MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TUESDAY 29 AUGUST 2000
HELD IN ROOM, 152 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Inquiry - The particular Circumstances faced by the Pig and Beef Industry
2. The Committee's first Report(99/00 session)
3. Date of Next Meeting
Present:
Dr IRK Paisley MP MEP MLA (Chairman)
Mr G Savage MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Mr B Armstrong MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr J Dallat MLA
Mr B Douglas MLA
Mr G Kane MLA
Mr I Paisley Jnr. MLA
Apologies:
Mr D Ford MLA
Mr G McHugh MLA
Mr F Molloy MLA
In attendance:
Mr M Wilson
Mr P Moore
Mr E Vance
The Chairman brought the meeting to order at 13.30.
1. Inquiry - The particular Circumstances faced by the Pigs and Beef Industries
(a) The Committee deliberated on the Minister's unavailability to give evidence on the three Fridays offered to her.
Resolved: That the Committee had a duty to meet with the Minister before finalising the reports and would therefore arrange an additional meeting on a day other than Friday, at which officials would also be invited to participate.
Resolved: That the Chairman to write to the Minister asking for her availability between 27 September and 5 October for this Inquiry and her availability on any Committee day of business over the next three months should her presence be thought necessary.
(b) The Committee deliberated on the progress of the Inquiry and the general principles being established which will form the basis of the report.
Resolved: That the Committee was satisfied with the Inquiry's general direction and that further evidence should be held on 8 September, 22 September and a date to be agreed with the Minister. Formal invitations should issue to the Ulster Farmers' Union, the NI Agricultural Producers' Association, the NI Meat Exporters Association, the Livestock and Meat Commission, the National Beef Association and the United Pig Producers co-operative.
Resolved: That the meetings should be held in the Senate Chamber but that the Chairman should write to the Speaker regarding the provision of tables in the Chamber for members' papers.
(c) The Chairman advised the Committee that a letter had issued to Malton Bacon Factory Ltd. seeking the additional information promised by Max Hilliard during evidence taken on 9 June but that no reply had been received.
Resolved: That the information was important in the context of the Inquiry and that the Chairman should issue a strongly worded reminder to Mr Hilliard.
Top2. The Committee's first Report (99/00 session)
The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: That the Committee Chairman should put down a motion seeking an Assembly debate and its endorsement of the Report's recommendations. This debate should not take place until the Department's response to the Report had been received and sufficient time had been allowed for consideration of this response.
Top3. Date of Next meeting
Resolved: That the next formal Committee meeting would take place on Friday 8 September at 09.30 in the Senate Chamber but that members would attend an informal planning meeting with Department officials at 10.00 on Thursday 8 September in the Long Gallery.