MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER 2001
HELD IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Committee Forward Planning
2. Committee Inquiry into the Livestock and Meat Commission
3. Minutes of Proceedings on 21 September 2001
4. Matters arising from the meeting on 21 September 2001
5. Any Other Business
6. PSA/ Prog for Government /DARD Key Challenges
7. Processed Animal Protein regulations
8. Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations
9. Suckler Cow Premium Regulations/Beef Special Premium Regulations
10. Farm Subsidies (Review of Decisions) Regulations
11. SR 2001 No.312
12. Potatoes Originating In Germany Regulations
13. Draft Rendering (Fluid Treatment) Order
14. Plant Health (Amendment) Order
15. Rural Development (Financial Assistance) Regulations
16. Foot and Mouth Disease (Controlled Area) (No.5) Order
17. Strangford Lough (Prohibition of Fishing for Shellfish) Regulations
18. Reports Of The Examiner Of Statutory Rules
19. Any Other Business - continued
20. Date of Next Meeting
Present:
Dr IRK Paisley MP MEP(Chairman)
Mr G Savage
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Dallat
Mr B Douglas
Mr D Ford
Mr G Kane
Mr I Paisley Jnr
In attendance:
Mr P Moore
Mr B Kennedy
Mr J McCourt
Mr E Vance
The Chairperson called the meeting to order in closed session at 9.39am.
1. Committee Forward Planning.
1.1. Members considered changes to planned Committee business in the light of representations from the Minister and other information.
Mr Armstrong and Mr Savage attended the meeting at 9.44am.
Mr Kane attended the meeting at 9.45am.
Resolved: that the Committee should seek written updates on forthcoming agenda items where possible rather than routinely calling officials to meetings. The Clerk was instructed to rearrange future business as appropriate, and have a revised meetings programme issued to members.
2. Committee Inquiry into the Livestock and Meat Commission.
2.1. Members considered the handling and publication of the Committee's Report of its Inquiry into the Livestock and Meat Commission and a related draft press notice.
Resolved: that the Report would remain embargoed until the commencement of the plenary debate in the Assembly on Tuesday 9 October 2001.
Resolved: that the draft press notice was agreed and that the Clerks should issue advance embargoed copies of the Report and press notice to relevant media contacts and copies of the report to witnesses on 5 October 2001, and that agricultural correspondents should be invited to the debate. A further general issue of the press notice should take place on Monday 8 October 2001.
Mr Ford attended the meeting at 9.52am. Mr Dallat left the meeting at 9.54am.
3. Minutes of Proceedings on 21 September 2001.
3.1. Resolved: that the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 21 September 2001 were approved.
The Chairperson left the meeting at 9.58am and the Deputy Chairperson took the Chair.
4. Matters arising from the meeting on 21 September 2001.
4.1. Correspondence: Members noted:
- a letter from the Minister's Private Secretary about a vacancy on the Board of the Livestock and Meat Commission;
The Chairperson returned to the meeting and assumed the Chair at 10.00am.
- a response from the Chairperson drawing the Minister's attention to the recommendations on appointments in the Committee's Report of its Inquiry into the Livestock and Meat Commission; and
- a letter to the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading seeking an update on his undertaking to let the Committee know the result of his investigation of cartel allegations made by the National Beef Association.
The Chairperson declared the meeting open to the public at 10.05am.
5. Any Other Business.
5.1. Brucellosis Outbreak at the Agricultural Research Institute . Members noted a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General that was issued on 27 September 2001, and that the Public Accounts Committee is to issue a report.
Resolved: that the Clerk will approach the Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee with a view to obtaining an advance copy of their recommendations.
5.2. Rural Innovation & Research Partnership (Northern Ireland) Ltd - seminar. Members noted that papers were available in the Committee office relating to a seminar held at QUB by this organisation on Wednesday 19 September 2001.
5.3. Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector. Members considered the Department . Finance and Personnel's request for comments on a consultation document on this subject, and correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Resolved: that as the subject matter is not exclusively related to DARD's work, the Committee would note the consultation document, but make no specific reply to it.
5.4. Conference - Congress of European Agriculture. Members noted that three of their number had attended the seminar on Agricultural Tenancies at the Waterfront Hall on 26 September 2001.
Resolved: that relevant seminar papers would be copied to members who did not attend.
Messrs Armstrong and Savage left the meeting at 10.15am.
5.5. Members also noted:
- A UK Government briefing paper about Foot and Mouth Disease;
- A letter and newsletter from the Volunteer Development Agency about the International Year of Volunteers; and
- A response from DARD on a proposed DNA-based Biopsytec system for genetic traceability of animals and animal products.
6. Public Service Agreement/ Programme for Government /DARD Key Challenges.
6.1. The Chairperson welcomed DARD officials Mr Jim Ditchfield and Mr Tom Rodgers to the meeting at 10.21am. Mr Ditchfield made an opening statement that included reference to the background to quarterly reports, and the impact of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks.
