COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY 10 JANUARY 2008,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)s
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr David Ford
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Philip Maguire (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Alex Maskey
The meeting opened at 10.32 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above
2. Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
3. Ministerial Briefing on Road Safety
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.49a.m.
The Minister of the Environment, Arlene Foster, briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on Road Safety.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 11.19a.m.
4. Matters Arising
Members were informed that a response to the Committee’s request for all papers in relation to the Giant’s Causeway Visitor’s Centre planning application was included in their meeting packs. Members were also advised that Hugh Widdis, Assembly Legal Adviser, was due to meet with Legal Counsel on Monday 14 January to discuss this matter.
Agreed: That Mr Widdis is invited to the Committee meeting on 17 January to offer legal advice following this meeting.
Mr Weir left the meeting at 11.30a.m.
Members were advised that the Committee has not yet received a response to the letter (and reminder) sent to the Department of Culture Media and Sport regarding their role in the Giants Causeway Visitor’s Centre planning. Members were further advised that the senior official involved is on sick leave at the moment but that the Committee letter has been re-issued to his colleague for reply.
The Chairperson informed members that he and the Deputy Chairperson had met with the Minister of the Environment on 17 December 2007 and a note of the key points discussed at the meeting was included in members’ meeting packs.
Members were informed that a copy of the Department of the Environment’s Programme of Work was included in their meeting packs for their attention.
Mr McKay rejoined the meeting at 11.38a.m.
5. Departmental Briefing on Draft Waste Management (Miscellaneous Provisions)Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Mr Weir rejoined the meeting at 11.41a.m.
Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the Draft Waste Management (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007.
Agreed: That the Committee await the views of the DARD Committee on these regulations, and await further information from the Department, before reconsidering this SL1.
Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.54a.m.
6. Proposals for Secondary Legislation – SL1s
SL1 – Proposed Amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) (2007)
Agreed: That the Committee considered the Proposed Amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) (2007) and had no objections to the proposal.
SL1 – Deposits in the Sea (Exemptions) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Agreed: That the Committee considered the Deposits in the Sea (Exemptions) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objections to the proposal.
7. Correspondence
- E-mail from Des McConaghy to Paul Brunton regarding Giant’s Causeway.
Agreed: That Mr McConaghy is provided with updates on this matter. - E-mail from Des McConaghy to Bruce Robinson regarding Giant’s Causeway.
Agreed: That Mr McConaghy is provided with updates on this matter. - Members noted an e-mail from Malachy Campbell (WWF Northern Ireland) regarding reducing UK CO2 80% by 2050.
- Members noted a letter from the Minister regarding the UK Energy Bill 2008 Disapplication of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
- Holding letter from the Clerk to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the Report of The Mourne National Park Working Party.
Agreed: That a copy of this letter is sent to the DOE Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer. - Members noted an e-mail to the Minister regarding the UK Climate Change Bill.
- Members noted an e-mail to the Minister from Robert McAllister (Taxi Driver) regarding concerns for future congestion in Belfast.
- Members noted a letter to the Committee from Prof P Oschlies regarding the Climate Change Bill.
- E-mail from NI Consumer Council regarding an Invitation to “Driving Change in UK Payments” Consultation Conference.
Agreed: That a copy of the invitation is sent to the Department of the Environment for information. - Members noted a statement from the Welsh Assembly regarding the Proposed Climate Change Commission for Wales.
- Members noted a letter from the Minister regarding the Driving Theory Test missing disc.
- Response from the Department regarding Private Legislation which was received from the Clerk of the Committee on Procedures.
Agreed: That a copy of the response is forwarded to the Clerk of the Committee on Procedures. - Letter from (NICCY) Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People requesting a visit to the Committee to discuss the NICCY Policy Paper on Road Safety.
Agreed: That a representative of NICCY is invited to a future Committee meeting when road safety is being discussed. - Letter from Ulster Wildlife Trust inviting the Committee to Teal Lough Nature Reserve.
Agreed: That the Committee visit Teal Lough at a future date. - Members noted a request from the Regional Development Committee for a briefing from the Department of the Environment on Airport safety Zones.
- Letter from the Quarry Products Association NI inviting the Committee Chairman to the launch of the “Concrete continuing to build a sustainable future information leaflet.
Agreed: That a letter is sent on the Chairperson’s behalf declining the invitation. - Letter from the Department regarding the Marine Legislation – Policy Paper.
Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting. - Letter from Portstewart Vision regarding problems of isolation caused by planning policies and the implementation of planning policies in Portstewart and Portballintrae.
Agreed: That a copy of the garden grabbing briefing document is requested from the Department and forwarded to Portstewart Vision and that a letter is sent to the Department asking if the Minister has responded on this issue. - Members noted a aesponse from the Department regarding the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) missing computer disks.
- Members noted an e-mail from the Department regarding Driver and Vehicle Agency Tests affected by weather conditions
- Members noted an article from the Belfast Telegraph regarding the Giant’s Causeway Visitor’s Centre planning application.
- Members considered an SL1 received from the Committee for Trade, Enterprise and Investment – The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no comments to make.
- Members noted a copy of an Article 31 from the Minister regarding a planning application at Ballynagilly Road, Cookstown.
- Members noted a copy of an Article 31 from the Minister regarding a planning application at 29 Moss Road, Ballygowan.
Publications/Conferences/Press Releases:
Members noted the following DOE News releases –
Departmental News Release “Safety Zones at Belfast Airports”
Departmental News Release “Fermanagh farmer jailed for waste offences”
Departmental News Release “Lowest road deaths on record”
Members noted that the following publications were received and had been placed in their pigeonholes:
“Air Pollution in Northern Ireland 2006”
Members noted that the following publications were received and are available in Room 247:
December 2007 Issue of NIEL News.
Autumn 2007 Issue of Advice NI.
January 2008 Issue of Environmental Protection UK Briefing.
Sustainable NI “Strategic Plan 2008 – 2011.
“CJI’s report on Enforcement in the Department of the Environment October 2007”
Agreed: That representatives of the CJI are invited to a future meeting to brief the Committee on their report.
8. Any other business
Members discussed the use of paper within the Environment Committee and suggestions to limit the amount of paper being used.
Agreed: That the number of meeting packs being produced is reduced to 16, that Committee office staff retain bulky documents at the end of a meeting for re-distribution and that documents are photocopied double sided.
Mr Clarke raised the issue of inconsistencies in the consultation process with Planning Service.
Agreed: That statistics are requested on the level of applications processed, deferrals granted and rejections in each council area.
Agreed: That officials from the Planning Service are invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting.
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 17 January 2008 at 10.30am in room 144 Parliament Buildings
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.34 p.m.
Patsy McGlone