Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 6 June 2002 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

Present:
Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Ms P Lewsley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr D McClarty
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson

Apologies:
Mr B Armstrong
Mrs J Carson
Mr F Molloy

In Attendance:
Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Ms C Angelone (Clerical Officer)
Mr J Nulty (Clerical Officer)
Ms C Flynn (Clerical Supervisor)

1. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting of 30 May 2002 were agreed.

Mr Poots joined the meeting at 10.32am

2. Matters Arising

1. Control of Pollution, Silage, Slurry and Fuel Oil Regulations

The Committee considered a response on the above Regulations from the Ulster Farmers' Union.

Agreed: The Committee to forward UFU response to Department for comment.

3. Replies Awaited

Member's attention was drawn to a number of replies awaited.

4. AOB

The Committee noted a number of papers including:

1. A response from the First Minster and Deputy First Minister regarding the proposed Terms of Reference for the Review of Public Administration and a seminar invitation on the Review.
2. A conference invitation: 'Towards the Creation of a Compact City' organised by the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group.
3. CBI response to Modernising Planning Processes Consultation Paper.

5. Proposed Extension of Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs Etc) Bill.

The Committee considered a letter from the Minister, regarding a proposal to extend the above Westminster Bill to include Northern Ireland. The Committee generally welcomed the proposal. However further discussion of this Bill was postponed until Departmental Officials were able to join the meeting.

6. Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations

The Committee gave consideration to the above Consultation Document and a draft response to the document.

Agreed: To issue Committee's response to the Department.

Mr Poots left the meeting at 10.43am
Mr Poots rejoined the meeting at 10.47am

7. Pollution, Prevention and Control Bill

Mr Dermot Nesbitt, the Minister of the Environment, Judena Goldring and Norman Simmons, Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 10.47a.m.

The Minister made a short opening statement and he and Officials answered Members' questions on his proposal for accelerated passage of the above Bill. Key issues discussed included the proposed Bill's impact on the farming/poultry sector, how other Member States dealt with the IPPC Directive and the timetable for progression of the Bill under accelerated passage.

The Chair thanked the Minister and Officials they left the meeting at 11.44am.

Mr Ford left the meeting at 11.45am
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.45am

8. No. 5 (Cont'd) Proposed Extension of Private Hire Vehicles (Carriage of Guide Dogs Etc) Bill.

The Committee returned to the above item. Mr Stuart Martin and Mr Donald Armstrong, Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 11.45am and answered Members questions on the proposal. Key issues discussed included enforcement arrangements, level of penalties and the complaints system.

Mr Poots left the meeting at 11.46am
Mr Ford rejoined the meeting at 11.48am

The Chair thanked the Officials and they left the meeting at 11.52am.

Dr McCrea, Ms Lewsley and Mr Murphy declared interests as District Councillors before the next item was discussed.

9. Local Government (Misc Provisions) Bill

Mr Peter McNanney and Mr Ciaran Quigley representatives from Belfast City Council and Mr Trevor Rainey and Mr Roger Wilson representatives from Craigavon Borough Council joined the meeting at 11.53am. Mr Trevor Rainey also attended as a representative of SOLACE. Representatives gave short presentations and answered Members' questions on the above Bill.

Key issues discussed included the status of 'directions' in relation to powers of District Councils to promote economic development, vesting powers, duplication concerns with Community Safety Partnerships and emergency planning powers of District Councils.

Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 12.16pm
Mr Poots rejoined the meeting at 12.17pm
Both Members declared interests as local councillors before joining the discussion.

The Chair thanked the Council representatives and they left the meeting at 12.24pm.

Ms Marie Finnegan, Dr Tracy Power and Mr David Barr, Departmental Officials joined the meeting at 12.24pm.

Mr McClarty left the meeting at 12.43pm
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 12.47pm

Officials answered some of the points raised by the Council representatives and responded to Members' questions. The Officials left the meeting at 12.54pm.

Agreed: Departmental Officials to write to the Committee with a draft revise of the Bill.

10. No 7 (Cont'd) Pollution, Prevention and Control Bill

The Committee returned to the Minister's proposal for accelerated passage for the above Bill. The following motion was put to the Committee:

'That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Minister's proposal for accelerated passage and supports the proposal'

4 Members voted for the motion and 4 Members voted against the motion. Accordingly, the Committee could not support the proposal for accelerated proposal.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 13 June 2002 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 1.03pm

Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)