Minutes of Proceedings

The Chairman brought the meeting to order at 09.30.

1. Minutes of Previous Meetings

Resolved: That the draft Minutes of Proceedings for 3 July and 29 August 2000 were agreed.

Mr McHugh joined the meeting at 09.45.

2. Matters Arising

Committee Inquiry into pigs and beef - Evidence

Resolved: That the Committee would meet the Minister at 09.00 on Wednesday 4 October for one and a half hours and that the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association should be invited on the same day at 10.45.

Future Meetings with the Minister

Resolved: That the Committee should confirm Friday 8 December as a suitable date for meeting the Minister and that, because the Committee would not be meeting on 27 October, that the Chairman should seek an alternative date for a meeting on the December Fisheries Council and other fisheries issues (the under 10 metre fleet and the Cod Recovery Plan). Time should also be scheduled for the Committee to meet with the Minister on Programme for Government and the Budget.

Agenda for Government

The Committee noted the Minister's reply of 20 July to earlier correspondence.

New TSN Action Plan and DARD Equality Statement

Resolved: That DARD would be invited to make presentations to the Committee on 29 September 2000.

LEADER +

Resolved: That DARD would be asked to make a presentation to the Committee on 6 October 2000 (assuming their paper had arrived in time) and that the Research Service should be asked to assist the Committee in its preparations.

Agri-Monetary Compensation

Resolved: That the Committee would consider the industry's response to the Minister's paper on 15 September.

Review of the Agricultural Wages Board

Resolved: That members would await DARD's paper on the consultation process and discuss the issue on 20 October.

The Chairman opened the meeting to the public at 10.00.

3. Evidence Session for the Pigs and Beef Inquiry

Mr Trevor Shields (Chairman), Mr Charlie Pogue (Vice-Chairman), Mr Colum McGuikian (Director), Mr Edward Carson (Director) and Mr Seamus Crossey (Secretary) of the United Pig Producers' Co-operative called in and examined at 10.00.

Mr Douglas Rowe (President), Mr Wesley Aston (Commodities Director) and Mr Charlie Pogue (Chairman, Pigs Committee) of the Ulster Farmers' Union called in and examined at 11.00.

Mr Miceal McCoy (Chairman), Mr Nigel McLaughlin (Vice Chairman) and Mr Jim Carmichael (Development Officer) of the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association called in and examined at 12.00.

Mr Paisley Jnr. and Mr Bradley left the meeting at 12.15.
Mr Paisley Jnr. rejoined the meeting at 12.35.
Dr Paisley, Mr Kane and Mr Paisley Jnr. left the meeting at 12.45 and Mr Savage assumed the Chair.
Mr Savage adjourned the meeting at 13.10.
Dr Paisley resumed the Chair at 15.00 and opened the meeting to the public, at which time he, Mr Savage, Mr Armstrong, Mr Dallat, Mr Kane, Mr McHugh and Mr Paisley Jnr. were present.

4. Chairman's Business

Mr Peter Small, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was called in at 15.05 to discuss the situation surrounding the exclusion of sheep from grazing on land surrounding the Silent Valley reservoir. Mr Small made a short statement and then took questions from members. Subjects which were discussed included:

• the background to the problem (March 2000)
• the level of consultation between DARD and the Department of Regional Development (DRD);
• clarification on where the responsibility lay for the decision that was taken;
• DARD's immediate use of the 'Force Majeure' rules to ensure farmers' subsidy payments for the current year were protected;
• DARD's acceptance of the primacy of the public health issue;
• DARD's intention to ascertain whether flexibility exists within DRD's decision;
• DARD's intention to establish DRD's long term intentions after a treatment plant is in place;
• DARD's intention to examine the scope for longer-term compensation for the 66 farmers affected;
• the difficulties which would face DARD in any attempt to compensate (legal basis, resources and EU State-Aid rules);
• the area affected (approximately 9000 ha) and its ownership; and
• the current leasing arrangements between farmers and the Water Service for grazing in that area.

Resolved: that Mr Small should convey to the Minister the deep concerns expressed by the Committee about the farmers affected and how little time was available to ensure farmer's long term financial position in relation to grants. Mr Small should also provide details of the numbers of sheep involved within a week and provide a report to the Committee on the situation within 3 to 4 weeks.

Mr Small left the meeting at 15.45 and the Chairman declared the meeting closed to the public.

5. Consideration of Statutory Rules

Formal Consideration

The Committee deliberated.

Dr Paisley left the meeting at 15.50 and Mr Savage assumed the Chair. Dr Paisley resumed the Chair at 16.00.

The following question was put and agreed:

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Anthrax (Vaccination) Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 and has no objection to the Rule.

The following question was put and agreed:

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and has no objection to the Rule.

Pre-drafting consultation

The Committee deliberated.

Resolved: That the Committee should seek the results of DARD's consultation on the proposed Seed Potatoes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 before providing any comments to the Department, and that this be adopted as standard practice for all Rules.

Rules for Information only

The Committee noted 3 Rules which were not being laid before the Assembly.

6. Current and Forthcoming Bills - Planning

The Committee deliberated.

Resolved: That DARD officials should be invited to make a presentation on the Dogs Bill on 15 September and that other organisations which may be interested should be invited to make comments and/or give evidence to the Committee. Also that 22 September be scheduled as the probable clause by clause consideration of the Bill.

Resolved: That assuming the Fisheries Bill passed its second reading on 18 September the Committee would take presentations from DARD and other interested parties on 29 September.

7. Low Incidence BSE Status (or 'Beef Exports')

The Committee deliberated.

Resolved: That the Committee would await the completion of the consultation process and seek an update from the Minister at one of its forthcoming meetings with her.

Mr Paisley Jnr. left the meeting at 16.15

8. Any Other Business

Annual profile of Premia Payments

Resolved: That the Committee should seek an update from DARD at the end of November as to their performance against the first targets in the current profile.

DARD response to the Retailers report

Resolved: that the Committee would discuss the Minister's response dated 7 September at the meeting on 15 September and that a motion seeking a debate on the Committee's report would also be agreed then.

The Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 16.40.

Ian R K Paisley MP MEP MLA
Chairman