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

Apologies:-
Mr J Leslie
Mr M Murphy

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

The meeting commenced at 10.34am.

The minutes of the meeting of 5 April 2001 were agreed.

The Committee discussed the latest response from the Department on this matter.

Agreed: To await the outcome of the proposed survey of hare numbers and further legal advice.

(b) Proposed ferry crossing - the outcome of the economic appraisal from Newry and Mourne District Council is awaited; and

The Committee discussed recent requests to give presentations to the Committee.

Agreed: To receive presentations from:

(i) North West Taxi Proprietors Association;

(ii) Causeway Coast Community Consortium ; and

(iii) NI Environment Link

The Committee discussed the latest response from the Department on the recent round of bids.

Agreed: To write to the Department:

(i) as to why the Sustainable Development Strategy was not considered as a cross-cutting initiative; and

(ii) to receive assurance that the Department will be pro-active in future rounds.

Mr George Dillon, Mr David Walker and Mr John Brogan, Officials from the Department joined the meeting at 10.53am.

The Officials gave a presentation on the Department's Consultation Document on Mutual Recognition of Driving Offences. After their presentation, the Officials answered questions from the Members.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.12am.

Agreed: To inform the Department that the Committee had no comment to make on the Consultation Document.

Mr Ian Maye and Mr Chris Wilson, Officials from the Department, joined the meeting at 11.13am. They gave a presentation on the issues and problems on Tree Preservation Orders. After their presentation, the Officials answered questions from the Members.

The Chairman thanked the Officials for their presentation and they left the meeting at 12.03pm.

Agreed: To write to the Department to remind Officials of the commitments given during the question session with the Members.

The Committee discussed the SL1 from the Department on this proposed Rule.

Agreed: To write to the Department to ask why there should be such a disparity between the NI and GB rates in Appendix C.

The following Motion was put to and agreed by the Committee:

That the Environment Committee has considered the Historic Monuments (Class Consents) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule (subject to report from the Statutory Examiner of Rules.)

The Committee discussed a letter from the Department on the current position regarding the Consultation Document.

Agreed: To write to the Department to emphasise the role of the Committee within the consultation process.

The Committee received a further copy of a draft Report for consideration.

Agreed: (i) The principle to appoint a specialist advisor to consider the report; and

(ii) To discuss this draft Report at the meeting on 3 May 2001.

The Committee noted the recent appeal hearing in Antrim Forum.

Agreed: To write to the Department to advise of the Committee's concerns on this issue.

The Committee discussed some concerns about a landfill site.

Agreed: To reconsider this issue at a later meeting.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held in Room 144, Parliament Buildings on Thursday, 3 May 2001 at 10.30am.

The meeting closed at 12.40pm.

5 April 2001 / Menu/ 3 May 2001