COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER 2007,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Samuel Gardiner
The meeting opened at 10.35 a.m. in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters Arising
Members’ attention was drawn to the Ministers response to their request for all papers relating to the Giants Causeway.
Agreed: That members take some time to consider the Ministers response.
Agreed: That the Committee Secretariat makes enquiries about any UNESCO plans concerning the Giants Causeway and that the Committee Secretariat contacts the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to clarify their role.
Members discussed Research and Library Service’s request to publish any research papers prepared for the Committee.
Agreed: That permission is given to publish any Committee research papers.
Members discussed the proposed working lunch to discuss the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: That the working lunch would be organised for 29 th November.
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Taxis Bill
Kevin Doherty from Disability Action outlined his organisation’s views on the proposed Taxis Bill and answered members’ questions.
Mr Boylan joined the meeting at 11.00 a.m.
Adele Watters and John McMullan from the Department of the Environment briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on possible amendments to the Taxis Bill.
Stephen Spratt and John Martin from the Department of the Environment briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on enforcement.
Agreed: That the Committee request a written paper on the enforcement issue
Kevin Shiels, Assembly Bill Clerk, briefed the members on procedures for scrutinizing the Taxis Bill.
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Proposal for Secondary Legislation – Statutory Rules
S.R. 2007/404 - The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No 3) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the S.R. 2007/404 - The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No 3) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 rule and has no objection to the rule.S.R. 2007/405 – The Surface Waters (Fishlife) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the S.R. 2007/405 – The Surface Waters (Fishlife) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 rule and has no objection to the rule.S.R. 2007/416 - The Game Preservation (Special Protection for Irish Hares) Order (NI) 2007
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the S.R. 2007/416 - The Game Preservation (Special Protection for Irish Hares) Order (NI) 2007 rule and has no objection to the rule, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules Report.
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Briefing by Construction Employers Federation
Nigel Lucas, CEF Deputy Secretary, and John Armstrong, Managing Director, briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Review of the Planning System in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That Research and Library Services prepare a research paper on planning systems in other jurisdictions for members, and the Department provide an update on the ongoing review of the Planning Service.
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Correspondence
Members noted the Consultation paper on the Introduction of compulsory BasicTraining for Learner Motorcyclists and a Motorcycle Instructor Register.
Letter from Jim Bradley, Belfast Hills Partnership, requesting that the Committee take an interest in the Mullaghglass landfill site issue.
Agreed: That clarification is sought from the Department on any action they have taken to address the concerns of Mr Bradley.Members noted a letter from Sean Smyth, UNITE re: the presentation to the Committee made by James Beckett on the 27th September.
Members noted a letter from Richard Daniels, Government Affairs Manager (LTI) inviting Members to visit factory in Coventry.
Members noted an email from James Beckett re: his presentation to the Committee on the 27th September.
Response by Department to the Committee’s query re: Teal Lough and Marine Current Turbine.
Agreed: Members requested an oral briefing from departmental officials on the Teal Lough issue.Response by Department to the issues raised by John Sedgwick in relation to overdevelopment in Ballyrobert.
Agreed: That a copy of the Departmental response is forwarded to Mr Sedgwick.Members noted a response by the Department to Committee request for an update on the Department of the Environment’s progress in implementing specific departmental and cross cutting action points and targets contained in the Sustainable Development Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Members noted a response by the Department to Committee queries re: Taxis Bill.
Draft addendum to PPS7 – response to Members queries.
Agreed: That senior DOE officials be invited to brief the Committee on the questions raised by Members on the Draft Addendum to Planning Policy Statement 7: Residential Extensions and Alterations.Letter from Countryside Alliance requesting a meeting with the Committee re: conservation of Irish Hare.
Agreed: Countryside Alliance to be updated on the status of the Statutory Rule introducing the Special Protection Order for Irish Hares.Members noted a copy of briefing from OFMDFM Committee on the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Members noted a letter from the Minister to update the Committee on the progress of the Review of the RPA decisions relating to local government.
Email from Desi Savage re: high hedges and trees.
Agreed: That further information is sought from the Department on the progress in bringing about legislation on high hedges and trees, or if there are any proposals for introducing such legislation.Members note the following publications and press releases:
NCSA monthly newsletter
DOE news release – ‘Foster visits historic Lissan House’
DOE news release – ‘Foster launches consultation on new motorcycle training requirements
DOE news release – ‘Protection for Irish hare’
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Any Other Business
Members requested that copies of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate report be obtained for their information.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 18 October 2007 at 10.30am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 13.05 p.m.