COMMITTEE FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Fred Cobain, MLA (Chairperson)
Cathal Boylan, MLA
Allan Bresland, MLA
John Dallat, MLA
John McCallister, MLA
Raymond McCartney, 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:
Willie Clarke, MLA
George Robinson, MLA
Alastair Ross, MLA
Members decided to commence the meeting at 10.50 a.m. in open session.
1. Apologies.
Apologies were received from:
Willie Clarke MLA
George Robinson MLA
Alastair Ross MLA.
2. The minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2008.
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2008 were agreed.
3. Matters Arising
Jim Wells left the meeting at 10.51 a.m.
Members noted receipt of the Department’s Section 75 annual progress report to the Equality Commission 2007 – 2008. Members agreed to write to the Department requesting to be kept informed of the outcome of the meeting regarding the complaint in Coleraine Town Centre.
Members noted receipt of the summary Quarterly Equality Progress Report for the period ended 30 September 2008 from the Department. Members decided to write to the Department requesting to be kept informed on the progress of the Equality Impact Assessment on the recommendations of the Strand 2 IWRP and to request briefing on the proposed public consultation in advance of publication.
4. A5 (Derry/Londonderry to Aughnacloy) and A8 ( Belfast to Larne).
Departmental officials John White and Jonathan Saulters joined the meeting at 10.55 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from Departmental officials. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Departmental officials John White and Jonathan Saulters left the meeting at 11.18 a.m.
Members decided to write to the Department requesting to be kept informed of the emerging findings from the consultation events on the A5 and A8 preferred routes.
5. Department for Regional Development Shareholder Unit: briefing.
Jim Wells rejoined the meeting at 11.20 a.m.
Departmental officials Gary Fair and Barbara Faloona joined the meeting 11.21 a.m.
The Committee received briefing from the Departmental officials.
Brian Wilson joined the meeting at 11.27 a.m.
John McCallister left the meeting at 11.41 a.m.
John McCallister rejoined the meeting at 11.55 a.m.
Cathal Boylan left the meeting at 11.55 a.m.
Raymond McCartney left the meeting at 12.00 p.m.
Cathal Boylan rejoined the meeting at 12.01 p.m.
Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the Departmental officials for their briefing.
Departmental officials Gary Fair and Barbara Faloona left the meeting at 12.08 p.m.
Members decided to explore the issues raised today in greater detail as part of its proposed inquiry into the management of data risks in Northern Ireland Water.
6. Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations: Briefing on the planned public consultation process.
Departmental officials John Mills, Stuart Wightman, Eilis Ferguson and Randal Scott joined the meeting 12.10 p.m.
The Committee received briefing from officials. Following a question and answer session, Members thanked the officials for their briefing.
Departmental officials John Mills, Stuart Wightman, Eilis Ferguson and Randal Scott left the meeting at 12.35 p.m.
Members agreed to request that officials return to brief the Committee on the outcome of the public consultation process.
7. Proposed Committee inquiry into Northern Ireland Water billing and forecasting issues: draft terms of reference.
Members agreed the terms of reference for the inquiry.
Members agreed the initial list of witnesses and the milestones for the inquiry.
Members decided to write to the Minister for Regional Development and to Northern Ireland Water to inform them of the Committee’s decision on this matter.
8. Subordinate Legislation.
Members noted the following new SL1 received in the Committee office:
- The Meadowlands, Downpatrick (Footpaths) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009
Members noted that in the SL1 memo for the above proposal, no reference was made to its having been the subject of a public inquiry nor does the Department indicate that it anticipates a public inquiry will be required, and that the Department has confirmed that all relevant local councils affected by the above proposal have been informed. Members noted that the Committee office had not received any comments from the councils regarding the policy proposal.
Members decided they were content with the policy merits of the SL1s listed below, which were noted at the meeting of 12 November 2008:
- The Parking Places on Roads (Fivemiletown) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and The Waiting Restrictions (Fivemiletown) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Parking Places (Disabled Persons’ Vehicles) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 ;
- The Tullynacross Road, Lisburn (Footway) (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009; and
- The One-Way Traffic (Londonderry) (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2009 .
Members noted receipt of the following statutory rules which are not subject to any Assembly procedure:
- The Roads (Classification) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The One Way Traffic (Ballymena) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Prohibition of Right-Hand Turn (Newry) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008;
- The Waiting Restrictions (Coleraine) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Waiting Restrictions (Bushmills) Order ( Northern Ireland ) 2008.
The Committee decided to consider the following Statutory Rules. Members noted that the Fifth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules to the Assembly and the Appropriate Committees,2008/09 session, makes no reference to these statutory rules. In the absence of any objections, the following questions were put and agreed:
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered The Donegall Quay, Belfast (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, John Dallat, John McCallister, Brian Wilson, Jim Wells.
All those against: none
That the Committee for Regional Development has considered The Ballybollen Road (C53), Ballymena (Abandonment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.
All those in favour: Fred Cobain, Cathal Boylan, Allan Bresland, John Dallat, John McCallister, Brian Wilson, Jim Wells.
All those against: none
Members agreed that the Committee Clerk shall notify the Business Office of the decisions reached by the Committee.
Members noted receipt of the following Orders made by affirmative resolution of the Assembly on 21 October 2008:
- The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008; and
- The Road Traffic (Traffic Wardens) (Revocation) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
9. Correspondence.
Members noted receipt of a letter dated 10 November 2008 from Northern Ireland Environmental Link (NIEL) regarding badger culling in Northern Ireland. Members decided to write to NIEL advising them that it had been forwarded to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Members decided that, as this important conference takes place on sitting days, a member of the Committee staff should attend the conference and report back to the Committee.
Members noted receipt of the following invitations:
- Invitation to attend an event organised by Northern Ireland Environmental Link (NIEL), entitled “European Environmental Policy-The Northern Ireland Dimension” on 9 December 2008, in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.
- Invitation to attend the launch of Sustrans Safe Routes to Schools at St. Jarlath’s Primary School, Blackwatertown, on Friday 5 December 2008.
- Invitation to attend the Utility Regulator’s Annual Stakeholder Reception on Thursday 11 December 2008, in Queens House, Belfast.
Members noted receipt of a special issue of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland newsletter focussing on the anti-racism workplace.
Members noted receipt of the following press releases:
- Release from DRD dated 17 November 2008, entitled “Progress on £2.3 million investment in Ballymoney area”.
- Release from DRD dated 17 November 2008, entitled “Progress on £7 million investment in Fermanagh area”.
- Release from DRD dated 18 November 2008, entitled “Progress on £5.4 million investment in Ballymena area”.
10. Any other business.
Members noted that Members’ attendance at Committee meetings during the 07/08 session has been checked and verified and will be placed on the Committee for Regional Development web page on Friday 21 November 2008.
11. Date, Time and Place of next meeting.
The next meeting of the Regional Development Committee will take place on Wednesday 26 November 2008, in Room 21, Parliament Buildings at 10.30 a.m.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.43 p.m.
Signed: