MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2002

HELD IN ROOM 135 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Dr IRK Paisley MP MEP (Chairman)
Mr G Savage (Deputy Chairman)
Mr B Armstrong
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr D Ford
Mr G Kane
Mr G McHugh
Mr I Paisley, Jnr

Apologies:
Mr J Dallat
Mr B Douglas

In attendance:
Mrs C White (Committee Clerk)
Miss J Adair (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs J Hamilton (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr G Donnelly (Clerical Officer)

In attendance for session with NIPSA Representatives at 11.03 a.m.: Mr B Graham, Mr D Stewart and Mr J Lilley.

In attendance for session with DARD officials at 11.48 a.m.: Mr R Jordan, Mr P McMurray

The Chairman declared the meeting open in private session at 10.05 a.m. The Chairman informed Members that the Clerk to the Assembly, Mr Arthur Moir, wished to have a private discussion with them. Members agreed to this and the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10.07 a.m. The meeting resumed in public session at 10.41 a.m. The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Messrs Bradley, Kane, McHugh and Paisley Jnr were all present.

1. Minutes of Proceedings on Friday 6 September 2002

1.1. Resolved: That the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 6 September were approved.

2. Matters Arising

2.1. Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Tourism Inquiry: Members noted an invite to attend a one-day conference in Omagh on 26 September 2002.

Resolved: That Mr McHugh would represent the Committee at the conference on 26 September.

Resolved: That the Committee Office would contact the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to request that Mr Paisley represent the Committee at the conference in Coleraine on 19 September.

2.2. Rural Stakeholders Forum: Wider Group Conference: Members noted arrangements for the weekly Committee meeting to be held at Loughry College whilst attending this event.

2.3. NIAPA Open Letter to Brid Rodgers and Margaret Beckett: Members noted an open letter from NIAPA listing 5 demands for action by the Ministers.

2.4. Research Paper on the Strategic Planning and Housing Bill: Members considered a paper provided by Assembly Researchers on specific aspects of the Strategic Planning Bill and The Housing Bill.

Resolved: To write to the Committee for Social Development regarding members' concerns with regard to means testing of grant applications. In particular the Committee is concerned that acreage should not be used in determining the financial resources of the applicant.

2.5. Inquiry into Foot and Mouth Disease: Consideration of Possible Oral Evidence:

­ Arising from Written Submission

Members considered a list of potential witnesses who previously provided written submissions to the Committee to give oral evidence as part of the Committee's Inquiry.

Resolved: That the list of potential witnesses be called to give oral evidence.

­ With the Agri-Business Sector

The Clerk briefed members on suggested further actions regarding the Inquiry's 5th Term of Reference including possible evidence sessions with key stakeholders in the agri-business sector.

Resolved: That the Committee would hear oral evidence from agri-business sector representatives and that the Clerk and Assembly Researchers would identify suitable witnesses.

3. Review of Education and R&D in Agriculture and Food Science

3.1. Evidence Session with the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance: The representatives made a statement that NIPSA's primary objective was to promote and protect members' interests. They stated that, in NIPSA's view the Review of Education did not meet its objectives as it was a purist academic approach to Northern Ireland agriculture and went beyond its Terms of Reference.

The delegation then answered members' questions on a variety of subjects including the future of third level education, whether the Review offered any tangible improvements, the future of the science division within the Department and the Department's role in the Review.

Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.39 a.m.

The Chairman thanked the representatives and they left the meeting at 11.41 a.m.

4. Recommendations of the Committee of the Centre's European Inquiry

4.1. Consideration of the Recommendation for the establishment of a Standing Committee on EU Affairs. The Committee considered a letter and key questions from the Committee of the Centre regarding the recommendation in its Inquiry Report for the establishment of a Standing Committee on EU Affairs.

Resolved: Members agreed to write to the Committee of the Centre to express their concern that any such Committee must only act in a 'shadow' role to the Statutory Committees who are primarily responsible for the scrutiny of EU issues relating to their department.

Resolved: the Committee agreed that the Clerk should liaise with Departmental officials to agree a method by which the Committee would be informed at the earliest opportunity of all EU proposals, the effect of the proposals and their stage of progress

5. Review of Less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowances

Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.49 a.m.

5.1. Departmental officials gave a brief update and answered members' questions on the arrangements for the Review of less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowances. Key issues discussed included the timetable for consultation in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the United Kingdom, the impact of the proposed redistribution of the allowances and the need to tailor the scheme to meet the specific needs of Northern Ireland farmers.

The Chairman left the meeting at 11.54 a.m. and Mr Savage assumed the chair.

The Deputy Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 12.06 p.m.

Resolved: That officials would keep members informed of progress on the Review and would meet the Committee again when the consultation paper had been published.

6. Statutory Rules

6.1. SR 278/2002 - Bovine & Bovine Products (Trade) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002

The Committee formally considered this Rule.

Question put and agreed:

"That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Bovine & Bovine Products (Trade) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002 and has no objection to the Rule."

6.2. Animal and Animal Products (Import & Export) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002. Members considered proposals for the Animal and Animal Products (Import & Export) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2002

Resolved: That the Committee was content for the Department to proceed with this Rule

6.3. Plant Protection Products (Amendment) No.3) Regulations (NI) 2002. Members considered proposals for the Plant Protection Products (Amendment) No.3) Regulations (NI) 2002.

Resolved: That the Committee was content for the Department to proceed with this Rule.

6.4. Plant Health (Wood & Bark) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2002. Members considered proposals for the Plant Health (Wood & Bark) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2002.

Resolved: That the Committee was content for the Department to proceed with this Rule.

6.5. First Report by the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The Committee noted the first Report by the Examiner of Statutory Rules for Session 2002/03/

7. Any Other Business

7.1. Consultation on EC Proposals on marketing Forest Reproductive material. The Committee considered a letter from the Department on its proposals for the implementation of the new EC Directive on marketing of FR material.

Resolved: To seek copies of the responses to this consultation exercise before considering a Committee response. Members agreed that the Committee Office would seek copies of responses to all future DARD consultation exercise as a matter of procedure and did not need to seek the permission of the Committee.

7.2. Seed Potato Sector Policy Review. The Committee considered a letter from the Minister, which they first received during summer recess regarding the potato industry.

Resolved: To seek copies of the responses to this consultation exercise before considering a Committee response.

7.3. Press Releases from DARD. Members discussed their preferred arrangements for receiving Press Releases issued by the Department.

Resolved: That the Committee Office would contact absent members to establish their preferred method of receipt and would liaise with the Department to put these arrangements into practice.

7.4. Committee visit to Brussels. The Committee considered a possible visit to the European Commission in Brussels.

Resolved: That the Clerk would consider the necessary arrangements and report back to the Committee at a future meeting.

7.5. Re-designation of the Horse as an Agricultural Animal. Mr Armstrong advised the members that he is introducing a Public Bill to re-designate the horse as an agricultural animal would be introduced to the Assembly on 7 October 2002.

7.6. Report of the LMC Quinquennial Review. Mr Kane advised the Committee that the Report of the LMC Quinquennial Review had been published.

Resolved: The Committee resolved to ask the Department to provide members with copies of the Report.

8. Date of Next Meeting

8.1. Resolved: That the next meeting will take place on Friday 20 September 2002 in Room 135, Parliament Buildings, at 10.00 a.m.

The Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 12.20 p.m.

Dr IRK Paisley
Chairman