1. Statutory Rule- Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000
2. Public inquiry into transport used by children travelling to and from school
3. Minutes of last meeting
4. Matters arising
5. Reply from the Department regarding the Draft Road Safety Strategy
6. Statutory Rules
7. Consultation Documents
8. Granting of Licences by the EHS to capture live Hares for Coursing
9. Correspondence from RSPB
10. Date of next meeting

Present were: Rev. Dr W McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr D Ford
Mr J Leslie
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

In Attendance: Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr J Nulty ( Executive Support)
Ms M Devine ( Administrative Support)

Apologies: Mr T Benson
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty

The meeting commenced at 10.17am.

The members viewed the video provided as part of the submission from the General Consumer's Council.

The following officials from the Department joined the meeting at 10.23am:-
Mr John Ritchie - Director Mr Jim Rankin - Road Safety Branch
Ms Adele Watters - Statistics & Research Mr Stirling Stewart - Legislation

After a short presentation, the officials answered questions from the members.

The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 10.50am.

The following motion was put and agreed by the Committee:-

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Extension) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 and recommends that it be affirmed by the Assembly."

(a) At 10.50am the Committee began to take evidence from representatives of the General Consumer Council -

Maeve Bell - Chairperson
Alan Walker - Transport Spokesperson

After a short presentation, the representatives answered questions from the members.

The Chairman thanked the representatives for their presentation and they left the meeting at 11.26am.

(b) At 11.29am the Committee began to take evidence from representatives of the Royal Ulster Constabulary:-

Chief Inspector Lawrence Hillar
Constable Norman Millar

After a short presentation, the representatives answered questions from the members.

The Chairman thanked the representatives for their presentation and they left the meeting at 12.05pm.

(c) Letter from the Department and extracts from Hansard regarding School Transport Inquiry.

The Committee discussed a letter received from the Department regarding the record of evidence from Mr Stewart Martin, DoE.

Agreed: That the Department should be asked to clarify the references to the numbers quoted.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2000 were agreed.

(a) Public Hire Taxi Drivers Association

The Committee noted the questions submitted by the Association.

Agreed: That the Association's questions along with the issues raised when the Association appeared before the Committee should be sent to the Department for comment.

(b) McQuillan Skip Hire

The Committee noted the reply from the Department for Regional Development (DRD).

Agreed: That an official from DRD should be asked to attend the meeting on 25 January 2001 to answer members' questions.

(c) Arena Network Conference -

The Committee noted the reply from the Department.

Agreed: That the Clerk should arrange for research to be done on WRAP.

(d) Replies are awaited in the following:

(i) Proposed ferry - an economic appraisal is awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council;

(ii) Historic Buildings Grant - the Historic Buildings Council (HBC) is to reply about the effects of the moratorium;

(iii) Relationship of the HBC with the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) - a reply is awaited from the HBC;

(iv) RSPB approach regarding ASSIs - a reply is awaited from the Department;

(v) Local Government Elections - the Secretary of State has written to the Chairman to say that he will reply shortly;

(vi) Provision and maintenance of open spaces - a reply is awaited

from the Department.

The Committee considered the reply from the Department.

Agreed: That the Department should be asked to provide the Committee with its present work-in-progress draft document on the Road Safety Strategy.

(a) Bus Permits (Designated Bodies) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2000

The following motion was put to the Committee and agreed:-

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Bus Permits (Designated Bodies) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 and has no objection to the Rule."

(b) The Public Service Vehicles (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

The following motion was put to the Committee and agreed:-

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Public Service Vehicles (Amendment No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and has no objection to the Rule."

(c) The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

The following motion was put to the Committee and agreed:-

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and has no objection to the Rule."

(a) Best Value legislation for Local Government in Northern Ireland.

(b) Draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland ) 2001 - the "Scope" Regulations.

(c) Draft Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

The Committee discussed its response to these documents.

Agreed: (i) That the Best Value Consultation document should be referred to the Assembly researchers to consider and report back to the Committee;

(ii) That the Department should be asked to attend a future meeting to brief the Committee on this document;

(iii) That the Committee will not comment at this stage on Regulations (b) and (c) above but will scrutinise these once the consultation process is complete and the Rules are laid in the Assembly.

The Committee discussed a letter received by the Chairman on this issue.

Agreed: That the letter should be referred to the Department for comments, especially on the environmental and conservation aspects.

The Committee discussed two recent letters from the RSPB about funding for the Department of the Environment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Agreed: That members may want to raise the relevant issues during the forthcoming debate on Departmental Budgets.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 14 December 2000 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 12.36pm.