Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 7 February 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present: -
Rev Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty
Mr F Molloy
Mr M Murphy
Mr D Watson

Apologies: -
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr J Leslie
Mr E Poots

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)

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 31 January 2002 were agreed.

2. Matters Arising

1. The Committee considered a letter from the Department of the Environment

responding to the Committee's request for clarification on how the Department intends to implement the amendment to Section 7(4) of the Game Preservation (Amendment) Bill.

Mrs Lewsley joined the meeting at 11.40 a.m.

The Department's letter advised the Committee that a team from Queens University Belfast would undertake the survey of the Irish hare population. The Survey is scheduled to begin in February 2002 and should be completed by September 2002; interim results would be made available to the Committee before September 2002.

Agreed: To invite representatives of the Hare Species Action Plan Steering Group to give a presentation to the Committee at the meeting on 11 April 2002 on progress made on the Species Action Plan and survey for the Irish hare.

2. The Committee considered a letter from the Department of the

Environment in which the Department agreed to provide a summary of the Planning (Amendment) Bill Policy Memorandum when it has been agreed by the Executive Committee.

Agreed: To write to the Department of the Environment requesting an immediate copy of the Policy Memorandum.

To invite Departmental Officials to give a presentation on the progress of the Planning (Amendment) Bill at next week's meeting.

3. The Committee noted a copy of a letter sent to the Minister of the

Environment from the Belfast Public Hire Taxi Association on issues surrounding the taxi industry and renewing the call for an urgent Review of the Taxi Industry in Northern Ireland.

4. The Committee considered information and copies of correspondence between the

Department of the Environment and the Department of Finance and Personnel on budgetary issues. These included the priority given to the Department's Waste Management Strategy by both Departments, the action taken by the Department of the Environment - including bids made under the December Monitoring Round - to take forward work on the evaluation of the Committee's Report into School Transport and other transport issues.

Agreed: To invite senior Departmental

Officials to give presentations at next week's meeting on its proposals for the timescale and funding of the Review of the Taxi Industry in Northern Ireland, the evaluation of the Committee's Report into School

Transport and the Department's Road Safety Strategy 2001 - 2010.

3. Replies Outstanding

1. Proposed ferry - update awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council. A further letter was sent to the Council on 31 January 2002 although it has been suggested that the proposal for a ferry has been withdrawn.
2. Ballyrickard Landfill Site - reply awaited from Larne Borough Council. Contact has been made with the Chief Executive's office and a letter from the Council is expected in the near future.
3. Road Safety Strategy 2001 - 2010 - reply awaited from the Department of the

Environment. The Minister of the Environment is currently considering a draft response.

4. EC Directive 2001/18 on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms

Mr Donald Starritt and Mrs Liz McCullough, Officials from the Department of the Environment, joined the meeting at 12.05 p.m. They gave a presentation and answered Members' questions on the Department's proposals for the implementation of the requirements of the EU Directive on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms into Northern Ireland law. Key issues discussed the need for informed public debate and the need for open, innovative and effective consultation, which takes on board ethical and social concerns as well as scientific and commercial interests. The Officials agreed to provide the Committee with copies of the responses received on this Consultation Document.

Agreed: To consider a draft response, based on

Members' questions and comments, at the Committeemeeting on 21 February 2002.

5. Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations and Code of Practice

The Committee considered a Consultation Document issued by the Department of the Environment on its proposals for draft Regulations and a Code of Practice on the management of controlled waste.

Agreed: To invite Officials from the Department of the Environment to give a presentation on the above Consultation Document at the Committee meeting on 21 February 2002.

6. Request for Presentation

The Committee considered a request from a firm of consulting engineers to give a presentation on waste disposal and renewable energies in Northern Ireland.

Agreed: To write to the Department seeking its comments on the request.

7. Any Other Business

1. The Committee noted a number of letters and papers including:

• A draft Committee Work Programme for February and March 2002;

• A letter from the Causeway Coast Communities Consortium seeking to give a presentation to the Committee on concerns about development of the Causeway Coast area.

Agreed: To invite representatives of the Causeway Coast Communities Consortium to give a presentation to the Committee at the meeting on 28 February 2002.

• A news article and further correspondence from a member of the public and a draft Committee response regarding the proposed developments at the Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre;

Agreed: To issue the response to the member of the public.

• Information and a copy of a letter to the Secretary of the UK Sustainable Development Commission regarding the Committee's decision to host a lunchtime seminar/reception for Members of the Commission during their visit to Belfast on 12 March 2002;

• A letter from Magherafelt District Council regarding its support for the revised 7 Clause Local Government (Best Value) Bill;

• A copy of the Committee response on the Department of the Environment's Consultation Document 'Shared Horizons - Protected Landscapes in Northern Ireland';

• A copy of a letter from a member of the public and a response from the Department of the Environment regarding the need for the provision of a footpath at Woodfield, Jordanstown;

Agreed: To forward a copy of the Department's response to the member of the public and to refer the matter to Committee for Regional Development.

• A letter from the Department of the Environment on the Committee's comments regarding the Consultation Document on Local Air Quality Assessment and Management in Northern Ireland;

• A letter from Professor Brian Wood, Chairman of the Lough Neagh Advisory Committee regarding concerns about the draft Northern Ireland Eutrophication Strategy;

Agreed: To write to the Department requesting its comments on the concerns raised by Professor Wood and to refer the matter to the Committee for Agriculture Rural Development.

• A copy of a letter from the Committee to the National Trust regarding the Trust's concerns about the sale of land at the Giant's Causeway; and

• A letter from the Department of the Environment advising the Committee that it intends to take forward secondary legislation to remove the 'permitted planning rights' in relation to all mobile phone masts for consideration by the Assembly possibly in February 2002.

8. Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 14 February 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 12.43 p. m.

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)