COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 19 MARCH 2009,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Trevor Clarke
Mr Tommy Gallagher
Mr David McClarty
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Steven Mealey (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr David Ford
The meeting began in public session at 10.37a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes of the meeting on 12 March were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill:
The Chairperson advised members that they had been provided with a list of respondents to the consultation on the Local Government (Contracts and Compulsory Purchase) Bill. Members were also provided with a note of a meeting between the Chair, Deputy Chair and Departmental Permanent Secretary regarding forthcoming DOE legislation.
Meeting at Causeway Hotel on 28 May 2009:
The Chairperson advised members that the National Trust has invited the Committee to visit the Giant’s Causeway as part of the visit on 28 May 2009 when the Committee meeting will be held in the Causeway Hotel.
Agreed: That Committee staff identify another National Trust site to visit on the day.
WWF Earth Hour 2009:
The Chairperson advised members that Earth Hour 2009 is scheduled for 28 March 2009 with WWF urging people of all ages, nationalities, race and background to take the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote for global warming.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Assembly Commission asking if energy efficient light bulbs are used in Committee meeting rooms. The letter is also to enquire if there is a possibility of using fewer light bulbs and if the Committee could have a comparison of the cost and efficiency of the use of different types of light bulbs.
4. Departmental Briefing on the Shellfish Waters Directive
Departmental officials briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Shellfish Waters Directive.
The main areas of discussion were the rationale for different designations, the rationale for licensing, DOE views on designations, sustainability criteria, water quality and the economic consequences of lower designations.
Agreed: That correspondence on this issue is forwarded to DRD and DARD for comment.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to DARD asking for clarification on shellfish licensing.
5. Briefing by Utility Regulator on the proposed North/South interconnector
Mr Boylan declared an interest as MLA for Newry and South Armagh.
Iain Osborne, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the proposed North/South interconnector.
Mr McKay joined the meeting at 12.25p.m.
The main areas of discussion were the reliability of overhead and underground cabling, costs, health and environmental impacts, the consultation process and the Regulator’s role in the process.
Agreed: That the Regulator provides the Committee with more information on the differential in costs between the NIE and the Askon report, the percentage figure of cabling underground as opposed to overhead globally, the rationale used to establish potential costs and the current figure for water leakage levels in Northern Ireland Water.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 12.36p.m.
6. Climate Change Inquiry
The Chairperson advised members that the sub-committee met on 18 March 2009 to consider the applications received for the post of Specialist Adviser. He further advised members that they had been provided with a full evaluation report from the sub-group and that it was the sub-committee’s recommendation that Professor Sue Christie is awarded the contract.
Agreed: That Sue Christie is awarded the specialist adviser contract for the Committee Climate Change Inquiry.
7. Statutory Rules
SR 2009/32 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/32 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) Regulations (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
SR 2009/33 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Administration) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/33 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Administration) Regulations (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
SR 2009/34 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has consideredSR 2009/34 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment and Transitional Provisions) Regulations (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
SR 2009/61 – The Surface Waters (Shellfish) (Classification) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/61 – The Surface Waters (Shellfish) (Classification) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
SR 2009/76 – The Waste Management Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009
Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for the Environment has considered SR 2009/76 – The Waste Management Licensing (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and has no objection to the rule.
8. Proposals for Secondary Legislation
SL1 – The Waste Batteries and Accumulators (Treatment and Disposal) Regulations (NI) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee considered The SL1 – The Waste Batteries and Accumulators (Treatment and Disposal) Regulations (NI) 2009 and had no objection to the proposal.
SL1 – The Waste Batteries and Accumulators (Charges) Regulations (NI) 2009
Agreed: That the Committee considered SL1 – The Waste Batteries and Accumulators (Charges) Regulations (NI) 2009 and had no objection to the proposal.
9. Departmental Consultations
Members considered the following Departmental consultations:
Consultation on the proposed changes to the Waste Management Charging Scheme ( Northern Ireland) – synopsis of responses
Agreed: That Departmental officials are invited to brief the Committee at a future meeting.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Mr Barry Johnson, Director Enva NI Ltd, establishing the level of his concerns on this matter.
Consultation Paper on revised NIEA Enforcement Policy
Agreed: That the Committee requests a synopsis of responses to the consultation.
Review of the Wildlife ( Northern Ireland) Order 1985 – synopsis of responses
Mr Gallagher left the meeting at 1.02p.m.
Agreed: That the Committee is content for the Department to proceed on this issue.
10. Forward Work Programme
Members noted the revised Committee Forward Work Programme.
11. Correspondence
(a) Objection letters regarding the proposed Rose Energy incinerator Plant for Ballyvannon Road, Ballinderry.
Agreed: That copies of the letters are forwarded to the DOE.
(b) E-mail from Central Committee Office to the Committee regarding Work-shadowing placements during Disability Week, 22nd to 28th June, 2009.
Agreed: That the Committee takes part in this initiative.
(c) E-mail from SEPA, responding to the Committee’s query on who is paying for the decision of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency to waive Scottish business fees, and how it is being carried out.
Agreed: That a copy of the e-mail is forwarded to DOE for comment.
Mr McKay left the meeting at 1.04p.m.
(d) Members noted an e-mail from Michael Martin regarding amended minutes from the Six Mile Water River Enhancement Association meeting held on Monday 9 th February 2009, 7pm Antrim Civic Centre .
(e) Members noted a Departmental response to the Committee’s request for further information regarding the revised DOE Infraction Schedule following the Committee’s meeting on 5th March 2009.
(f) Members noted an e-mail from Richard Goddard from Capita, inviting the Committee to their 2nd Annual conference “Northern Ireland Governance” on Friday 20 th March at the Holiday Inn Belfast.
(g) Members noted an e-mail from Lisa McElherron, Child Poverty Alliance, inviting the Committee to a series of Child Poverty Alliance seminars.
(h) Members noted a letter from Geoff Nuttall, Head of WWF Northern Ireland inviting the Chairperson to speak at the launch of the WWF RIPPLE project’s River Action Plan at Wellbrook Beetling Mill, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on Saturday, 2 May 2009 at 11.30am.
(i) E-mail from Ray Hayden, Anglewise, to the Chairperson, requesting the opportunity to arrange a meeting to discuss aviation matters, specifically the proposed runway extension at the George Best Belfast City Airport.
Agreed: That arrangements are made for Mr Ford and Mr Clarke to meet Mr Hayden.
(j) Members noted the following DOE Press Releases and general publications:
“Lurgan farmer fined for polluting discharge to a waterway”
“Craigavon farmer fined £2,000 for eight waste offences”
“Cookstown Quarry owner fined £5,000 for waste offences”
“Marine Spatial Planning – delivering sustainability in a multiuse environment”
“Environmental Protection UK March 2009,”
“Mobile Phones to deliver drink drive message in bars and clubs”
“ Europe’s World newsletter”
“NIEL News March 2009”
“Ripple News, edition 2 Spring 2009”
“Cavan-Tyrone and Meath-Cavan 400KV transmission circuits, final report February 2009”
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 26 March 2009 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.09 p.m.