COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2009,
ROOM 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr John Dallat
Mr David Ford
Mrs Dolores Kelly (Chairperson)
Mr Danny Kinahan
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Daithi McKay
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Dr Alex McGarel (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Colin Jones (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Nathan McVeigh (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Antoinette Bowen (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
The meeting began in public session at 10.a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are listed above.
2. Minutes
The minutes of the meeting on 5 November were agreed.
3. Chairperson’s business
The Chairperson thanked the Deputy for acting on her behalf at the Committee Stakeholder event and Consideration Stage of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)Bill when she was absent due to a family bereavement.
The Chairperson informed members that the visit to the Tayto factory to view an oil recycling project has been scheduled for Wednesday 9 th December.
Agreed: That the visit would be re-scheduled for Thursday 10 th December to facilitate Members in carrying out other committee or constituency work.
Members noted the dates for the proposed Copenhagen visit.
Agreed: That the last Committee meeting would be on the 3 December to accommodate the proposed visits.
Mr Alastair Ross joined the meeting at 10.08am
4. Matters arising
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with further information from the Department and the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force in relation to marine issues as requested by members at the meeting on 8 October.
Members were also informed that The Minister had advised that the UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill would be in place by the end of 2009, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive would be in place by 2010 and that a Northern Ireland Marine Bill was planned for introduction to the Assembly in 2011. The Minister further stated that DOE is developing new legislative proposals including the introduction of new mechanisms for integrated planning; management and protection of the marine environment and will monitor the outcome of pilot projects in other parts of the UK.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Minister asking about bringing forward more localised pilot projects on marine protected areas and marine spatial planning. It was also agreed that the Marine Task Force would be contacted asking for a copy of their report into the cost of a Marine Management Organisation.
The Chairperson informed members that they had been provided with a Departmental reply to the Committee’s query on the recruitment of enforcement officers via a recruitment agency.
Agreed That a letter is sent to the Department asking if the recruitment figures between temporary and permanent staff are an exact comparison.
The Chairperson informed members that they have been provided at with a Departmental reply to a Committee query on the potential impact of resource constraints in their Road Safety Division on the risk of infractions.
Agreed: That a letter would be sent to the Minister indicating the Committee’s concerns about the lack of a strategic approach in the Road Safety Division and the consequent lack of opportunity for the Division to contribute to policy development.
Mr Cathal Boylan joined the meeting at 10.20am
The Committee noted a Departmental reply to its request for further information on procurement methods used by Local Government Policy Division.
The Chairperson informed members that they have been provided with a Departmental reply to Committee queries on the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s Draft Enforcement Policy.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the Department asking how many prosecutions there were in total, at what level the fines were set and if all the fines been collected? Also, asking about the Department’s liaison with the court service and reimbursement for councils to clean up waste.
Agreed: that a letter would be sent to the Minister enquiring about the possibility of setting up a specialist environment court in Northern Ireland to deal with environmentally linked offences.
Mr Daithi McKay joined the meeting 10.35am
Mr John Dallat left the meeting at 10.35am
Mr Peter Weir left the meeting at 10.42am
The Chairperson informed members that they have been provided with a reply from the DFP Minister to a Committee query on SWIF funding.
Agreed: that a copy of the letter would be sent to the Minister asking how he intends to take the SWIF funding forward.
5.Statutory Rules
Members considered SR 2009/353 - Game Preservation (Special Protection for Irish Hares) Order (NI) 2009 and had no objections to the rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report.
Mr John Dallat rejoined the meeting at 10.46am
Mr Peter Weir rejoined the meeting at 10.46am
6. Consultations
UK-wide Statutory Instrument: Banning of Exports of Metallic Mercury – Closure of consultation – Summary of Responses
Agreed: To note the synopsis of responses
7. Correspondence
1. Email from Peter Ward in relation to the proposed designation ASSI 288 Lisnaragh Dunamanagh.
Agreed: That a letter would be sent to Mr Ward asking for more details on his concerns. Also to write to the Department asking for their position on aggregate geomapping for natural resources
2. Letter from Malachy Campbell (Policy Officer WWF NI) in relation to a possible meeting with the Environment Committee.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Mr Campbell stating that the Committee would be pleased to invite him to a speed dating event in the New Year
3. Email from the Department responding to Mr Duff’s email on taxis issues.
Agreed: That this response would be forwarded to Mr Duff
Members noted the following items of correspondence:
4. Correspondence from Ian Lush in relation to the Architectural Heritage Fund Annual Review 2008/09.
5. Email form the British Heart Foundation NI in relation to their campaign “A Fit Choice?”.
6. Email from Chairpersons’ Liaison Group in relation to key issues discussed and decisions taken at its meeting on 20 October 2009.
7. Email from Committee on Climate Change in relation to the Climate Change newsletter – November 2009.
8. Correspondence from SevenMeters Project in relation to 7 meters rise in sea levels.
9. Email form the Department in relation to Key Outcomes and Summary from the last Strategic Leadership Board meeting.
10. Letter on behalf of D-Engineering in relation to objection to invest NI funding for proposed Rose Energy Incinerator at Glenavy.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to Mr Kerr noting that this aspect is a matter for DETI and to inform him of the Committee’s position on Rose Energy. Also write to dept asking for an update on Rose Energy proposals
11. Memo form the Committee on Procedures in relation to Departmental performance on answering written questions.
12. Memo form DALO in relation to a response to the Committee’s request for further information in relation to the proposed North South Electricity Interconnector.
13. Copy of NEBOSH News
14. Correspondence from the Committee on Climate Change in relation to a report – “Meeting Carbon Budgets – the need for a step change”.
Members noted the following invitations:
Invitation to the Building for the Future: “Sustainability in the Built Environment”.
Invitation to RSPB’s Nature’s Hotspots
“Photography Exhibition”.
RTPI Conferences 2009.
Invitation from NIEA to the launch of “Radon in Dwellings in Northern Ireland Report”.
8. Any other business
9. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 19 November 2009 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings, at 10.00a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the open meeting at 10.50 a.m. and the Committee discussed its Climate Change Inquiry Report in closed session until 1p.m.