Minutes of Proceedings

The Chairman called the meeting to order in Private Session at 9.38am.

1.1 The Chairman informed the Members that the Minister would not be able to attend the meeting today to update the Committee on the Foot and Mouth disease situation but would be providing the Committee with a written update.

Mr Paisley Jnr entered the meeting at 9.38am.

2.1 The Clerk informed the Committee that a second written submission had been received from the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association (NIAPA).

2.2 Resolved: that the Committee would take evidence from the two different groups that claim to represent NIAPA, but would not involve itself in any internal dispute.

Mr Savage entered the meeting at 9.47am.

3.1 At the Chairman's request, the Clerk briefed the Committee on the proposed Fisheries and Aquaculture Structures (Grants) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and supporting papers.

The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 9.54am.

3.2 The Chairman welcomed DARD officials Mr Jim Prentice and Mr David Martin at 9.54am and invited Mr Prentice to make a brief opening statement.

3.3 Mr Prentice referred to the purpose of the proposed Rule which would enable grant payments to be made for various projects. He spoke about the proposed draft decommissioning of vessels scheme which the Committee had asked to see during their discussions with him at their meeting on 30 March 2001.

Messrs Bradley, Ford and McHugh attended the meeting at 10.10am, 10.15am and 10.18am respectively.

3.4 Members questioned Mr Prentice and Mr Martin on various topics including the absence of an independent appeals procedure in the grants regulations; the difficulties ports may face due to decommissioning; how DARD will process each application; cross-departmental involvement with DCAL; and how the scheme in Northern Ireland might differ from those in England and Scotland with regards to funds available.

Mr Armstrong left the meeting at 10.40am.

3.5 The Chairman thanked Mr Prentice and Mr Martin and they left the meeting at 10.54am.

3.6 Members deliberated.

Mr Kane left the meeting at 10.57am

Resolved: that the Committee was content for DARD to proceed to make the rule, provided that it was amended to contain provision for an independent appeals procedure. The Committee would also ask to scrutinise each of the proposed schemes before publication.

Resolved: that the Committee would consult with fishermen's representatives (ANIFPO and NIFPO) on the information they had received from DARD officials about the decommissioning scheme and other projects.

Resolved: that the Minister would be invited to discuss the decommissioning scheme and the related fisheries issues with the Committee on 27 April 2001.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 11.15am.
The Chairman reconvened the meeting at 11.24am with Messrs Savage, Armstrong, Bradley, Ford, Kane, McHugh and Paisley Jnr present.

4.1 The Chairman welcomed Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) representatives Mr Douglas Rowe President, Mr Kenneth Sharkey and Mr Ian Stevenson, Chairman and Secretary of the UFU Cattle and Sheep Committees respectively, to the meeting.

Mr Dallat returned to the meeting at 11.26am. Mr Douglas attended the meeting at 11.34am.

4.2 The Chairman invited members who might have an interest in the subject matter of this agenda item to declare an interest. Messrs Armstrong, Bradley, Douglas, Kane, McHugh and Savage made declarations of interest. The Chairman then invited Mr Rowe to make a statement.

4.3 Mr Rowe introduced his colleagues and gave a short statement.

4.4 A question and answer session then followed between the members and the UFU representatives.

Mr Molloy returned to the meeting at 12.22pm.

4.5 The Chairman advised the representatives that all questions to which the Committee required answers could not be dealt with due to time constraints.

4.6 Resolved: that the Clerk would write to the UFU seeking answers to further questions as set out in the papers before the members, and that the UFU's response would be considered when the Committee comes to finalise its report.

4.7 The Chairman thanked the UFU representatives who left the meeting at 12.30pm.

5. Inquiry into certain aspects of the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) - Evidence session with the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association (NIAPA).

5.1 The Chairman welcomed NIAPA representatives Mr Nigel McLaughlin and Mr Vincent Boyle (Vice-Chairmen) and Mr Oliver Cunningham (Co. Down Chairman) to the meeting at 12.32pm.

5.2 The Chairman then invited Mr McLaughlin to give a statement.

5.3 Mr McLaughlin gave a statement, which was then followed by a question and answer session between members and the NIAPA representatives.

Mr Dallat and Mr Bradley left the meeting at 1.15pm.

5.4 The Chairman advised the representatives that all questions to which the Committee required answers could not be dealt with due to time constraints.

Mr Molloy left the meeting at 1.20pm.

5.5 Resolved: that the Clerk would write to NIAPA seeking answers to further questions as set out in the papers before the members, and that NIAPA's response would be considered when the Committee comes to finalise it's report.

5.6 The Chairman thanked the NIAPA representatives who left the meeting at 1.28pm.

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 1.28pm.
The Chairman reconvened the meeting at 1.51pm with Messrs Savage, Armstrong, Douglas, Ford, Kane and Paisley Jnr present.

6.1 Resolved: that the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 30 March 2001 were approved.

7. Matters arising from the meeting on 30 March 2001.

7.1 Correspondence. Members noted the Committee's letter to the Minister in relation to Foot and Mouth disease precautions in place at the ports and the border and also the Minister's reply.

Resolved: that the Committee would write to the Minister urging her to maintain vigilance at the ports.

7.2 Letter from the Chairman of the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee about the LMC Inquiry. Members noted Dr Birnie's letter and his wish for his Committee to be kept informed of any issues that may fall under the remit of that Committee.

