MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2002
HELD IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
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 G McHugh
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Apologies:
Mr M Murphy
In attendance:
Mr P Moore
Mr B Kennedy
Mr J McCourt
Mr J Small
The Chairman declared the meeting open in private session at 10.02am.
1. Minutes of proceedings on 8 February 2002.
Resolved: that the draft Minutes of Proceedings of 1 February 2002 were approved.
2. Matters arising from the meeting on 8 February 2002.
2.1. Correspondence. The Committee noted that copies of the Chairman's letters to the potato pre-packers; to the Minister about the potato industry, the launch of the 'Good Farming Practice' document, and the forthcoming meeting with the Committee on 22 February were e-mailed to members. Members were advised that, in response to the Committee's letter, the Minister had sought members' agreement to commence her scheduled session with the Committee on Friday 22 February 2002 at 9.30am, ending at 11.00am to enable her to fulfil another engagement. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee meeting on 22 February 2002 would start at 9.15am sharp, with the session with the Minister commencing at 9.30am, ending at 11.00am.
2.2. Fisheries Issues. At the Chairman's invitation, the Clerk briefed members on the background and issues relating to discussions on 8 February 2002 with the fishermen's representatives, and subsequent correspondence with them. The Chairman reported the outcome of the meeting that he and the Deputy Chairman had had with the Minister and DARD senior officials on Tuesday 12 February 2002, when they admitted that DARD had made a mistake in the guidance issued to fishermen in relation to the fishing vessels decommissioning scheme.
Messrs Douglas, Armstrong, Paisley Jnr, and McHugh attended the meeting at 10.10am, 10.13am, 10.16am and 10.17am respectively.
2.3. Members noted the news that a Kilkeel fishing boat was missing with three family members aboard and expressed hopes that they would be found safe and well.
2.4. The Chairman referred to representations, by the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd. (ANIFPO), seeking the Committee's 'sponsorship' of an amendment to the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2001 to remove Article 12 relating to purchase of a replacement vessel. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that, as the Committee is not empowered to amend legislation that has been made, nor to make regulations, the Clerk was instructed to write to ANIFPO to that effect.
2.5. Members discussed issues raised at last week's meeting, including matters raised by ANIFPO relating to allegations of the possibility of the Committee having been misled or misinformed by officials with regard to the decommissioning scheme. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the draft letter to the Minister, with agreed amendments, was approved, inviting the officials concerned to meet the Committee on Friday 22 February 2002 and advising that the meeting would be held in private session, with DARD senior officers Messrs Peter Small and Pat Toal invited to attend as observers.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to ANIFPO for further specific details of interaction with DARD officials on this matter.
Resolved: that a draft letter to the Minister about different treatment of the Northern Ireland fishing fleet compared to other UK decommissioning schemes; the methodology used in assessing bids for decommissioning of vessels; consideration given to compensation/tie-up scheme; offset of bad-weather tie-up against the period of cod recovery plan closures; easier access to social security benefits; and proposals for meetings between scientists and fishermen, was approved for issue.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10.55am.
The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 10.58am. Messrs Armstrong, Bradley, Dallat, Douglas, Ford, Kane McHugh, Paisley Jnr and Savage were present.
3. DARD Public Service Agreement - Update.
3.1. The Chairman welcomed DARD officials Messrs Jim Ditchfield and Tom Rodgers to the meeting. At the Chairman's invitation, Mr Ditchfield made a brief opening statement, referring to the paper before the Committee and the inclusion of specific targets on subsidy payments and food safety.
3.2. The officials then answered questions from members on matters including subsidy payments delays, BSE testing and low-incidence status, eradication of brucellosis, rural proofing, organic farming, Beef Quality Initiative, Countryside Management Scheme, cross-border co-operation on animal health, form-filling difficulties and unauthorised livestock movements.
3.3. The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 11.33am.
3.4. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee is content to seek the next update from DARD after 31 March 2002.
Mr Kane left the meeting at 11.34am.
4. Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 - Proposal.
4.1. The Chairman welcomed DARD officials Messrs Michael Thompson and Philip McMurray to the meeting at 11.34am and invited members to declare any interest they may have in the subject matter of the Regulations. Messrs Bradley, Douglas, Ford and McHugh declared an interest.
