COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2008,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Cathal Boylan
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr David Ford
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 Daithi McKay
Mr Peter Weir
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.
Mr Gallagher joined the meeting at 10.37a.m.
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Matters Arising
Giant’s causeway – request for papers
The Chairperson informed members that various documents relating to the Seaport Investments Ltd visitors’ centre planning application, which were previously withheld, are being retained in the Committee Staff office, Room 247, and are available for inspection.
Members were informed that the Chairperson wrote to the Speaker on 1 February advising him that the Committee does not wish him to give further consideration to the section 44 request at this time.
Mr Armstrong joined the meeting at 10.40a.m.
Committee visit to Teal Lough/Lough Fea
The Chairperson informed members that there will be no Committee meeting on 14 February as the Committee will be visiting Teal Lough and Lough Fea.
Meetings with interested organisations/individuals
Members were informed that the first two of the meetings arranged between members and interest groups/individuals had taken place. An update of these meetings will be provided at the next Committee meeting on 21 February.
Amendment to Taxis Bill
The Chairperson informed Members that they had noted a proposed amendment to the Taxis Bill at the meeting on 31 January and now had to formally agree the amendment.
Question put and agreed:
“That the Committee is content with the Departmental technical amendment to clause 52 as outlined in the letter from the Department of the Environment dated 22 January 2008”.
Mourne National Park Working Party Report
Members were informed that the Committee needed to consider if it wished to provide the Minister with a response on the recommendations contained in the Working Party report at this time.
Agreed: That the committee awaits a more comprehensive response from the Department on the Mourne National Park Working Party Report before issuing a response.
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Departmental briefing on Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the proposed Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department for clarification on exemptions for agricultural vehicles and to obtain the number of vehicles that are not affiliated to road haulage organisations
Agreed: That the committee invite the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association to a future meeting to brief them on the proposed Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill.
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Departmental briefing on PPS14
The meeting went into closed session at 11.25am
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the progress of the review of draft PPS 14.
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Statutory Rules
The meeting resumed in public session at 12.33am
SR 2008/18 – The Waste Management (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered The Waste Management (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the ESR report, has no objection to the rule.
SR 2008/29 – The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered The Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the ESR report, recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly.
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Correspondence
- E-mail from Mr Bryan Chesler requesting information on any proposed Environmental Protection Agency for his Open University course.
Agreed: That a copy of the e-mail is referred to the Department for comments and that Mr Chesler is provided with a link to the “ Foundations for the Future” report . - Letter from the National Trust requesting the opportunity to make a presentation to the Committee and a copy of their report “ Shifting Shores”.
Agreed: That the National Trust are invited to make a presentation on its report. - Members noted a response from the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) regarding MOT pass/fail rates 2006/07.
- Departmental response in relation to a query from Mr Ronnie Carser, Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs.
Agreed: That the committee forward the Departmental response to Mr Carser - Members noted an Article 31 update from the Minister regarding the following planning application Ref No N/2005/0288/O @ Lands at Edenderry, Portadown bounded by Chambers Park, Bridge Street, Joseph Watson Street and Northway.
- Members noted an e-mail and copy of a presentation from the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force as requested by the Committee at its meeting on 31 January.
- Members noted a letter from the Minister giving notice of the Take Note Debate on Monday 11 February regarding the review of the draft PPS 14 - “Sustainable Development in the Countryside”.
- Members noted a response from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in relation to the Committee’s letter, dated 16 October 2008, regarding the Giant’s Causeway and any engagement it had with UNESCO.
- Invitation to attend a lecture by Bernard Bulkin, UK Sustainable Development Commission, at Queen’s University Belfast.
Agreed: That a letter is sent declining the invitation and asking for a copy of any papers to be forwarded for information. - Memo from the Clerk of the Public Accounts Committee enclosing a letter from Mr McDonagh regarding a Translink Vesting Order at 14 Derrybeg Lane Newry.
Agreed: That the committee forward Mr McDonagh’s letter to the Department for its comments. The Clerk of the Public Accounts Committee is to be advised accordingly. - Letter from the Clerk of the Committee for Regional Development to the DALO of the Department of the Environment thanking the officials for the briefing on 23 January in relation to “Airport Public Safety Zones”
Agreed: That a copy of the letter is forwarded to the Department. - Letter and correspondence from the Clerk of the Committee for Regional Development in relation to The Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group.
Agreed: That the Committee request a written briefing from the Department. - E mail from Clerk, Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment re the Review of the Competitiveness of Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That the Committee advise the Clerk of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment that it will not be submitting a response to the review.
Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 12.40am
Publications/Conferences/Press Releases:
Members noted the following DOE news releases:
‘Council for Nature Conversation and the Countryside get new chairman”.
“Loughmacrory firm fined £400 for planning breach”.
“Woman fined for failing to remove illegal shed”.
“Foster expresses concerns over illegal waste from South”
“DOE appoints non-executive directors”
“Two threatened historic buildings protected”
Members noted that the following publication was available in Room 247:
Issue 25 Jan/Feb 2008 NIIRTA News
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Any other business
Mr Gardiner enquired as to the Committee response to a recent letter from the Audit Committee relating to environmental governance.
Agreed: That the committee discuss this matter again at the meeting on 21 February.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 21 February 2008 at 10.30am in room 144 Parliament Buildings
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.50p.m.