1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan
3. Blue Skies - Green Horizons Conference
4. The Water Order (NI) 1999
5. Radioactive Discharges
6. Statutory Rules
7. Replies Outstanding
8. Date of next meeting

Present were:- Rev Dr Wm McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

In Attendance:- Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr J Nulty (Executive Support)
Miss M Devine (Administrative Support)

Apologies:- Mr J Leslie
Mr M McLaughlin

The meeting commenced at 10.32am with Ms Hanna in the Chair.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2001 will be put before the Committee at their next meeting.

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The Committee noted the launch of the consultation process by the Department.

Agreed:- To invite officials of the Department to brief the Committee on the process.

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The Committee discussed the forthcoming Conference in the Waterfront Hall on 6 February 2001.

Agreed:- (i) That any member interested in going should advise the Committee Office as soon as possible; and

(ii) That the Committee should receive papers distributed at the Conference.

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At 10.37am the following officials from the Department joined the meeting:-
Mr Andy Harrison
Mr David Bell
Mr Clifford Henry
Mr Gabriel Nelson

After a short presentation on the two consultation documents before the Committee, the officials answered questions from the members.

The Chairman thanked then for their attendance and the officials left the meeting at 12.02pm.

Agreed:- That the Clerk would forward the outstanding questions to the Department for reply before deciding on the Committee's response to the documents.

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Mr Robert Larmour from the Department joined the meeting at 12.03pm. After a short presentation on the consultation document before the Committee, he answered questions from the members.

The Chairman thanked Mr Larmour for his attendance and Mr Larmour left the meeting at 12.49pm.

Agreed:- That the Clerk would forward any outstanding questions to the Department for reply before deciding on the Committee's response to the document.

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The Committee discussed each of the above Rules.

Agreed:- To refer all the Rules to the Assembly Researchers to ascertain the position in GB in relation to corresponding legislation.

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1. Proposed ferry - an economic assessment is awaited from Mourne and District Council;
2. Historic Buildings Grant - the Historic Buildings Council (HBC) is to reply on the effects of the moratorium;
3. The relationship of the HBC with the Environment and Heritage Service - a reply is awaited from the HBC;
4. Local Government Elections - a reply is awaited from the Office of the Secretary of State;
5. Public Hire Taxi Drivers - a reply is awaited from the Department to the questions sent.

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The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 25 January 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings at 10.15am. Because of the sensitive nature of an issue to be discussed, it was agreed the Committee would meet in Closed Session from 10.15am to 10.30am.

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The meeting closed at 12.58am.