Apologies: Mr PJ Bradley
Mr D Ford

In attendance: Mr P Moore
Mr B Kennedy
Mr J McCourt
Mr J Small

The Chairman declared the meeting open in public session at 10.05am.

1. Minutes of Proceedings on 22 February 2002.

Resolved: that the draft Minutes of Proceedings of 22 February 2002 were approved.

2. Matters arising from the meeting on 22 February 2002:

2.1. Correspondence. Members noted that that a copy of the Committee's response to DARD on its Service Delivery Agreement, and copies of letters to the Fish Producer organisations had been e-mailed to them.

2.2. The Potatoes Originating in Egypt (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. Members noted the DARD official's response confirming that Egyptian potato imports to the Republic (exceptional) are inspected and samples tested for latent brown rot disease.

2.3. Early Retirement Scheme for Farmers. Members considered the possibility of the Committee bringing forward a Bill on this subject, in the light of procedural advice obtained by the Clerk and noted that legal advice had also been sought on their behalf. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Principal Clerk of Bills would be invited to meet the Committee on 8 March 2002 to discuss Committee Bill procedures.

2.4. The Chairman advised members that the Speaker had informed him that resources were available for Committees to bring forward Bills.

Mr Douglas attended the meeting at 10.11am. The Chairman declared the meeting to be in private session at 10.12am.

3. Fishing Vessel Decommissioning Scheme Issues.

3.1. Members considered a letter from the Minister covering a report of DARD's investigation into certain specified allegations. That report was copied to members during the meeting. The Committee also considered legal advice in relation to whether Committee documents were 'discoverable' and the sub-judice issue. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that, although the Committee wished to make its own judgement on the matter, members would study the Department's report and would meet on Tuesday 5 March 2002 to hold further discussions.

Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister about meeting officials, confidentiality/disclosure of documents, sub-judice and issues related thereto.

During discussions Mr Armstrong attended the meeting at 10.26am, Mr McHugh left the meeting at 10.41am and Mr Dallat left the meeting at 10.46am.

3.2. Following receipt of information about the availability of accommodation, members deliberated.

Resolved: that the meeting on Tuesday 5 March 2002 would take place in room 152 Parliament Buildings at 2.00pm.

4. Rural Development Programme Inquiry.

4.1. Messrs Armstrong, Douglas and Kane declared an interest.

Mr McHugh returned to the meeting at 10.58am.

4.2. Members noted the positive report from the Clerk of Committees on his examination of the Clerk's work in relation to this Inquiry, and were content that the papers were entirely, and solely, based on evidence put before the Committee and on Committee deliberations.

Mr Dallat returned to the meeting at 11.03am.

4.3. Members had received additional papers setting out further possible findings and conclusions based on recent updates. They discussed a number of issues in relation to the rural development programme.

Resolved: that members would study the papers further for consideration at the meeting on Tuesday 5 March 2002.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 11.41am and subsequently declared the meeting open to the public at 11.48am. The Deputy Chairman and Messrs Armstrong, Douglas, McHugh and Murphy were present and the Chairman reviewed arrangements for the meeting on Tuesday 5 March 2002.

5. Organic Farming.

5.1. Members considered a response from DARD to the Committee's further questions following the meeting with officials on 25 January 2002.

5.2. A member raised the matter of the availability of funding for the conversion of farm buildings for organic production. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Committee would seek information from DARD on this matter.

Mr Dallat returned to the meeting at 11.56am.

5.3. Members discussed issues including foreign imports, labelling and the influence of major multi-national retailers. A member proposed that the Committee should seek the views of an umbrella group of organic food producers. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that, on the understanding that this group's intention was to build up a sector-wide service, the Committee would invite the North West Organic Producers' Group to send representatives to meet the Committee on 22 March 2002.

Resolved: that the meeting on the 22 March 2002 would start at 9.30am to accommodate other business and allow for one hour's discussion with the Group.

6. DARD's Counter Fraud Strategy.

6.1. Members noted that DARD's revised strategy document, which they had asked to see prior to publication, now incorporated many of the recommendations made by the Committee following consideration of an earlier draft strategy. Members also considered a draft Committee response and a draft Committee press notice. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the draft response to the Minister was approved for issue by the Chairman advising that the Committee was content with the final counter fraud strategy document.
Resolved: that the Committee would issue a press notice on the counter fraud strategy early next week, to include a caution relating to procedures to distinguish between fraud and genuine errors.

7. The Hemp (Third Country Imports) Regulations 2002.

7.1. Members considered a proposal from the Minister that this legislation, primarily to prevent the entry into the EU and the misuse of illicit hemp crops, should apply UK-wide. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Committee was content for these regulations to be progressed on a UK-wide basis.

