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

Apologies: Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr D Watson

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

The meeting commenced at 10.35 a.m.

The minutes of the meeting of 27 September 2001 were agreed.

1. Ballyrickard Landfill Site - reply awaited from the Department.
2. Proposed Ferry - update awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council.
3. Hare Coursing - reply awaited from the Department.

Action: To pursue these responses.

Ms Judena Goldring and Mr John Milburne, Officials from the Department of the Environment joined the meeting at 10.37 a.m. They gave a presentation on the wording of the proposed amendment and answered Members' questions.

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

The Committee considered written responses from 16 Local Councils on their views and concerns and a response from the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee to the Minister of the Environment on this Bill. The Committee also considered options to extend the period of the Committee Stage of the Bill and possible amendments to the Bill.

Mr Peter McNaney and Mr John Millar from Belfast City Council, Ms Catherine McFarland and Mr Sam Magee from Antrim Borough Council, and Mr Pat Cumisky and Councillor Wilfred McFadden from Banbridge District Council, joined the meeting at 10.54 a.m. They gave presentations on their views and concerns about this Bill and answered Members' questions.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 12.16 p.m.

Mr Norman Simmons and Mr Chris Savage, Officials from the Department of the Environment joined the meeting at 12.17 p.m. and gave a presentation on the proposals for the Bill. They then answered questions from the Members.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 12.51 p.m.

Action: To write to the Department regarding the Committee's concerns on the Bill and to ask further questions.

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

(a) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) (Test Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

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

"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Motor
Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) (Test Fees) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule."

The Committee gave further consideration to the following SL1:

(b) The Road Vehicle (Lighting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.

(c) The Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth Disease) (Temporary Exception) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

Action: The Committee had no comment to make on the proposed Rules.To write to the Department regarding extending any future GB legislation on the manufacture of licence plates to Northern Ireland.

The Committee continued in Closed Session from 12.55 p.m.

The Committee considered a letter to it.

Action: To respond to the letter as agreed.

1. The Committee considered a draft letter to the Department of the Environment regarding the Draft Budget 2002-03.

Action: To issue letter to the Department as agreed

2. The Committee considered the recent decision to grant permission to open
   a nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria.

Action: To write to the Department seeking their position on this matter.

The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 11 October at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 1.08 p.m.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA