Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 17 September 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

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

Apologies:-
Mrs J Carson
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 10.17am.

The minutes of the meeting of 6 September 2001 were agreed.

The Committee considered a letter from the Department regarding the current hare population in NI and plans for a future survey.

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

(ii)Ballyrickard Landfill Site

The Committee discussed the role of the Department and Local Council in the operation of the above site.

Agreed: To write to the Minister with the Committee's concerns on this issue.

(i) Proposed Ferry - update awaited from Newry and Mourne Council.

Mr Brian Murphy, Mr Howard Platt and Mr John Milburn, Officials from the Department, joined the meeting at 10.25am. After giving a presentation to the Committee on the Bill, they answered questions from the Members.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 10.38am.

Mr Ronan Gorman, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, and Mr Will Chambre, Countryside Alliance for Northern Ireland, joined the meeting at 10.39am. They gave a presentation on their response to the Bill and then answered questions from the Members.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Gorman and Mr Chambre for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.01am.

Mr Brian Murphy and Mr John Milburn, Officials from the Department, rejoined the meeting at 11.02am and replied to some of the issues raised by Mr Gorman and Mr Chambre.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.06am.

Agreed: The Officials from the Department will come to the meeting on 20 September 2001 to deal with some outstanding issues.

The Committee discussed the SL1 from the Department.

Agreed: To write to the Department with some concerns of the Committee.

The Committee discussed the SL1 from the Department.

Agreed: The Committee had no comment on the proposed Rule.

The Committee noted the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The following Motion was put and agreed by the Committee:-

"That the Environment Committee has considered The Planning (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule."

The Committee discussed plans to address the issues that may arise from the forthcoming budgets for 2002 - 2003.

Agreed: (i) To write to the Department on how the Committee can be hampering the progress of the Dangerous Wild Animals Bill:

(ii) To invite Officials from the Department to the meeting on 20 September 2001 to give a further presentation on the proposed Planning Amendment Bill:

(iii)To write to the Department with the Committee's concerns about the progress on the Sustainable Development Strategy: and

(iv)To invite Officials from the Department's Finance Division to appear before the Committee on 27 September 2001.

The Committee discussed the forthcoming Second Stage reading of this Bill.

Agreed: For recent research on the Bill to be copied to Members today.

The Committee considered the plans to publicise the launch of the Report.

Agreed: To change the Press Release and to proceed with the publication arrangements as discussed.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 20 September 2001 at 10.00am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 11.40am.

Dr Wm McCrea MLA
(Chairperson)