Apologies:

Ms C Hanna
Mrs J Carson
Mr E Poots
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)
Ms C Angelone (Administrative Support)

The meeting commenced at 10.34 a.m.

Mr Leslie joined the meeting at 10.35 a.m.
Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.36 a.m.

The Chairperson and Members expressed their sincere congratulations to the Deputy Chairperson, Ms Carmel Hanna, on her recent appointment as Minister for Employment and Learning and thanked Ms Hanna for all her hard work and dedicated service as Deputy Chairperson to the Committee for the Environment.

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 13 December 2001 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

(i) The Committee considered letters from the three Regional Waste Management
Groups and the Department of the Environment providing updates on progress made in spending the remaining £2.5m Waste Management budget for 2001-2002.

(ii) The Committee considered a response from the Department of the
Environment commenting on a letter from Professor Montgomery, Queens University Belfast regarding studies and conservation of the Irish hare.

3. Replies Outstanding

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

(ii) Ballyrickard Landfill Site - Reply awaited from Larne borough Council.

4. Review of the Resource Element of the General Exchequer Grant

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

Ms Marie Finnegan, Ms Vivienne Collins and Dr Tracy Powers, Officials from the Department, joined the meeting at 10.55 a.m. After giving a presentation to the Committee on the above consultation paper; they answered questions from the Members.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.34 a.m.

The Chairperson thanked the Officials for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.40 a.m.

5. Consultation Document on Proposals for a Local Air Quality Assessment and Management Bill in Northern Ireland

Ms Helen Anderson, Ms Anne Hall, and Mr Nigel McMahon, Officials from the Department, joined the meeting at 11.42 a.m. After giving a presentation to the Committee on the above consultation paper; they answered questions from the Members.

Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 11.48 a.m.

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

6. UK Ratification of the EU Driving Disqualification Convention

The Committee considered a draft response to the above consultation document, issued by the Department on behalf of the Home Office, regarding proposals for UK legislation to allow for mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between EU Member States.

7. Planning (Amendment) Bill

The Committee considered a letter from the Minister of the Environment on the above Bill including the Department's decision not to proceed with the Committee's proposals for this Bill to deal with third Party Appeals or to create a new offence where development has taken place without planning permission. The letter advised the Committee that a Policy Memorandum on the draft Bill is being presented to the Executive Committee.

8. Statutory Rules

The Committee gave consideration to the following SL1:

The Motor Vehicle (Third Party Risks) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

9. Any other Business

(i) The Committee noted a number of letters and papers including:

- Correspondence including a response from the Department of the Environment regarding the anti drink-drive campaign organised by the Bradley and Veeder families following the deaths of Robert Bradley and Alexandra Veeder as a result of a drink-drive incident;

- A Press Release issued by the Department of the Environment regarding road deaths and serious injuries in Northern Ireland during 2001;

- A letter from Seaport Investments Limited seeking a meeting with the Committee to give a presentation and to discuss proposed developments at the Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre;

- A letter from a member of the public regarding the need for more detailed information in the Department of the Environment's Public Service Agreement;

- An invitation to Members to a Local Air Quality Evaluation Workshop sponsored by the three devolved administrations in Birmingham on 28 January 2002; and

- A letter from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment seeking the Committee's comments regarding its Report on an Inquiry into Energy.

(ii) The Committee noted that guidance on Consideration Stage Debate of the Local Government (Best Value) Bill was being prepared and would be available for consideration at next week's meeting.

10. Next Meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 17 January 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.50 p.m.

Signed

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)