Proceedings of the Environment Committee
Minutes of meeting held on Thursday, 26 October 2000
in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
1. Presentation by the Minister and senior officials regarding the Programme for Government and the Department's Budget
2. Public Inquiry into the transport of children travelling to and from school
3. Minutes of the last meeting
4. Matters arising
5. Statutory Rules
6. Any Other Business
7. Date of Next Meeting
Present were: Rev. Dr W McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr T Benson
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr J Leslie
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
In Attendance: Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie ( Executive Support)
Mr J Nulty ( Administrative Support)
Apologies: Mr D Watson
The meeting commenced at 9.45am.
1. Presentation by the Minister and senior officials regarding the Programme for Government and the Department's Budget.
The Minister, Mr Sam Foster, accompanied by Mr Stephen Quinn, Permanent Secretary, Mr David Thomson, Director of Corporate Services and Mr Jim Lamont, Acting Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service joined the meeting at 9.45am.
Mr M McLaughlin joined the meeting at 9.51am
Mr D Ford joined the meeting at 9.55am.
The Minister gave a presentation on the Programme for Government and the Department's Budget and, along with his officials, answered member's questions on a range of relevant issues.
Mr J Leslie joined the meeting at 10.14am.
The Chairman thanked the Minister and his officials for their presentation and they left the meeting at 10.46am.
Mr D Ford left the meeting at 10.48am. top
2. Public Inquiry into the transport of children travelling to and from school
At 10.49am the Committee began to take evidence from the following officials of the Department:
Mr John Ritchie, Director of Road Safety and Vehicle Standards Division
Mr Stewart Martin, Director of Driver Vehicle Licensing NI
Mr Alistair Peoples, Director of Technical Policy, Driver Vehicle Testing Agency
After a short presentation, the officials answered questions from the members.
Mrs J Carson left the meeting at 11.53am.
Mrs J Carson returned to the meeting at 11.55am.
The Chairman thanked the officials for their evidence and they left the Inquiry at 12.03pm.
Mr T Benson left the meeting at 12.04pm. top
3. Minutes of the last meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2000 were agreed.
Ms C Hanna left the meeting at 12.05pm.
Ms C Hanna returned to the meeting at 12.07pm. top
4. Matters arising.
(a) The Committee noted the Department's reply to their letter about funding of Local Councils for implementation of the Waste Management Strategy.
Agreed: That the Clerk should write to the Department about the Committee's concerns on future funding arrangements and other assistance for Local Councils.
(b) The Committee noted that replies are outstanding on the following matters:-
(i) The Department is to reply about its Quality Initiative in relation to the Friends of the Earth correspondence about provision of playing space;
(ii) The Department is to reply about the relationship of the Historic Buildings Council with the EHS;
(iii) The Department is to reply about the siting of the storage plant belonging to McQuillan's;
(iv) An Economic Appraisal in respect of a proposed ferry across Carlingford Lough is awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council;
(v) The Department is to reply about its moratorium on Historic Buildings Grants;
(vi) The Minister is to reply about the proposed reviews of Local Government and the Planning Service;
(vii) The Public Hire Taxi Drivers Association is to forward a list of questions to be put to the Department.
5. Statutory Rules
(a) Road Traffic Offenders (NI) Order 1996
(b) Road Traffic (NI) Order 1981 and Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995
(c) Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) (NI) 1999
(d) Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations (NI) 1995
(e) Goods Vehicle (Testing) Regulations (NI) 1995 No. 450
(f) Public Service Vehicle Regulations (PSV) (NI) 1985 No. 123
These are to be laid before the Assembly and will be referred to the Committee for scrutiny. The Committee noted their contents at this stage. top
6. AOB
(a) Provisional Timetable for Evidence Sessions
The Committee agreed the provisional timetable prepared by the Clerk.
(b) Committee's response to draft Budget Allocations and Programme for Government
The Committee discussed how it should take forward the draft Budget allocations and Programme for Government.
Agreed: That the Clerk should prepare a paper for the Committee in advance of the meeting of 9 November 2000.
(c) Issue of Committee Papers
The Committee discussed the current timetable for the issue of papers to members.
Agreed: That the Committee papers should be left with members each Monday, subject to individual arrangements.
7. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 9 November 2000 at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings. top
The meeting closed at 12.24 pm
19 October 2000 / Menu