COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 8 MARCH 2011
ROOM 30 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Stephen Moutray MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr William Irwin MLA
Mr Pat Doherty MP MLA
Mr Willie Clarke MLA
Mr Simpson Gibson MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr George Savage MLA
In attendance:
Mr Paul Carlisle (Clerk to the Committee)
Mr Mark O’Hare (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Dagmar Walgraeve (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
None
1.30pm The meeting commenced in Public Session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes of 22 February 2011
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 22 February 2011.
3. Matters arising Agreed: The Committee condemned the latest criminal attempt to introduce Brucellosis into a cattle herd in the Armagh area.
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 22 February 2011.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 22 February 2011.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to call on the Department to brief them on the CAP Disallowance issue progress report at the next meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from Mr Ian Paisley MP re. Slurry Spreading and Hedge Cutting to the Minister for Environment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward any reports compiled by the Department re. Budget 2011-15 to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
1:32pm Mr Savage joined the meeting
1.33pm Mr Doherty joined the meeting
4. Presentation Aquaculture Initiative: Future of Aquaculture Diversification in NI
The following Officials joined the meeting:
Mike Murphy, Team Leader; and
Martin Flanigan, Resource Development Officer (NI)
The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
1:36pm Mr Irwin joined the meeting
1:51pm Mr Beggs joined the meeting
1:55pm Mr Irwin left the meeting
1:58pm Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting, Mr McCarthy left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to inquire what negotiation she has had or intends to have with DAFF on Aquaculture Initiative.
The witnesses left the meeting
5. Presentation DARD: Felling of Trees
The following Officials joined the meeting:
John Joe O'Boyle - Grade 6, Director of Forestry;
Stuart Morwood - Grade 7, Director of Woodland Development and Strategies; and
Michael McCann – DP, Deputy Principal
The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
2:07pm Mr Bradley left the meeting
2:08pm Mr Irwin left the meeting
2.20pm Mr Moutray left the meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed to leave this item for the moment and move on to agenda item 9
9. SR 25/2011 The Fishing Boats (Electronic Transmission of Fishing Activities Data) Scheme (NI) 2011
Agreed: The Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Fishing Boats (Electronic Transmission of Fishing Activities Data) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2011and recommends that it be confirmed by the Assembly.
10. SR 27/2011 The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011
Agreed: The Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011and has no objection to the rule.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to return to agenda item 5
5. Presentation DARD: Felling of Trees
2:33pm Mr Clarke left the meeting,
The meeting became inquorate
2:35pm Mr Moutray joined the meeting
The meeting became quorate
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.
6. Presentation DARD: Forestry Land Byelaws
The following Officials joined the meeting:
John Joe O'Boyle - Grade 6, Director of Forestry;
Stuart Morwood - Grade 7, Director of Woodland Development and Strategies; and
Michael McCann – DP, Deputy Principal
The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
1:55pm Mr Bradley left the meeting
2:00pm Mr Irwin left the meeting
2.03pm Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting
Mr Beggs declared an interest
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.
The witnesses left the meeting
7. Presentation DARD: SL1 - Seed Potatoes (Tuber Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011
The following Officials joined the meeting:
Renee McDowell –DP, Deputy Principal
Jim Crummie – DP, Agriculture Inspector Grade II
Colin Wilson - Staff Officer, Farm Policy Branch
The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
2:47pm Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting, Mr Beggs left the meeting
2:50pm Mr Bradley rejoined the meeting
Agreed: Members agreed that the Seed Potatoes (Tuber Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011should progress to the next legislative stage.
8. Pre-consultation – Draft DARD Audit of Inequalities and Action Plan
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.
11. AOB
Mr Irwin raised the issue of Department bids for hardship payments to help the NI growers who lost crops during the inclement weather.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request that funding for hardship payments be included in future monitoring bids.
2:59pm Mr Savage left the meeting
3:00pm Mr Beggs left the meeting
12. Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 15 March 2011.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.01pm
Mr Stephen Moutray
Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development
22 February 11 / Menu |