6.2. The officials then answered questions from members. Mr Ditchfield advised that a draft Service Delivery Agreeement would be put before the Committee before Christmas and undertook to include more specific information in future updates, and to write to the Committee with an update on the State Aids position relating to the Beef Quality Initiative.
6.3. The Chairperson thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 10.56am.
Mr Dallat returned to the meeting, and Mr Bradley and Mr Ford left the meeting at 10.57am.
7. Processed Animal Protein regulations.
7.1. The Chairperson welcomed DARD officials Mr Wesley Shannon and Ms Sandra Dunbar to the meeting at 10.58am. Mr Shannon apologised for his late response to earlier enquiries from the Committee in relation to EU feed controls.
7.2. Mr Shannon outlined the nature and purpose of the regulations and he and Ms Dunbar answered questions from members.
7.3. Mr Shannon confirmed that the proposed rule was necessary to implement EC legislation but assured the Committee that DARD was implementing to the minimum requirements i.e. no 'gold plating' of the regulations. Members deliberated.
7.4. Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the rule on the basis that it will implement the requirements of the EC legislation to the minimum extent necessary for compliance with that legislation.
7.5. The Chairperson thanked the officials, who left the meeting at 11.21am.
8. Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
8.1. The Chairperson welcomed DARD Rivers Agency officials Messrs Jack Allister and Roger Thompson, and Ms Norma Taylor to the meeting at 11.22am.
Mr Kane left the meeting at 11.23am and returned at 11.25am.Mr Ford returned to the meeting at 11.27am.
8.2. Mr Allister explained that these were consolidating regulations with the addition of provision for an appeals mechanism and new requirements to publish decisions. They also give legislative effect to existing administrative procedures.
8.3. The officials then answered questions from members. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the Rule.
8.4. The Chairperson thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 11.49am.
9. Suckler Cow Premium Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and the Beef Special Premium Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
9.1. The Chairperson welcomed DARD officials Mr Michael Thompson, Ms Siobhan Bowers and Ms Lynda Wilton to the meeting at 11.50am and invited members to declare any interest. Mr Douglas and Mr Kane made declarations of interest in respect of these proposed rules.
9.2. Mr Thompson explained the rules, regulation by regulation, and he and his colleagues answered members' questions and undertook to take back members' views on the possiblility of regular distribution of animal records printouts to farmers, and to provide further information on the numbers of suckler cow scheme fraud offences brought to court, and on the length of time farmers are penalised for overgrazing
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the Suckler Cow Premium Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 12.09pm.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the Beef Special Premium Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
9.3. The Chairperson thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 12.19pm.
10. Farm Subsidies (Review of Decisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
Resolved: that this Rule would be considered at the Committee's next meeting on 12 October 2001.
11. SR 2001 No.312 - Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
11.1. The Committee considered the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule.
12. Potatoes Originating In Germany Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
12.1. The Committee considered the proposed Potatoes Originating In Germany Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the rule.
13. Draft Rendering (Fluid Treatment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
13.1. The Committee noted this proposed rule, which does not require to be laid before the Assembly.
14. Plant Health (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
14.1. The Committee considered the proposed Plant Health (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the rule.
15. Rural Development (Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
15.1. Members were reminded that the Committee had considered the proposed Rural Development (Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001on 6 July 2001 and was content for DARD to proceed to make the rule following further advice from DARD in relation to appeals provision. Subsequent correspondence from DARD indicated certain difficulties in incorporating appeals mechanisms in the rule, but gave assurances that appeals provision would otherwise be made.
15.2. Resolved: that, in the light of the Minister's assurances on appeals, the Committee remains content for DARD to proceed to make the rule and endorses the Chairperson's letter to the Minister to that effect.
16. Foot and Mouth Disease (Controlled Area) (No.5) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
16.1. The Committee noted this proposed rule, which does not require to be laid before the Assembly.
17. Strangford Lough (Prohibition of Fishing for Shellfish) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
17.1. Members noted the result of DARD consultations on this rule.
Resolved: that the Committee's earlier agreement that DARD should proceed to make the rule, still stands.
18. Reports Of The Examiner Of Statutory Rules.
18.1. Members noted reports, of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, dated 4 September 2001 and 28 September 2001 relating to seven Statutory Rules that had been considered by the Committee.
19. Any Other Business - continued.
19.2. DARD Vision Group Report. Members received copies of the report, issued on 4 October 2001.
Resolved: that the Committee will seek the assistance of the Assembly Research Services in its consideration of this report.
Mr Savage returned to the meeting at 12.27pm.
20. Date of Next Meeting.
20.1. Resolved: that the next meeting will take place on Friday 12 October 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings, at 9.30am.
The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 12.28pm.
George Savage
Deputy Chairperson