MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FRIDAY 22 MARCH 2002
HELD IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr G Savage (Deputy Chairman)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr J Dallat
Mr B Douglas
Mr D Ford
Mr G Kane
Mr G McHugh
Mr I Paisley Jnr
Apologies:
Dr IRK Paisley MP MEP(Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr M Murphy
In attendance:
Mr P Moore
Mr B Kennedy
Mr J McCourt
Mr J Small
The Deputy Chairman declared the meeting open in private session at 9.40am.
1. Minutes of Proceedings on Friday 8 March 2002.
1.1. Resolved: that the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 8 March 2002 were approved.
2. Matters Arising from the Meeting on 8 March 2002.
2.1. Fisheries Decommissioning Scheme Issues. Assembly legal adviser, Ms Clare McGivern, was invited to the table at 9.43am. Members considered a letter from the Speaker and discussed, with the legal adviser, a number of issues in relation to information supplied to the Committee about the 'strike price' mechanism.
Mr Douglas attended the meeting at 9.50am.
2.2. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister with further proposals for resolving the issues. A draft letter for that purpose was approved by members.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Speaker to keep him informed of action being taken.
2.3. Early Retirement Scheme for Farmers. Members were advised that, since their resolution, on 8 March 2002, to consider a draft motion for Assembly debate, the subject of an early retirement scheme for farmers had been aired within the context of a plenary debate on 11 March 2002 and in oral questions to the Minister on 19 March 2002. Members were also advised that there had been an informal approach by the Minister's researchers about seeking the views of political parties.
Mr Paisley Jnr attended the meeting at 10.01am and Mr Dallat attended the meeting at 10.09am.
2.4. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would not table a motion at this time, but that the Committee would seek assistance from the Assembly research services to examine options for an early retirement scheme for farmers.
Resolved: that DARD's researchers would be advised to contact the agriculture spokesperson for each political party for views and that the Committee would not meet DARD's researchers.
The Deputy Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 10.18am.
3. DARD Review of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak.
3.1. The Deputy Chairman welcomed, at 10.19am, the delegation from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), who have been appointed to carry out the independent review of the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak on behalf of DARD. The delegation consisted of Mr Graham Cash - Joint Chairperson, Review Team (Partner, PWC), Dr Jorgen Westergaard - Joint Chairperson, Review Team (former Deputy Head of the EC Veterinary Unit), Philip McDonagh - Review Team Director (Director and Chief Economist - PWC), and Dr Erik Stougaard (former Danish Chief Veterinary Officer).
3.2. Each member of the delegation then made an opening statement, referring to presentation documents that they tabled. The Committee then questioned members of the delegation.
Mr Ford left the meeting at 10.56am. Mr Dallat left the meeting at 11.01am.
3.3. The Deputy Chairman thanked the members of the review team and they left the meeting at 11.07am.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.07 and resumed at 11.18am. The Deputy Chairman and Messrs Dallat, Douglas, Ford, Kane, McHugh and Paisley Jnr were present.
4. Organic Farming.
4.1. The Deputy Chairman welcomed representatives from North West Organic Producers Group (NWOPG). They were Messrs David Hawthorne (Chairman), Owen McDevitt, Michael Mullan and Raymond Pollock. Mr Hawthorne introduced his colleagues and made an opening statement referring to their activities in developing a wide range of organic produce; the extent of organic farming here; and efforts to encourage others to enter organic production.
4.2. Members then questioned the representatives and various issues were explored including lack of support from DARD for the organic sector; support elsewhere in the EU; markets; targets; conversion costs; competition; the all-Ireland dimension; development of exports; and the need for grant aid.
Mr Armstrong returned to the meeting during discussions at 11.47am.
4.3. The Deputy Chairman thanked the Group representatives and they left the meeting at 12.02pm.
Mr Paisley Jnr left the meeting at 12.02pm.