8. Sixth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

8.1. Members noted the Sixth report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules in which he drew attention to defective drafting of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Uncultivated Land and Semi-Natural Areas) regulations. Members deliberated.

8.2. Resolved: that the Committee would contact the Examiner to acknowledge receipt of his sixth report.

9. Any Other Business:

9.1. Assembly Researcher's Report on Microbiological Testing. Members noted this report by the Assembly researcher that the Committee had commissioned following his attendance, on the Committee's behalf, at a conference in Brussels on the future of the European meat industry. The report covered forthcoming legislation from the EC in relation to microbiological testing of meat establishments and the researcher had asked for the Committee's approval to publish the report. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Committee would share this report with the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, within whose remit scrutiny of the relevant legislation would lie.

Resolved: that the Committee was content for the Assembly research services to publish this report on the Intranet and the Internet.

9.2. Outlook 2000 - European Outlook Conference. Members considered the programme for this conference in London on 21-22 March 2002 and noted that Assembly researcher, Dr Pelan, is to attend the conference on behalf of the Assembly research services. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Committee would ask Dr Pelan to share his report of the conference with the Committee in due course.

9.3. Newry Agricultural Society Food Fair. Following a letter from Newry Agricultural Society seeking DARD funding for a Food Fair at their annual show day, the Committee wrote to the Minister. Members noted the Minister's reply advising that DARD is contributing an additional £500 to the Society for this event.

9.4. HSSPS Committee Inquiry into the Delivery of Cancer Services. Members noted the letter from the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee drawing attention to one of the recommendations in the report (to be published on 5 March 2002) of its Inquiry into the Delivery of Cancer Services in Northern Ireland relating to co-operation in the production of, and access to, fruit and vegetables.

9.5. Review of Higher Education and R&D in Agriculture and Food Science. The Committee noted the review panel Chairman's letter, and an associated press release, advising that the panel now expects to present its report to the Minister on 29 April 2002.

Mr Dallat left the meeting at 12.30pm.

9.6. IFEX Food Conference 2002. Members noted the invitation to this conference to be held in the King's Hall Conference Centre Belfast on Wednesday 24 April 2002. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that members would advise Committee staff, at the meeting on Tuesday 5 March 2002, of their intention to attend this conference.

Resolved: that the Committee would ask the Assembly researcher to attend this conference on its behalf and report back to the Committee.

9.7. Farming Today in the LFA. Members noted the Minister's response to the Committee's letter about her non-attendance at the launch of the information pack on Good Farming Practice at this Training Programme launch at Oxford Island on 29 January 2002. A member informed the Committee that he understood that some farmers in the Less Favoured Area had not yet received their information packs. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Committee would contact DARD about the issue of information packs to all farmers who should receive them.

Mr Paisley Jnr returned to the meeting at12.36pm.

9.8. TB/Brucellosis. A member stated that he understood that DARD was not meeting its own targets with regard to removing affected animals. The Committee was advised that members had agreed, in principle, to seek a further report from DARD for consideration on 15 March 2002.

9.9. Resolved: that officials would be called to the Committee meeting on 15 March 2002.

9.10. European Structural Funds & Community Initiatives. Members noted the requests, from the Chairman of the Committee for Finance & Personnel, for Committee and DARD views to inform that Committee's Inquiry into European Structural Funds & Community Initiatives. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Committee agreed to pass on, to the Minister, the letter from the Chairman of the Committee for Finance and Personnel.

Resolved: that the Committee would consider the relevant papers, including a research paper provided by the Committee for Finance and Personnel, at its meeting on 15 March 2002.

9.11. DARD's Review of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak. The Clerk informed members that he had been contacted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who are conducting the independent review into last year's Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak on behalf of DARD, to seek a meeting with the Committee on 22 March 2002. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the Committee was content to meet the PriceWaterhouseCoopers review delegation on 22 March 2002 to discuss the review's methodology.

9.12. Canadian Senate Committee for Agriculture and Forestry. The Clerk informed members that he had been contacted by the Principal Clerk of Statutory Committees advising that this Canadian Senate Committee is to visit Northern Ireland shortly and that its members are likely to seek a meeting with the Committee during its visit. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that, if the Canadian Senate Committee so wishes, the Committee would be content to meet the visiting committee, and host a buffet lunch, in Parliament Buildings on Friday 15 March 2001.

10. Date of Next Meeting.

10.1. Resolved: that in addition to the meeting at 2.00pm on Tuesday 5 March 2002 in room 152, the Committee would meet at 10.00am on Friday 8 March 2002 in room 135 Parliament Buildings.

The Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 12.46pm.

Ian R K Paisley
Chairman

22 February 2002/ Menu / 5 March 2002