Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
Minutes of meeting held in part public/part closed session on Wednesday, 19 September 2001 in room 135, Parliament Buildings
1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Matters arising
3. Programme of Work
4. The Committee returned to Matters Arising
5. Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS)
6. AOB
7. Date of next meeting
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A McFarland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr D Hussey
Mr P McNamee
Mr G Savage
Apologies:
Mr W Hay
Absent:
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr J Wells
In Attendance:
Mr L Barr (Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mrs S Young (Executive Support)
Miss J Massey (Administrative Support)
Mr H Lowe (Assembly Research Team)
The meeting commenced at 10.42am in closed session.
1. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2001 were agreed.
2. Matters arising
(a) Sewage Sediment and Waste on Farmland
The Committee discussed the Department's reply outlining its policy in relation to the spreading of sediment and waste on farmland.
Agreed: That the Clerk will write to the Department to request some further information on this matter.
3. Programme of Work
Mr Hussey joined the meeting at 10.50am.
At 10.50am the Minister and his officials joined the meeting. They were:
Mr Paul Sweeney Deputy Secretary - Strategic Planning, Transport and Finance
Mrs Linda Brown Deputy Secretary - Roads, Water, Personnel and Management Services
Dr Malcolm McKibbin Director - Regional Transportation Strategy
Mr Grahame Fraser Roads Service - Director of Network and Customer Services
The Minister briefed the Committee on the main issues and challenges facing the Department. He brought the Committee up to date on the progress made and outlined the key issues likely to emerge over the next few months. The Minister handed over the future programme of work that the Department will be referring to the Committee.
Mr McNamee joined the meeting at 11.04am.
The Minister and officials answered Members' questions on the work of the Department. The officials agreed to provide the Committee with the roads schemes Preparation Pool, plus a plan showing the proposed M1/Westlink improvements.
The officials left the meeting at 11.51am.
The Committee met in public session.
4. The Committee returned to Matters Arising
(a) Grass Cutting
Agreed: The Clerk will arrange for Roads Service officials to brief the Committee on this matter at the meeting on 26 September 2001.
Mr Byrne left the meeting at 11.54am.
(b) Code of Practice for Trust Ports
The Committee noted the Department's reply regarding implementation of the Code of Practice and the requirement for each of the Harbour Authorities to meet with the relevant District Council at least twice per year.
5. Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS)
(a) At 11.56am Dr Liz Fawcett and Mr Geraint Ellis from Transport 2000 joined the meeting and gave a presentation to the Committee on the RTS.
Mr Ervine left the meeting at 12.34pm.
They answered Members' questions and left the meeting at 12.38pm.
(b) At 12.38pm the following representatives of CBI Northern Ireland joined the meeting and gave a presentation to the Committee on the RTS:
Mr Nigel Smyth
Mr John Fisher
Mr William Poole
Mr Gordon Hamilton
Mr Hussey left the meeting at 12.58pm.
They answered Members' questions and left the meeting at 1.00pm.
6. AOB
(a) Committee for Employment and Learning - Inquiry into Education and Training for Industry
Members were issued with the recommendations from the report of the Inquiry into Education and Training for Industry.
Agreed: Members should contact the Clerk if they had any comments on the recommendations.
(b) EU Funding for Infrastructure
Agreed: Houston Lowe from the Assembly Research Team was asked to produce a report on EU funding for infrastructure, for consideration at a future meeting.
7. Date of next meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 26 September 2001 at 10.30am in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting closed at 1.05pm.