COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
Thursday 22 November 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 Samuel Gardiner
The meeting opened at 10.41 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Members were reminded that a working lunch will take place immediately following the meeting on 29 th November to discuss the Forward Work Programme.
Members were advised that a letter has been sent to the Minister, Arlene Foster, regarding the Giants Causeway planning application.
Members noted a letter from Minister Arlene Foster informing them that the UK Climate Change Bill has been introduced to the House of Lords.
4. Draft Investment Strategy, Programme for Government and Budget
Members were given a briefing by Departmental officials on the Draft Investment Strategy, the Draft Programme for Government and the Draft Budget.
Some Members of the Committee felt that there should be a budgetary allocation for preliminary work for the potential establishment of an Environmental Protection agency .
Agreed: That the response agreed by members on the Draft Budget is forwarded to the Finance and Personnel Committee.
Agreed: That the response agreed by members on the Draft Investment Strategy and Draft Programme for Government is forwarded to the Committee of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
5. Taxis Bill
Members were advised that clause by clause scrutiny has been completed.
Members were advised that they should vote on Clause 6 of the Taxis Bill as there was no consensus on this clause at the last meeting.
The Chairperson proposed that clause 6, as drafted, be agreed.
The Committee divided: Ayes 5; Noes 1
| AYES | NOES |
| Patsy McGlone Tommy Gallagher Peter Weir Ian McCrea David Ford |
Trevor Clarke |
The clause, as drafted, was accordingly agreed to.
6. Proposal for Secondary Legislation – Statutory Rules
S.R. 2007/460 – The Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered the S.R. 2007/460 - The Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 rule and has no objection to the rule, subject to the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
7. Proposal for Secondary Legislation – SL1
SL1 – Proposed change to Motor Vehicle Testing Regulations (NI) 2003 and the Introduction of Mandatory Display of Vehicle Test Certificates for 1 April 2008.
Agreed: That the Committee considered the proposed change to Motor Vehicle Testing Regulations (NI) 2003 and the Introduction of Mandatory Display of Vehicle Test Certificates for 1 April 2008, and had no objections to the proposal.
8. Correspondence
- Members noted a response to the Executive Sub-Committee’s Emerging findings paper on Local Government Aspects of the Review of Public Administration by Professors Colin Knox and Paul Carmichael, University of Ulster.
- Members noted a copy of the response by the Department for Regional Development to the letter from Lady Sylvia Hermon re: Priors Lea.
- Memo from the Public Accounts Committee and attached letter to be forwarded to Arlene Foster re: 20mph zones outside schools.
Agreed: That the letter is forwarded to the Minister. - Members noted the request from the Department for documents concerning Runkerry planning application to be passed to the Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee.
Agreed: That these documents are forwarded to the ETI Committee. - Members noted an email from RSPB and attached document outlining the RSPB’s position on the Avian Influenza issue.
- Departmental response to Committee’s query re: Mullaghglass Landfill Site.
Agreed: That a copy of this response is forwarded to Mr Bradley of Belfast Hills Partnership. - Letter from the League against Cruel Sports requesting a meeting with the Committee to discuss permanent protection for the Irish Hare.
Agreed: That the request is considered at the working lunch on 29 th November. - Members noted a letter from the Department indicating the Ministers intention to make a statement to the Assembly re: the North South Ministerial council Environment Sectoral meeting, and attached copy of the statement.
- Members noted the Northern Ireland Environment Link Newsletter.
- Members noted the letter from Arlene Foster, Minister, re the judicial review of PPS14.
- Departmental response to Committee queries re: the UK Energy Bill.
- Members noted the response to request for further information on ‘garden grabbing’.
- Members noted an e mail from Aine Bradley re: the Prehen Wood development.
Agreed: That the e mail is forwarded to the Department for their comments. - Members noted the following DOE news releases:
‘Foster Networks in Carrickfergus Castle’
‘Noise Complaints on the Increase’
‘Dungannon Man Fined for Breach of Planning Control’
9. Any Other Business
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 29 November 2007 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.21 p.m.