COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
OFFICIAL REPORT
(Hansard)
Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
15 April 2010
Members present for all or part of the proceedings:
Mr Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr Roy Beggs
Mr Alastair Ross
Mr Peter Weir
Mr Brian Wilson
The Chairperson (Mr Boylan):
Members have been provided with a copy of the Committee’s draft report on the Bill, and we will shortly go through each section asking members to agree. Before finalising that, members are asked to consider a response from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to our queries about deer farming exemptions; a letter from the Ulster Wildlife Trust in response to issues raised during its briefing of the Committee; a letter from Dr Donald regarding the Committee’s decision on the Irish hare; and a submission from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in response to our request for information on the impact of the new biodiversity duty on the public sector. Are members content to note that information and include it in the report?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
I will now take members through each section of the report, asking you to agree them individually and to note the approach and contents of the appendices which were agreed at the last meeting and are now being formally accepted. I need your attention for a couple of minutes, members, to get through this. Bear in mind that we have been through this at Committee Stage and we need to agree the report today. Anybody who has any other suggestions will have an opportunity to debate them in the Chamber.
Are members content with the executive summary at pages 4-10?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with the recommendations at pages 11-14?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with the introduction at pages 15 and 16?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with the consideration of the Bill by the Committee at pages 17-21? I will give you one minute to look at that.
Mr Weir:
It is basically a synopsis of the briefing.
The Chairperson:
Are members agreed?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with the key issues at pages 22-30?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill at pages 31-36?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with appendix 1, the minutes of proceedings, which is part of the tabled papers today?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with appendix 2, the minutes of evidence?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with appendix 3, the written submissions? That is all part of the tabled papers.
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with appendix 4, the list of witnesses?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with appendix 5, the Assembly research papers?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Are members content with appendix 6, which is other papers submitted to the Committee?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
I also ask members if they are content for the report to contain the relevant extracts from the minutes of today’s meeting, as well as the minutes of evidence. Members will be agreeing to their inclusion in the report without prior sight of them. Are members agreed?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Now that we have agreed, the report will be ordered to be printed and submitted to the Business Office as the Committee’s official report on the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill — the end of the Committee Stage. Are members agreed?
Members indicated assent.
The Chairperson:
Thank you very much.