Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 27 September 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

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

Apologies: -
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)

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

The meeting commenced at 10.30 a.m.

The minutes of the meeting of 20 September 2001 were agreed.

(a) Ballyrickard Landfill Site - reply awaited from the Department

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

(c) Hare Coursing - reply awaited from the Department

Mrs J Carson joined the meeting at 10.34 a.m.

This agenda item was postponed until next week's meeting to allow the Department to resolve difficulties with the wording of a proposed amendment.

Mr D McClarty and Mr E Poots joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m.

Dr Wm. McCrea, Mr D McClarty, Mr M Murphy, and Mr E Poots declared an interest as Councillors before the next two items was discussed.

Mr David Thomson, Mr John Small and Mr Billy Hamilton, officials from the Department, joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m. They gave a presentation on the Department's perspective on the allocations proposed under the draft Budget. They then answered questions from Members.

Mr D Ford left the meeting and 11.00 a.m. and Mr J Leslie joined the meeting at 11.08 a.m.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.22 a.m.

Mr D McClarty left the meeting at 11.25 a.m. and returned at 11.34 a.m.

The Committee considered arrangements for the Committee Stage of this Bill including a letter from the Minister of the Environment to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. The Committee also considered responses from nine Local Councils on their views and concerns about this Bill.

Agreed: To write to the Clerk of the Public Accounts Committee seeking clarification on their involvement in the Committee Stage consideration of this Bill

To invite representatives from Local Councils to next week's meeting to discuss their concerns with the Bill.

The Committee discussed the draft Work Programme for September to December 2001.

Agreed: To invite Department Officials to present their proposals on the Dangerous Wild Animals Bill at next week's meeting

The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules now laid before the Assembly:

(a) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2001.

(b) The Community Drivers' Hours (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No.2) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2001

Dr Wm. McCrea, Mr D McClarty, Mr M Murphy, and Mr E Poots declared interests as Councillors before the next item was discussed.

(c) The Local Government (Discretionary Payments) Regulations (NI) 2001

(d) The Control of Pollution (Applications and Registers) Regulations (NI) 2001

(e) The Community Drivers' Hours (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No.2) (Amendment No.3) Regulations (NI) 2001

(f) The Community Drivers' Hours (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No.2) (Amendment No.4) Regulations (NI) 2001

The Committee noted the reports from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The following Motions were put and agreed by the Committee: -

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2001.

and has no objection to the Rule."

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Community

Drivers' Hours (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No.2)

(Amendment No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2001.and has no objection to the

Rule."

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Local Government

(Discretionary Payments) Regulations (NI) 2001and has no objection to

the Rule."

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Control of Pollution (Applications and Registers) Regulations (NI) 2001and has no objection to the Rule."

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Community

Drivers' Hours (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No.2)

(Amendment No. 3) Regulations (NI) 2001.and has no objection to the

Rule."

"That the Environment Committee has considered the Community

Drivers' Hours (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No.2)

(Amendment No. 4) Regulations (NI) 2001.and has no objection to the

Rule."

Dr Peter Doran, Assembly Researcher, joined the meeting at 12.02 p.m. He briefed the Committee on his assessment of the Department's response to the Committee's concerns and questions on the Consultation Document PPS 11 - Planning and Waste Management and the Committee discussed a draft response to the Department.

Agreed: To issue the Committee response to the Department's PPS 11 Consultation Document.

Mr M Murphy left the meeting at 12.17 p.m.

The Committee considered a letter to it.

Agreed: That the Clerk will review this case and present a paper to the Committee.

(a) The Chairman welcomed Miss Joanne Adair as Assistant Clerk to the Committee.

(b) The Chairman advised the Committee that Miss Mary Devine, Administrative Support, was leaving the Committee Office to take up post in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. On behalf on the Committee for the Environment, Dr McCrea thanked Miss Devine for her hard work and excellent service to the Committee.

11. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 4 October at 10.30am in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 12.27 p.m.

Chairperson
Dr Wm. McCrea MLA