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 1 February 2011

3. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 1 February 2011.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 1 February 2011.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding Botulism

Agreed: Members agreed to invite VetNI to give evidence to the Committee at the next meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the concerns expressed by VetNI be included in the response from the Committee to the Department’s consultation on the Budget.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to contact A Moore to meet with the Committee on Wednesday 9 February 2011.

Mr Bradley declared an interest as honorary member of VetNI

1.34pm Mr W Clarke joined the meeting

1.55pm Mr Molloy and Mr Bradley left the meeting

4. Presentation Price Waterhouse Cooper: Review of Decisions of Single Farm Payments

The following witnesses joined the meeting:

Wendy Johnston - Grade 5 - Assistant Secretary;

Kevin Murphy - Grade 7, Principal Officer;

Ian McConnell - PWC

Stephen Boyd – PWC

Kim McCourt - PWC

The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.

Following the presentation, Members put questions.

During questions the following members declared an interest:

Mr Beggs; Mr Savage; Mr Gibson; Mr Bradley; Mr McCarthy; Mr Irwin

2.09pm Mr W Clarke left the meeting

2.31pm Mr Bradley rejoined the meeting

2.32pmMr McCarthy left the meeting

2.40pm Mr Moutray joined the meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed to pass on any comments to the Clerk who will forward them on to PWC and the Department.

The witnesses left the meeting

5. Presentation Forum of Renewable Energy Development NI: Renewable Energy Industry in NI

The following witnesses joined the meeting:

Connaire McGreevy - Chair

John Kinney - Vice Chair

Peter Mulgrew - PRO

Torr Christie - Biogas expert and Forum Member

The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.

Following the presentation, Members put questions

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to NIE and the Department highlighting the concerns raised.

The witnesses left the meeting

3.26pm The committee adjourned

4.19pm The meeting resumed with the following members present:

Mr Moutray, Mr Beggs, Mr Savage, Mr Irwin, Mr McCarthy,

Mr Bradley, Mr Gibson

The Committee were updated with regards to the meeting scheduled for 9 February 2011.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting scheduled for 9 February 2011 be cancelled.

6. Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster (YFCU): Current work and future of the YFCU

The following witnesses joined the meeting:

Mrs Frances Titterington- YFCU Vice President

Miss Rachel Cross- YFCU Member

Mr Joe Hawkins- CEO YFCU

The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.

Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Mr Beggs declared an interest

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to voice their disapproval of funds being cut to the YFCU and to ask her to reverse this decision. Members agreed to submit this as a response from the Committee to the Department’s consultation on the document.

The witnesses left the meeting

7. Presentation: DARD YFCU Funding

The following Officials joined the meeting:

Pauline Rooney - Grade 6, Senior Principal Officer

Steven Millar - Grade 7, Agricultural Inspector Grade I

The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.

Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Department to present on the draft budget at the next meeting.

The witnesses left the meeting

4.17pm Mr Irwin left the meeting

8. SL1: The Seed Potatoes (Crop Fees) Regulations (NI) 2011

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the department to obtain more information in relation to this legislation and to defer the decision until this information has been considered.

9. SL1: The Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011

Agreed: Members agreed that the Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011 should progress to the next legislative stage.

10. AOB

No items were raised

11. Date of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 15 February 2011.

The meeting was adjourned at 2.36pm

Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development

01 February 11/ Menu

Contact Us           Jobs            Sitemap            Links           Search            RSS Feeds