Minutes of Proceedings

The Chairman declared the meeting open in public session at 9.50 a.m.

1. Minutes of Proceedings on Friday 20 September 2002

1.1. Resolved: That the draft Minutes of Proceedings were approved with one minor amendment.

2. Matters Arising

2.1. Committee Visit to Scotland: Members were informed that the Clerk of the Scottish Rural Development Committee had written to advise that due to a lack of funds they would be unable to travel to Northern Ireland. However they are keen to establish contact and have invited the Committee to visit Scotland.

Resolved: That the invitation be accepted and that the Clerk arrange a suitable date.

2.2. Forward Work Programme: Members considered a draft Forward Work Programme.

Resolved: That Members would contact the Clerk if they had any comments on the Forward Work Programme.

2.3. First Annual Conference of the Rural Stakeholders Forum: Members were reminded of their decision to attend this event and to hold their Committee meeting at Loughry College. Members noted that arrangements were being made for representatives from Lakeland Dairies and United Dairy Farmers to attend the meeting.

Resolved: That members would confirm their attendance with the Committee office.

Resolved: That Assembly Research and Library Services would provide questions on the EU Commission's proposals on CAP reform.

Mr Bradley attended the meeting at 9.54 a.m.

2.4. Quinquennial Review of the Northern Ireland Water Council: The Committee discussed the Quinquennial Review of the Northern Ireland Water Council

2.5. Resolved: That a letter be sent to the Regional Development Committee regarding members' concerns about the scope of the Review and the independence of the Review team and advising that the Committee would comment further when the draft report was published.

2.6. Review of Rating Policy: Members discussed the Review of Rating Policy.

Resolved: That a draft response to the Minister of Finance and Personnel be considered at next week's meeting.

2.7. Draft Press Release: Members considered a draft press release regarding the Committee's attendance at the Rural Stakeholders Forum Conference.

Resolved: That the Press Release be issued on Thursday 3 October.

2.8. Fur Farming Prohibition Bill: Members noted that the Minister's amendment to Clause 5 of the Bill was in line with the recommendation made by the Committee during the Committee stage of the Bill. Members also noted that the Consideration Stage Debate on the Bill was scheduled for Monday 7 October.

3. Statutory Rules

3.1. Amendment to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1996: Members considered proposals for Amendment to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1996.

Resolved: That the Committee was content for the Department to proceed with this Rule.

3.2. Future Amendments to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1996: Members noted that the Department intends to issue a consultation paper regarding its proposal to make further amendments to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter and Killing) Regulations 1996 and that a summary of responses had been requested.

3.3. Foyle Area (control of Drift Net and Draft Net Fishing) Regulations 2002: Members noted that the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure had advised that it was content for DARD to proceed to make the Rule.

3.4. SR285/2002: Plant Health (Wood & Bark) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2002

The Committee formally considered this Rule.

Question put and agreed:

"That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Plant Health (Wood & Bark) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2002 and has no objection to the Rule".

3.5. Livestock and Meat Commission (Maximum Levy) Regulations (NI) 2002 and Livestock and Meat Commission (Levy) Regulations (NI) 2002: Members considered proposals for the Livestock and Meat Commission (Maximum Levy) Regulations (NI) 2002 and Livestock and Meat Commission (Levy) Regulations (NI) 2002.

Resolved: That Assembly Research and Library Service would provide the Committee with a paper on the proposed regulations for consideration at next week's meeting.

4. Draft Budget/Programme for Government

4.1. Department officials answered the Chair's questions on the exclusion of Rural Proofing from the draft, the exclusion of high-level output targets for Rural Proofing and the absence of a dedicated sub priority for animal diseases in the Draft Programme for Government.

The Chairman thanked the officials and they left the meeting at 10.38 a.m.

5. Inquiry into Foot and Mouth Disease

5.1. Consideration of handling of Evidence Sessions: Members considered the format of the evidence sessions with local councils and the Rural Community Network.

Resolved: That a list of unanswered questions be sent to each organisation for a written answer.

5.2. Newry and Mourne District Council: A delegation from Newry and Mourne made an opening statement detailing the impact of the Foot and Mouth outbreak on tourism, agriculture and local businesses.

5.3. The delegation then answered members' questions on a variety of subjects including border controls, biosecurity, contingency planning, the role played by local councils and communication with DARD.

The Chairman thanked the delegation and they left the meeting at 11.05 a.m. Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.05 a.m.

5.4. Fermanagh District Council: A delegation from Fermanagh District Council made an opening statement. In their opinion, the Northern Ireland Assembly and DARD gave the best leadership in the UK throughout the crisis. They highlighted the need for a unified national emergency plan, communication problems and the role between the Department and local councils.

Mr Bradley returned to the meeting at 11.14 a.m.

5.5. The delegation then answered members' questions on a variety of subjects including European legislation, the effect of the outbreak on the agri-business sector, contingency planning, contact between DARD and the council's environmental health office and the role of local councils in contributing to an emergency plan.

The Chairman thanked the delegation and they left the meeting at 11.35 a.m.

5.6. Derry City Council: A representative from Derry City Council made an opening statement saying that as soon as the outbreak occurred the council established an emergency team to deal with it. He highlighted the impact on sport with many events being cancelled and the good communication between the Council and the Department during the crisis.

5.7. The representative then answered members' questions on biosecurity, knowledge of a DARD contingency plan, the involvement of the council throughout the outbreak, the burning of carcasses, the implications of vaccination policy and the effect of the outbreak on tourism.

Mr Doherty left the meeting at 11.59 a.m. The Chairman thanked the representative and he left the meeting at 12.00 p.m.

5.8. Rural Community Network: A representative from the Rural Community Network made an opening statement regarding the human trauma experienced throughout the outbreak. He stated that the Rural Community Network believed that there was a clear need to take people through the change process after the outbreak and that there was greater co-ordination needed on emergency planning.

5.9. The representative then answered members' questions on a variety of subjects including European legislation, the effect of the outbreak on the agri-business sector, the role of the Rural Community Network in dealing with DARD and the help available for families following the outbreak.

The Chairman thanked the representative and he left the meeting at 12.29 p.m.

5.10. Omagh District Council: A delegation from Omagh District Council made an opening statement saying that border controls into Great Britain needed to be tightened and that communication with DARD was poor on a lower level. They believed that local councils should have been consulted more, that farmers should have been compensated for their co-operation and that there should have been more use of local veterinarians.

5.11. The delegation then answered members questions on their awareness of a DARD contingency plan, the role of local veterinarians, the role of local councils, contact between DARD and the local council, European legislation and the effect of the outbreak on tourism and local business.

The Chairman thanked the delegation and they left the meeting at 12.58 p.m.

5.12. Members considered a response from the Livestock and Meat Commission regarding the percentage of animals slaughtered which are eligible for the Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assurance standard and the performance of NI farms in achieving success in reaching the Farm Quality Assurance.

Resolved: That a letter be sent to DARD asking for independent confirmation of these figures.

6. Any Other Business

6.1. A member raised the issue of the dispute threatening the service of the Newcastle lifeboat.

Resolved: That the Committee send a letter offering to help mediate in the dispute.

7. Date of Next Meeting

7.1. Resolved: That the next meeting take place on Friday 4 October 2002 in Loughry College board room at 2.00 p.m.

The Chairman brought the meeting to a close at 1.00 p.m.

Dr IRK Paisley
Chairman