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 |