4.4. After a five minute adjournment, members considered a draft response to the Minister on DARD's organic farming development strategy. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the draft response was approved, subject to agreed amendment to cover the need to provide financial assistance to the NWOPG; the need for DARD to develop co-operative arrangements with organisations such as the NWOPG; the need to consider market availability; a comparison of the situation with organic milk and that of the organic beef and pigs markets developed by the NWOPG; and the need for co-operation and co-ordination within the organic sector.
5. TB/Brucellosis Testing.
5.1. The Deputy Chairman welcomed DARD officials Mr Stewart Johnston and Dr George McIlroy at 12.17pm and explained that, since the Committee was about to embark on an Inquiry into the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak and would be extending the Terms of Reference to include other specified animal diseases and control measures, their evidence today would be incorporated into that Inquiry in due course.
5.2. Mr Johnston made an opening statement, referring to a paper supplied to the Committee including statistics and other relevant information on the priority being given to, and the progress being made, in furthering the testing programme.
5.3. Members questioned officials, who undertook to provide a graph of the incidence of TB since 1950; figures for TB/brucellosis incidence in each of the Divisional Veterinary Office areas; and any further information available in relation to the source of the brucellosis outbreak at the Department's Agricultural Research Institute.
During discussions, Mr Ford left the meeting at 12.32pm. The Deputy Chairman advised members that he needed to leave the meeting for a time. He sought nominations for Acting Chairman. Mr Kane, being nominated, and agreed unanimously by the members present, took the chair when the Deputy Chairman then left the meeting at 12.36pm.
5.4. The acting Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 1.02pm.
6. Matters arising from the meeting on 8 March 2002.
6.1. Fisheries Issues. Members noted the letter from the Minister relating to the absence of a document giving comprehensive legal advice in relation to fisheries issues as discussed with the Committee some time ago.
6.2. Committee's Inquiry into the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak. Members agreed to defer consideration of revised and extended Terms of Reference until after the Assembly Easter Recess.
The Deputy Chairman returned to the meeting at 1.05pm and took the chair.
6.3. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee Tourism Inquiry. Members agreed a draft response to the ETI Committee that they had previously received by e-mail. A transcript of the meeting with the NI Tourist Board representatives on 8 March 2002 was tabled and members agreed to submit any corrections to the Committee office by 8 April 2002.
6.4. Visit by the Parliament of Canada Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. Members were reminded that at their meeting on 8 March 2002 they had concluded that the Committee would not be able to facilitate such a visit. The Deputy Chairman and the Clerk gave a short report on developments since the Committee's last meeting, culminating in the visit going ahead. The Deputy Chairman and four other Committee members had hosted a reception and buffet lunch on Friday 15 March for seven members of the Canadian Committee and accompanying staff. The Speaker, a few other MLAs and a number of senior Assembly officers were also in attendance. The Canadian Committee Chairman had extended an open invitation to the Committee to visit Canada.
Mr Dallat left the meeting at 1.09pm.
6.5. UK Sustainable Development Commission Seminar/Reception. Members noted that no member of the Committee had attended this Environment Committee reception for the Commission on Tues 12 March 2002.
7. Committee Forward Work Plan.
7.1. Members had received briefing prepared by the Clerk, setting out the full workload of known and anticipated Committee business and suggested priorities in the light of statutory requirements and Committee resources. The Clerk also drew members' attention to papers received by the Committee on DARD consultation on Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) of its policies on Less Favoured Areas Support and Payment of Agricultural Grants and Subsidies; OFMDFM consultation on a proposed Quinquennial Review of the Planning Appeals Commission and the Water Appeals Commission; and the Department of Regional Development consultation on its proposed Regional Transportation Strategy. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that priority items of business for the next three meetings would be the Rural Development Programme Inquiry Report; the Vision report consultation outcome; consideration of the Committee's next Inquiry into the 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak and related animal health issues; responses to the Committee's Livestock and Meat Commission Inquiry Report; DARD's Position Report; outstanding fisheries issues; and consideration of statutory rules.
Resolved: that the Committee would seek a written summary from DARD of the responses to the consultation on the EIA of its policies; DARD's interpretation of those responses; and DARD's proposals, if any, for action in the light of those responses.
