Present were:-
Rev Dr Wm McCrea MP (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
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)
Mr J Nulty (Executive Support)
Miss M Devine (Administrative Support)

Apologies:-
Mr M Murphy

The meeting commenced at 10.32am.

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 22 March 2001 were agreed.

(b) Hare Coursing - a reply is awaited from the Department.

The Chairman advised the Committee of a letter he had received from the Minister for the Environment, Mr Sam Foster.

Agreed:
That the letter and associated papers should be copied to Members.

The Committee discussed the accessibility of the Funds and noted the bids submitted by the Department. The Committee also discussed a letter from the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee.

Agreed:
(i) To write to the Department about the limited scale and number of the bids submitted: and

(ii) To write to the Chairman of the Finance and Personnel Committee supporting that Committee's concerns at the lack of time given to consider this matter.

The Committee discussed correspondence referred to it by the Regional Development Committee.

Agreed: As the relevant planning application had been dealt with, the matter should be returned to the Regional Development Committee to progress.

Mr D McClarty left the meeting at 10.56am.

The Committee noted the forthcoming Public Inquiries by the Committee for the Centre and the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Agreed:
To advise that this Committee had no comments to make at this stage.

The following Rules were discussed by the Committee:-

Before the next item was discussed the following Members expressed an interest as Local Councillors - Dr W McCrea, Ms C Hanna, Mr A Doherty, Mrs J Carson, Mr D Ford and Mr E Poots.

Agreed:
The Committee had no comment to make on the Rules at this stage.

Dr Peter Doran joined the meeting at 11.05am and gave a presentation relating to the Department's Consultation Document on Telecommunication Masts.

Mr D McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11 .13am.

Dr Doran finished his presentation at 11.22am and the Chairman thanked him.

The Committee discussed a response to the Consultation Document in light of the evidence presented to it.

Mr D Ford left the meeting at 11.29am.

Agreed:
(i) A draft response should be prepared for the Committee's consideration at the meeting of 5 April 2001: and

(ii) A draft Press Release should also be prepared.

The Committee discussed the way forward on this matter.

Agreed:
(i) The Minister's Presentation of 15 March 2001 to the Committee and the Minister's letter of 20 March 2001 to the Committee should be sent to District Councils for their comments: and

(ii) A draft response to the Consultation Document should be prepared for the Committee's consideration at the meeting on 5 April 2001.

The Committee discussed a response to the draft Consultation Document.

Mr D McClarty left the meeting at 12.16pm.
Mr J Leslie left the meeting at 12.27pm.
Mr A Doherty left the meeting at 12.28am.

Agreed:
(i) Some issues identified by the Committee should be clarified: and

(ii) A draft response should be prepared for the Committee's consideration at the meeting on 5 April 2001.

Mr M McLaughlin left the meeting at 12.31pm.

The Committee discussed a letter about a recent decision.

Agreed:
A response would be deferred until next week's meeting.

The meeting closed at 12.40pm.