Minutes of Proceedings

The Chairman brought the meeting to order at 4.00pm.

1. Programme for Government

The Committee deliberated on the paper presented by the Minister. Members were concerned that agriculture priorities should be incorporated into the Executive's Programme for Government.

Resolved: That the Chairman write to the Minister setting out the agriculture priorities which they considered should be included in the Programme for Government.

2. Agenda for Government

The Committee deliberated on the paper presented by the Minister.

Resolved: That the Chairman should write to the Minister seeking clarification on the timing of the programmes, in particular, whether the funds identified will be spent during the current financial year.

3. Proposed Statutory Rules affecting the Potato Industry

The Committee considered the Seed Potatoes (Tuber and Label Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and Marketing of Potatoes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland ) 2000.

Resolved: That the Clerk should write to advise the Department that the Committee wishes to see their proposals for seeking efficiencies which would remove or reduce the need to increase fees in future years.

4. Statutory Rules: Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

The Committee considered the extent of the Rule and agreed that it should seek to obtain the outcome of the consultation before giving full consideration to the Rule.

Resolved: That the Clerk should write to the Department asking that the outcome of the consultation be presented to the Committee to enable it to give further consideration to the Rule.

5. New TSN Action Plan

Resolved: The Committee would consider the New TSN Action Plan early in its programme following summer recess.

6. Draft Equality Scheme

Members were issued with a copy of the Department's Draft Equality Scheme.

Resolved: The Committee would await the Equality Commission's initial response to the scheme and respond to the Department before the final Draft Scheme is submitted to the Commission in the autumn.

7. Regional Development Strategy

The Committee considered a paper from the Department setting out its initial thinking on the Strategy and on the Public Examination Panel's Report.

Resolved: The Committee would consider the Strategy when the final DARD response is given to the Department of Regional Development. The Committee's views would then be conveyed to the Regional Development Committee.

8. Milk Quotas: Allocation of Additiona Milk Quotas in Northern Ireland

Resolved: A draft letter to the Minister was agreed and ordered to be issued.

9. EU Leader+ Initiative

Resolved: That the Committee would consider the draft Leader+ Programme after the summer recess.

10. Agri-monetary Compensation

The Committee deliberated on a paper from the Minister setting out the latest position on agri-monetary compensation.

Resolved: The Committee would consider the matter after summer recess.

11. UK Wide Statutory Rules and others

The Committee noted the following UK wide Statutory Rules:

the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2000 and the Plant Breeders' Rights (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2000.

The Committee also noted a number of proposed Statutory Rules received by the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee from the Foods Standards Agency.

12. Review of Agricultural Wages Board

Resolved: The Committee would wait until the results of the consultation exercise are available before responding to the Department.

13. Management of Under 10 Metre Fleet and Cod Recovery Plan

Resolved: The Committee would consider both matters after summer recess.

14. Accompanying Measures Plan and Use of Modulation Funds

The Committee noted that an update briefing paper had yet to be received from the Department.

Resolved: That the Clerk would issue a further request to the Department.

15. Minutes of Previous Meetings

Resolved: That the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 30 June 2000 were agreed.

The Chairman concluded the meeting at 5.25pm.

Ian R K Paisley MP MEP MLA
Chairman