7.2. One member put forward the view that it was no longer necessary for Committee staff to send weekly press summaries to members. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the forward work plan, including the practice of forwarding press summaries and DARD and other press releases to members on a weekly basis as a matter of routine, would be reviewed after the next three meetings.
8. Legislation.
8.1. SR 72/02-Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. The Committee, having discussed proposals for these regulations with officials on 15 February 2002, formally considered this Rule.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report, has no objection to the Rule.
8.2. SR 88/02 - Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. The Committee, having discussed proposals for these regulations with officials on 1 February 2002, and noting the assurance given by DARD that administrative penalties will not be applied in cases of genuine error, force majeure or where the error has negligible impact, formally considered this Rule.
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report, has no objection to the Rule.
8.3. Plant Protection Products (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. Members considered this proposed rule to implement an EC Directive authorising five additional substances for use in plant protection products.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the Rule.
8.4. The Medicated Feedingstuffs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. The Committee considered the proposed Medicated Feedingstuffs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the Rule.
8.5. The Feedingstuffs (Zootechnical Products) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. The Committee considered the proposed Feedingstuffs (Zootechnical Products) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the Rule.
8.6. Milk Marketing Board (Residuary Functions)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002. The Deputy Chairman and Messrs Armstrong, Douglas and Kane declared an interest. The Committee considered the proposed Milk Marketing Board (Residuary Functions)(Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002.
Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed to make the Rule.
8.7. Foyle Area (Control of Drift and Draft Net Fishing) Regulations 2002. The Committee noted that these proposed regulations were mainly concerned with inland fisheries, which fall within the remit of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure (CAL); that by arrangement with the Clerk of that Committee and in accordance with previous practice, the draft rule had been referred to the CAL Committee; that that Committee had considered the draft rule, with officials, on 21 March 2001 and raised, with DARD, concerns about the number of proposed licences.
Resolved: that referral of this draft rule to the CAL Committee was appropriate.
8.8. Commission Proposal concerning African Swine Fever and Teschen Disease. Members noted that consultation was taking place on an EC proposal to add African Swine Fever to the diseases subject to compulsory notification and control, and to remove controls on Teschen disease.
9. Any Other Business.
9.1. Transfer of DARD Permit office, Omagh. Members noted a public petition about a proposal to transfer this office from Sperrin House to the Agricultural Mart at Drumquin Road Omagh, that was forwarded by the Speaker after being laid in the Assembly. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister to ask what action she is taking in response to the petition.
9.2. Farm Subsidy Payments Update. Members noted the update report that DARD had provided showing the position on the payment of farm subsidies as at 11 March 2002. The Committee also noted that a further update is to be provided in mid-April.
9.3. DARD Diversification Conference on 27 March 2002. Members had already advised Committee staff of their intention to attend or not. The Deputy Chairman and Mr Kane indicated that they would no longer be able to go to this event at Loughry College, Cookstown.
9.4. DARD Service Delivery Agreement (SDA). Members noted the Minister's response to the Committee's views on the Department's SDA and that a final draft agreement was in transit to the Committee office. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that the DARD SDA would be put on the Committee agenda for discussion on, or after, 26 April 2002.
9.5. The Court of Justice of the European Communities - briefing. The Committee noted an invitation to an informal briefing on the operation of the Court that had been organised by the Assembly Research Services for Thursday 28 March 2002. Members agreed to let the Committee staff know, by 10.0am on Tuesday 26 March 2002, if they intended to be present.
10. Date of Next Meeting.
10.1. Resolved: that the next meeting will take place on Friday 12 April 2002 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings, at 10.00am.
11. Any Other Business - continued.
11.1. DARD Suckler Cow Premium Scheme. A member advised that a constituent had drawn to his attention apparent discrepancies in the references to year dates quoted in the explanatory leaflet 'SCPQ68 Short' and at 'Category 6a' on the related application form 'SCPQ69APP'. Members deliberated.
Resolved: that Committee staff would refer the matter to DARD for comment.
The Deputy Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 1.34pm.
George Savage
Deputy Chairman