COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday 08 OCTOBER 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan MLA
Allan Bresland MLA
John Dallat MLA
John McCallister 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)
Jeff Mochan (Research Officer)
Apologies:
Willie Clarke MLA
Raymond McCartney MLA
The meeting opened at 10.36 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from Willie Clarke and Raymond McCartney.
2. Chairperson’s Business.
Brain Wilson joined the meeting at 10.38 a.m.
In response to a request, Members agreed to forward copies of briefing papers on public transport reform provided to the Committee at its meeting of 1 October 2008 by the Department for Regional Development, Translink/NITHC, The Consumer Council, the Federation of Passenger Transport and Northern Ireland Committee ICTU, to FirstGroup.
3. The Minutes of the meeting of 01 October 2008.
The minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters Arising.
Members noted receipt of four research papers supplied by the Consumer Council following the meeting of 24 September 2008. Members agreed to write to the Consumer Council acknowledging receipt of these research papers.
Members noted receiptof a letter from the Department for Regional Development indicating its intention to make a Statutory Rule entitledThe Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. Members agreed to invite Departmental officials to brief the Committee on the consultation.
Members noted receipt of information supplied by Northern Ireland Water concerning the flooding of the weekend 15, 16 and 17 August 2008 and a company review being undertaken. Members agreed to write to Northern Ireland Water requesting to be kept informed of the timescale, implementation and completion of the review.
John Dallat left the meeting at 10.42 a.m.
Members noted receipt of a quarterly update from Roads Service on abandonments and land identified for disposal.
Members noted receipt of an e-mail dated 25 September 2008 from a member of the public and a letter dated 1 October 2008 from the Department for Regional Development’s Permanent Secretary concerning the Rathlin Island ferry. Members agreed to forward the e-mail dated 25 September 2008 to the Department, and also to request that the Department provides briefing to the Committee prior to publication on the outcome of its investigations.
John Dallat re-joined the meeting at 10.45 a.m.
Members agreed the revised response to the Finance and Personnel Committee on the budget process in the Assembly and agreed to forward it to the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
Members agreed the draft interim response on public transport reform and agreed to forward it to the Minister for Regional Development.
5. Committee Inquiry – Transport and Sustainability
Members received briefing from the researcher on the subject of Transport and Sustainability. Following a question and answer session, Members requested further research on a number of topics, and thanked the researcher for his briefing.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 11.06 a.m.
The Chairperson resumed the meeting at 11.09 a.m.
John Dallat left the meeting at 11.25 a.m.
John Dallat re-joined the meeting at 11.36 a.m.
Members decided to move to closed session at 11.36 a.m.
Members decided to return to open session at 11.56 a.m.
Jeff Mochan left the meeting at 11.57 a.m.
Following discussion, Members decided on the remit, terms of reference, timing and handling of a Committee inquiry, and agreed that this information be published on the Committee web pages.
6. Subordinate Legislation
Jim Wells left the meeting at 12.00 p.m.
Members noted the following new SL1s received in the Committee office this week.
- The Waiting Restrictions (Magherafelt) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
- The Waiting Restrictions (Newry) (Amendment No.2) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
Members noted that in the SL1 memos for the above proposals, no reference is made to their having been the subject of a public inquiry, and that the Department has confirmed that all relevant local councils affected by the above proposals have been informed. Members also noted that the Committee office has 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 1 October 2008:
- The Parking and Waiting Restrictions (Donaghmore) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places on Roads (Lisnaskea) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure but are for Members’ information only:
- Parking Places on Roads (Strabane) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2008; and
- The Roads (Speed Limit) (No.5) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted receipt of the following Statutory Rules, which are subject to negative resolution. Members also noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules will forward his report before the end of the relevant statutory periods, which are 4 November 2008, and 11 November 2008 respectively:
- The Portmore Hill, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Tullygrawley Road, Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
Members noted the additional information concerning the SR - Trunk Road T21 ( Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008. Members decided that they were content with the Department’s proposals in relation to the SR – Trunk Road T21 ( Belfast to Carrickfergus) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee decided to consider the following Statutory Rules, subject to the content of the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The following questions were put and agreed:
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR 2008/384 The Kernan Grove and Centre Walk, Craigavon (Footpath) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules,, has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, John Dallat, Brian Wilson, George Robinson, John McCallister, Allan Bresland, Alastair Ross.
All those against: none
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered the SR/2008/385 - The Dunhugh Park, Londonderry (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, John Dallat, Brian Wilson, George Robinson, John McCallister, Allan Bresland, Alastair Ross.
All those against: none
Members agreed that the Clerk will notify the Business Office of the decisions reached by the Committee.
7. Correspondence.
Members noted a letter dated 1 October 2008 from the Department noting the Committee’s letter regarding the Dungiven Bypass.
Members noted a letter dated 2 October 2008 from Conor Murphy MP, MLA, advising the Committee of his intention to table a motion in relation to speed limits on Tuesday 21 October 2008.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 3 October 2008 from Conor Murphy MP, MLA, advising the Committee of his intention to table a motion in relation to traffic wardens on Tuesday 21 October 2008.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 2 October 2008 from the Chairman of the Construction Industry Group Northern Ireland (CIGNI) concerning the options for the construction industry given the current economic climate. Members decided to invite CIGNI to brief the Committee.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 3 October 2008 from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, advising that the Committee’s correspondence regarding water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland is currently under consideration.
Members noted receipt of an invitation to a Lifeline presentation on Monday 6 October 2008, emailed to Members on 1 October 2008.
Members noted receipt of a news release from the Department regarding the purchase of 30 fully accessible minibuses for Rural Community Transport Partnerships, distributed to Members on 6 October 2008.
8. Any other business.
Members noted that the following Committee Members have agreed to attend the conference on Wednesday 5 November 2008 in the Stormont Hotel on ‘Shaping our future: Reviewing Northern Ireland’s Regional Development Strategy’:
Fred Cobain (Chairperson), Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, Willie Clarke, John Dallat, John McCallister, Raymond McCartney, George Robinson, Alastair Ross, Jim Wells and Brian Wilson.
9. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting will begin at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21 on Wednesday 15 October 2008.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.16 p.m.