MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE
COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER 2001
HELD IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
1. Minutes of Proceedings on 19 October 2001
2. Matters arising from the meeting on 19 October 2001
3. Welfare of Farmed Animals (Amendment) Regulations
4. Beef National Envelope Funds
5. Draft Code of Practice for Farm Subsidy Payments
6. New Targeting Social Need (TSN) Policy
7. Equality Scheme
8. EU Structural Funds
9. DARD 2002/2003 Budget Bids
10. Any Other Business
11. Date of Next Meeting
Present:
Dr IRK Paisley MP MEP(Chairperson)
Mr G Savage (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr B Douglas
Mr G Kane
Mr G McHugh
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Dallat
Mr D Ford
Mr I Paisley Jnr
In attendance:
Mr P Moore
Mr B Kennedy
Mr J McCourt
Miss N McCourt
The Chairperson called the meeting to order in public session at 10.06 am.
1. Minutes of Proceedings on 19 October 2001.
1.1. Resolved: that the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 19 October 2001 were approved.
2. Matters arising from the meeting on 19 October 2001.
2.1. Correspondence. Members noted letters to the Examiner of Statutory Rules about delegation of functions and to DARD about representations to EC re sheepmeat reform.
2.2. Women in Agriculture Graduation Celebration and Brochure Launch. Members considered the invitations that they had received to attend the launch on 2 November 2001.
Resolved: that the Clerk was instructed to respond on behalf of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Messrs Armstrong, Douglas and Kane accepting the invitation subject to any requirement to attend Assembly business on that day.
3. Welfare of Farmed Animals (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001. Members considered the responses to DARD consultation on this proposed Rule and deliberated on issues relating to beak-trimming and applicability to establishments with fewer than 350 laying hens.Resolved: that DARD will be asked to clarify the legislative proposals in relation to these issues, and that officials will be invited to attend the Committee meeting on 9 November 2001.
Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 10.27am.
4. Beef National Envelope Funds.
4.1. Members considered the results of DARD consultation on proposals for spending of BNE funds in 2002.
4.2. Resolved: that the Committee would write to DARD giving preliminary views supporting the Ulster Farmers Union view on the allocation of funds and taking the view that there should not be a link between beef quality and BNE funds, particularly if this link related to the classification of carcases.
5. Draft Code of Practice for Farm Subsidy Payments.
5.1. Members considered the results of the DARD consultation exercise.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to DARD reiterating members' disappointment with, and seeking a written explanation for, the lack of provision for a refund of the £100 fee where the independent panel recommendation is in favour of the applicant, but the Minister's subsequent decision is not, in the related Farm Subsidies (Review of Decisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
Resolved: that DARD would be reminded of the commitment given verbally by officials on 12 October 2001 to review the operation of the appeals process with a view to reduction of the fee for Stage 3 to £50. DARD would also be asked to confirm that a review will take place and when.
Resolved: that DARD would be asked to provide a final draft of the Code of Practice before publication, indicating where it differs from the earlier draft seen by the Committee on 6 July 2001, and explaining why those changes were made.
6. New Targeting Social Need (TSN) Policy.
6.1. Members considered a written update from DARD on new TSN.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to ask DARD to submit its 2001-2003 Action Plan and to provide a progress report on its current Action Plan. The letter would also convey the Committee's concern and seek comments on, the apparent drive to eliminate milk quotas, which could have a severe impact on TSN areas.
7. Equality Scheme.
7.1. Members noted a written update from the Department on its Equality Scheme.
8. EU Structural Funds.
8.1. Members noted a written update from the Department on the Peace II Programme, the Northern Ireland Leader + Programme, the Northern Ireland/Ireland INTERREG III Programme and the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity.
8.2. Resolved: that DARD would be asked to submit further information on its input to the draft INTERREG III programme to the Committee as soon as possible.
8.3. Resolved: that DARD would be asked to advise the outcome of its selection of local partnerships in relation to the LEADER+ Programme, together with explanations of the criteria used in selection and how they were applied.
9. DARD 2002/2003 Budget Bids.
9.1. Members deliberated on a draft response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel on the draft budget as it affects DARD, and agreed amendments.
Mr Armstrong returned to the meeting at 11.47am.
Resolved: that the draft response, as amended, be sent to the Committee for Finance and Personnel as the Committee's views and comments, and copied to the Minister.
Resolved: that the Clerk was instructed to prepare a draft speaking note, for circulation to members for comment and agreement for the Chairperson's use in plenary session on 5 November 2001.
10. Any Other Business.
10.1. Fixed Quota Allocations (Fishing). Members noted a DARD proposal to consult on the management of UK fishing quotas and deliberated.
Resolved: that DARD would be asked to provide the results of its consultation and an explanation as to how, and to what extent, the post-consultation arrangements will be able to ensure that local views are taken into consideration.
10.2. Correspondence from the Ulster Farmers Union. Members considered a number of items of correspondence submitted by the UFU on Prescription-only Medicines, Land Management Contracts, and Milk Price Concerns.
Resolved: that DARD would be asked for more information on proposed requirements for all medicines for food-producing animals to be prescribed by veterinary surgeons; their implications for farmers; and that officials would be asked to meet the Committee on 9 November 2001 to discuss.
10.3. Invitation from the Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science (NIIAS). Members noted an invitation from NIIAS to their annual conference and gala dinner on 21 November 2001.
Resolved: that the Committee office would liaise with members and make arrangements for those who wish to attend.
10.4. Letter from the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Scallop Association. Members noted a copy of a letter that had been sent to the Minister about a possible crisis in the scallop fishing industry following the detection of a toxin in sampled scallop. The Committee deliberated.
Resolved: that the Chairperson would write to the Minister seeking information and her plans for action on the matter, and that a copy of the letter to the Minister would be sent to the Association.
10.5. E-mail from Friends of the Earth. Members noted an e-mail request for Mr Charles Secrett, their Executive Director, to meet the Committee to discuss the DARD Vision Report and the impact of WTO rules on Northern Ireland's family farms. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee did not want to duplicate the Minister's current consultation on the Vision Group Report and that it would not, therefore, meet with Mr Secrett. The Committee response would suggest that his views should be forwarded to DARD as part of the Minister's consultation.
10.6. DHSSPS Corporate Plan 2001-2004. Members noted that a copy of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's Corporate Plan 2001-2004 was available for reference in the Committee office.
10.7. Quota Regimes. Mr Kane raised a concern about what he described as quota 'ring-fencing' and the differences in how suckler-cow and milk quota regimes were operated in Northern Ireland compared to Great Britain.
Resolved: that DARD officials would be invited to a future meeting to explain the operation of quota to members.
11. Date of Next Meeting.
11.1. Resolved: that the next meeting will take place on Friday 9 November 2001 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings, at 10.00am.
The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 12.09pm.
Ian R K Paisley
Chairperson