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COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

WEDNESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present: Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
Willie Clarke MLA
John Dallat MLA
John McCallister MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
George Robinson MLA
Alastair Ross MLA
Jim Wells MLA
Brian Wilson MLA

In Attendance: Roisin Kelly (Assembly Clerk)
Conor Coughlin (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Pauline Devlin (Clerical Supervisor)
Annette Page (Clerical Officer)

Apologies: No apologies.

The Committee decided to begin the meeting in open session.

The meeting opened at 10.39 a.m. in open session.

1. Apologies.

No apologises were received.

2. Chairperson’s Business.

Members welcomed new Members Allan Bresland and Alastair Ross to the Committee for Regional Development. Members agreed to write to outgoing Members Stephen Moutray, MLA, and William Irwin, MLA, expressing their thanks for their service to the Committee.

Members noted the declaration of interests included in the tabled papers by new Members Allan Bresland and Alastair Ross.

Following discussion of the deferral of charges for water and sewerage services, Members decided to adjourn for 15 minutes at a later point in today’s meeting to allow Members to consider this issue and to agree a form of words.

3. Draft Minutes of the meeting of 10th September 2008.

Members agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 10th September 2008.

4. Matters Arising.

Members noted receipt of the letter dated 10th September 2008, from the Institute of Directors requesting a meeting with the Committee to present their views on the review of public transport. Members agreed to invite the Institute of Directors to brief the Committee on 25th September 2008.

Members noted the memo from the Committee for Finance and Personnel dated 11th September 2008 concerning the Committee’s request regarding Monitoring Round Submissions. Members agreed to note receipt of this information and to write to the Committee for Finance and Personnel in those terms.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 7th August 2008 from the Department concerning the Regional Innovation Strategy Action Plan. Members agreed to request that the Department provides quarterly updates on the DRD action points within the Regional Innovation Strategy.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 6th August 2008 concerning the Belfast Metropolitan Residents’ Group regarding the use of brownfield and greenfield sites. Following discussion of the importance of this topic, Members agreed to defer discussion of this matter, pending receipt of additional information, until the end of October 2008.

5. Correspondence

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 15th September 2008 to Mr. William Hay, MLA, Speaker to the Northern Ireland Assembly from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA, regarding changes to the dates of DARD and DRD oral questions.

Members noted receipt of a letter dated 15th September 2008, from the Department of Regional Development concerning the Removal of Exemption for Operators of Transport Services from the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Members agreed to request research from the Assembly Research and Library Service on this matter, and return to consider this topic once the OFMDFM consultation begins.

6. Dungiven Bypass

The Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, and Departmental officials Uel Wilson and Jim Beattie joined the meeting at 10.51 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Regional Development Minister and Departmental officials on the Dungiven Bypass.

The Regional Development Minister and Departmental officials left the meeting at 11.21 a.m.

The Dungiven Bypass Committee Chairman, Mr. Denis Hegarty, joined the meeting at 11.21 a.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Dungiven Bypass Committee.

The Dungiven Bypass Committee Chairman, Mr. Denis Hegarty, left the meeting at 11.32 a.m.

Following discussion, Members agreed to request quarterly updates from the Department on progress on the development of the Dungiven Bypass. Members also agreed to request that the Dungiven Bypass Committee liaise with local elected representatives and the Regional Development Minister on the issue, and that the Committee be kept informed on this matter.

The meeting was suspended at 11.44 a.m.

The meeting was reconvened at 12.00 p.m. with the following Members present:

Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson), Cathal Boylan MLA, Allan Bresland MLA, Willie Clarke MLA, John Dallat MLA, John McCallister MLA, Raymond McCartney MLA, George Robinson MLA, Alastair Ross MLA, Jim Wells MLA and Brian Wilson MLA.

Following discussion. Members agreed the text of a letter to the Executive, to be copied to the Regional Development Minister, regarding the deferral of charges for water and sewerage services. Members were content that the Chairperson would clear and sign the letter for issue.

7. Subordinate Legislation

Members noted the following new SL1s received in the Committee office this week.

Members noted that in the SL1 memos for the above proposals, no reference had been made to their having been the subject of a public inquiry, that the Department confirmed that all relevant local councils affected by the above proposals had been informed. Members also noted that the Committee office had not received any comments from the councils regarding the policy proposals.

Members decided they were content with the SL1s listed below which were noted at the meeting of 10 September 2008:

Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure but for Members’ information only:

Members noted receipt of the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees, which was published on 12 September 2008. Members noted the Examiner’s comments in relation to SR 2008/281 – The Penalty Fares Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 which, while drawing attention to a drafting defect, assert that the defect is not fatal to the operation of the Order. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered SR 2008/281 – The Penalty Fares Increase Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, Brian Wilson, Allan Bresland, Alastair Ross, Cathal Boylan and John Dallat.

All those against: None

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/279 – The Upper Galliagh Road, Londonderry (Stopping Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, Brian Wilson, Allan Bresland, Alastair Ross, Cathal Boylan and John Dallat.

All those against: None.

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/ 315 – The Cross-Border Railway Services (Working Time) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, Brian Wilson, Allan Bresland, Alastair Ross, Cathal Boylan and John Dallat.

All those against: None.

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered SR 2008/328 – The Westlink (Busways) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those in favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, Brian Wilson, Allan Bresland, Alastair Ross, Cathal Boylan and John Dallat.

All those against: None.

“That the Committee for Regional Development has considered SR 2008/349 - The T7 (Broadbridge) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.”

All those if favour: Fred Cobain, John Dallat, Raymond McCartney, John McCallister, Jim Wells, George Robinson, Brian Wilson, Allan Bresland, Alastair Ross, Cathal Boylan and John Dallat.

All those against: None.

Members noted that the Committee Clerk will notify the Business Office of the decisions reached by the Committee.

8. Environmental Noise Directive Draft Noise Action Plans (Roads, Railways and Airports).

Departmental officials Brian White, Ciaran Crilly and Liam McEvoy joined the meeting at 12.02 p.m.

The Committee received briefing from the Department on the Environmental Noise Directive Draft Noise Action Plans.

John Dallat left the meeting at 12.16 p.m.

Departmental officials Brian White, Ciaran Crilly and Liam McEvoy left the meeting at 12.23 p.m.

Following discussion, Members agreed to request that the Department and relevant stakeholders brief the Committee on the outcome of the public consultation process.

9. Any other business.

No other business was presented.

10. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.

The next meeting will begin at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21 on Wednesday 24th September 2008.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12. 25 p.m.

Signed: ……………………………………………
FRED COBAIN MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Regional Development.
Dated: ………………………………………….

10 Sept 08 / Menu