Resolved: that the Committee agreed to this request as and when necessary.

7.3 Proposed Committee visit to the Loughs Agency. Members noted the letter from the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission agreeing provisional dates in May 2001. Members deliberated.

Resolved: that the visit should be postponed until consideration of legislation relating to the Foyle and Carlingford Lough Fisheries is imminent, and that the Commission is informed.

7.4 Livestock and Meat Commission Inquiry. Members agreed to hold evidence sessions on 27 April 2001 and 4 May 2001.

7.5 Strangford Lough (Prohibition of Fishing for Shellfish) Regulations.

Resolved: that the Committee is content for DARD to proceed with consultation on this Rule.

Resolved: that DARD will be asked to let the Committee see the results of the consultation before making the Rule.

7.6 Seed Potatoes Regulations. Members noted a written response from DARD official Brian Gallagher, to a question put by a member at the previous Committee meeting.

8. Foot and Mouth Disease Update from the Minister

8.1 The Committee noted the Minister's letter on the latest situation regarding the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak.

8.2 Resolved: that the Committee would ask the Minister to recommence her verbal updates on 27 April 2001.

9. DARD Rural Development Strategy.

9.1 Members considered the draft response, which drew on Committee deliberations, and further information received from DARD at the Committee's request following the meeting with officials on 30 March 2001. Members deliberated.

Mr Ford left the meeting at 2.08pm.

Resolved: that the draft response was agreed as the Committee's response to the Department's Rural Development Strategy document.

10. Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 - formal consideration.

10.1 The Committee considered the Milk and Milk Products (Pupils in Educational Establishments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.

Resolved: that the Committee had no objection to this Rule.

The Chairman declared the meeting to be in Closed Session at 2.12pm.

11.1 Members deliberated on statistics and explanations received from DARD in relation to applications under the PIRS outgoers scheme.

Mr McHugh returned to the meeting at 2.15pm.

11.2 Resolved: that the Chairman would write to the Minister expressing the Committee's views, including members' alarm at the statistics; their concerns about the information available to those who wished to re-apply; the Minister's role in establishing value for money criteria; and the Committee's concerns about their support for the scheme. Members agreed to invite the Minister to meet the Committee on 27 April 2001 to discuss.

The Chairman declared the meeting open to the public at 2.25pm.

12.1 DARD response to Committee enquiry following an e-mail message from the Women's Resource Development Agency (WRDA). Members noted DARD's negative response in relation to the prospect of gap funding for the Rural Womens' Network.

Resolved: that the Committee believed the reply to be inconsistent with DARD's Rural Development Strategy and that the Committee should write to the WRDA informing them of the Minister's reply; pointing out the apparent inconsistency: and encouraging them to pursue an application to DARD for funding.

12.2 Executive Programme Funds. Members noted a letter from the Minister thanking the Committee for its support regarding the bids and also a paper listing the successful bids.

12.3 DARD consultation on a Small Farmers' Scheme. Members noted a letter and a booklet from DARD notifying their consultation with the farming industry on a proposed pilot scheme.

12.4 Paper provided by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Members noted a paper on Beef labelling, and an offer to brief the Committee, submitted by the FSA following a meeting with the Deputy Chairman.

Resolved: that the Committee would invite the FSA to brief the Committee on their work on 18 May 2001.

12.5 Paper from DARD on Fisheries Consultation. Members noted the paper.

Resolved: that the Committee should write to DARD informing them that they wish to be provided with the results of the consultation.

12.6 Papers from DARD on Equality Scheme, New TSN and EU Structural Funds. Members agreed to note, as progress reports, the DARD papers on the Equality Scheme and New TSN, that were provided some weeks earlier.

Resolved: that DARD officials would be invited to update the Committee on EU Structural Funds in June after the programme Complements have been agreed by the European Commission.

12.7 Aggregates Tax. Members noted a letter from the British Aggregates Association referring to the appearance of representatives from the Friends of the Earth before the Committee on 16 March 2001.

Resolved: that the Clerk would write to the British Aggregates Association thanking them for supplying counter-arguments which members would note for future reference.

12.8 Forward planning. Resolved: that the Clerks will liase with DARD officials to provide a draft programme for Committee business, up to Summer Recess, for members' consideration.

12.9 Vision Group Correspondence. Members noted a letter from the Minister informing the Committee that a small Sub-Group of the Vision Group had been asked to look specifically at the lessons to be learned from the Foot and Mouth outbreak. Members also noted a letter from the Chairman of the Vision Group informing the Committee that they had decided to postpone the launch of its Report until early autumn.

Resolved: that the Committee should write to the Chairman of the Vision Group stating that they are not content with this postponement in view of the current crisis in the industry, and that the Sub-Group should consider a recommendation to introduce a registration system for livestock dealers, and electronic tagging of animals at no cost to the farmer.

12.10 Foot and Mouth situation. Members acknowledged the relaxation of certain restrictions. However, they were concerned about continuing prohibitions in relation to the movement of animals between individual farms, including farm-to-farm sales. They felt that such stock movements could be permitted on welfare grounds, if relevant precautions are taken.

12.11 Resolved: that the Minister would be asked to address those concerns.

13. Date of Next Meeting.

13.1 Resolved: that the next meeting would take place on Friday 27 April 2001 at 10.00am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 2.58pm.