4.2. Mr Thompson referred to the delay in bringing the draft rule forward and the urgency to proceed in order to facilitate early payments under these regulations. The officials answered questions from members, covering matters including stocking density; the determination of the rate in relation to the areas involved and the available budget; the exercise of discretion by the Department; variations from the GB equivalent legislation; and the meaning of cross-border holdings. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee was content for DARD to proceed to make this Rule.
4.3. The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 11.57am.
5. Diseases of Fish (Control)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 - proposal.
5.1. The Chairman welcomed DARD officials Mrs Hilda Hagan and Mr Kenny Parker to the meeting at 11.58am. At the Chairman's invitation Mrs Hagan explained the regulations and their purpose in relation to slaughter, and timing of slaughter, of affected fish.
5.2. Officials then answered members' questions on issues including testing for diseases; transmission of fish diseases; lack of adverse implications for human consumption; implementation of corresponding legislation elsewhere; DARD's policy not to compensate in such circumstances and the effect of the timing of slaughter on the stability of the market. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee was content for DARD to proceed to make this Rule.
5.3. The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 12.16pm.
6. SR 6/02 - Fisheries and Aquaculture Structures(Grants) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
6.1. The Committee, having examined these regulations in draft on 30 March 2001 and 6 April 2001, formally considered this Rule.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Fisheries and Aquaculture Structures(Grants) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report, has no objection to the Rule.
7. SR 20/02-Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
7.1. The Committee, having examined these regulations in draft on 25 January 2001, formally considered this Rule.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report, has no objection to the Rule.
8. SR 21/02-Plant Protection Products (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
8.1. The Committee, having examined these regulations in draft on 25 January 2001, formally considered this Rule.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Plant Protection Products (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report, has no objection to the Rule.
9. The Potatoes Originating in Egypt (Amendment No.3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 - proposal.
9.1. Members considered this proposed rule to implement EC controls against the spread of potato brown rot and to increase inspection fees. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would ask officials to meet the Committee as soon as possible to discuss this proposed rule.
10. Any Other Business.
10.1. Equine Breeding Herd and Reproductive Technology Centre. Members noted DARD's consultation on the future use of these assets transferred to the Department from the Irish Sport Horse Genetic Testing Unit Ltd. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would seek a report from DARD on the consultation results when available, and would consider a meeting with officials to discuss DARD's proposals for action.
10.2. Committee of the Centre European Inquiry. Members noted DARD's response in relation to the percentage of DARD's budget that is European funding and details of Minister's attendance at, and involvement in, meetings of the European Council of Ministers.
10.3. Review of New Procedures for Planning Appeals. Members noted a letter and questionnaire from the Planning Appeals Commission inviting participation in this review of the operation of new appeals procedures introduced in 2000. The Committee agreed that it need not issue a corporate response. Members did, however, express interest in the operation of the planning process. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Clerk was instructed to write to the Committee for the Environment to register this Committee's interest in any deliberations on the planning process.
Mr Bradley and Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting at 12.26pm.
10.4. DARD Review of the Handling of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak. Members noted the Minister's reply to the Committee's enquiry (and an associated DARD press notice) about the Terms of Reference for the Department's review and that PriceWaterhouseCoopers had been appointed to undertake that review, for completion by 30 April 2002.
Mr Bradley returned to the meeting at 12.27pm.
10.5. Review of Public Administration - Terms of Reference. Members considered correspondence from the First and Deputy First Ministers seeking views on the proposed Terms of Reference for this review.
Resolved: that the Committee would consider this issue at next week's meeting.
11. Matters arising from the meeting on 8 February 2002 - continued.
11.1. Select Committee on the Constitution - Inquiry into Devolution. Members considered briefing prepared by the Clerk, including consideration of the relevance, to the Committee's remit, of the Select Committee Terms of Reference and noted that the Minister has been invited to give oral evidence. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would submit a copy of its response to the Committee of the Centre's European Inquiry as input in respect of the Select Committee Inquiry's third Term of Reference - 'European Union'.
Mr Paisley Jnr returned to the meeting at 12.29pm.
11.2. DARD's Rural Development Programme. Members were issued with a personal copy of DARD's video on the Rural Development Programme, that had been provided by DARD officials at the request of members.
12. Date of Next Meeting.
12.1. Resolved: that the next meeting of the Committee will be held on Friday 22 February 2002 at 9.15am in room 135 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 12.30pm.
Ian R K Paisley
Chairman