The Northern Ireland Assembly - PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

Membership

What's Happening

Committees

Publications

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 22 MARCH 2001
IN ROOM 144 PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Present were:- Rev Dr Wm McCrea MP (Chairman)
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr J Leslie
Mr D McClarty
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

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

Apologies:- Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr M Murphy

The meeting commenced at 10.30am.

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 15 March 2001 were agreed.

2. Matters arising from previous meetings

Historic Buildings Grant

The Committee discussed the recent letter from the Department on this subject.

Capture of Hares in Northern Ireland

The Committee discussed the recent letter from the Department on this subject.

Agreed: That the legal advice received by the Department should be questioned on the basis of the forthcoming Species Action Plan and commitments within the Programme for Government.

Reply Outstanding

The Committee noted the interim reply from Newry and Mourne Distrtict Council pending the outcome of the economic appraisal.

3. Code of Conduct for Councillors.

The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for the Environment, Mr Sam Foster, on this subject.

Agreed: That the letter from the Minister should be acknowledged, welcoming the commitment to provide further information, when it becomes available.

4. European Commission changes to the Driving Test.

The Committee noted the requirement to change the Driving Test in order to comply with European law.

Agreed: That details of the proposed changes, particularly in relation to motorcyclists, should be circulated to Members.

5. Statutory Rules.

The following Question was put to the Committee and agreed:-
That the Environment Committee has considered:-

The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2001;
The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No 2) Regulations (NI) 2001;
The Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) Regulations (NI) 2001
The Local Government Pension Scheme (Pension Sharing on Divorce) Regulations (NI) 2001
and has no objection to the Rules."
6. Presentation by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).

Mr Ronan Gorman and Mr Robert Irvine joined the meeting at 10.40am and gave a presentation on behalf of the BASC.

Mrs J Carson joined the meeting at 10.46am.
Mr D Ford and Mr D McClarty left the meeting at 10.55am.

Agreed: As there was insufficient time in which to ask questions of the BASC, they should be invited back to a future meeting.

The Chairman thanked them for their presentation and they left the meeting at 11.17pm.

Mrs J Carson left the meeting at 11.17pm.
Mr E Poots left the meeting at 11.19pm.

7. Presentation by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

Mr John Marsh, Mrs Deirdre Connolly-Hanna, Mr Jim Kennedy and Alderman Valerie Kinghan joined the meeting at 11.19pm and gave a presentation on APSE's views on the proposed Best Value legislation.

Mr E Poots rejoined the meeting at 11.30pm and left at 11.31pm.

At 11.35pm Dr McCrea indicated that he intended to leave the meeting and it was agreed that, in the absence of both the Chairman and Deputy Chairperson, Mr J Leslie would take the Chair.

Dr McCrea left the meeting at 11.38pm

As the number of Members then present was less than the number required for a quorum in accordance with Section 47 (7) of Standing Orders, the meeting was adjourned until Thursday 29 March 2001 in accordance with Section 44 (6) of Standing Orders.

15 March 2001 / Menu / 29 March 2001