Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 2.00pm in Public Session

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Minutes of last meeting

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 26 June 2007.

3. Matters Arising

(a) Correspondence Issued.

The Committee noted the correspondence issued during the past week.

(b) Marine Bill

The Committee deferred further discussion pending the receipt of papers from DARD.

4. Forward Work Programme

The Committee discussed issues for potential inquiries. It was agreed that members would continue to submit further topics to the Committee Office.

5. SL1 – Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007

The Committee considered the proposed statutory rule and agreed that it had no objection.

6. Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Amendment) Regns (NI) 2007 – Proposed Consultation

The Committee agreed that it had no comments to make on the proposed consultation paper. It was also agreed that the Committee would request details of the responses to the consultation exercise and an analysis of those responses.

7. Draft Meat (Disease Control) Regns (NI) 2007 – Proposed Consultation

It was agreed that the Committee would await comments from UFU/NIAPA before deciding on the proposal.

8. Proposals for the Regulation of the Wild Oyster Fishery in Lough Foyle

It was noted this consultation exercise is due to close on 12 July 2007. It was agreed that the Committee would request details of the responses to the exercise and an analysis of those responses.

9. SL1 – The Sea Fishing (Restriction on Days at Sea) Order (NI) 2007

The Committee considered the proposed statutory rule. As the consultation responses had only been received prior to the meeting, the Committee had insufficient time to consider them and it was agreed to defer a decision.

10. SL1 – The Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Circuses and Avian Quarantine) Regns (NI) 2007

The Committee considered the proposed statutory rule and agreed that it had no objection.

11. Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Presentation

George McIlroy, Mike Camlin and Stephen Dolan, representatives from AFBI, joined the meeting at 2.15pm and gave a presentation on the work of AFBI and the impact of the sale of the DARD site at Crossnacreevy.

The presentation by the AFBI representatives was suspended at 2.37pm.

12. Ministerial Attendance

Michelle Gildernew MP, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development and Gerry Lavery, Liam McKibben, John Smith and Mark McLean, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.38pm. The Minister answered questions from the Committee members on a range of subjects.

The Minister and officials left the meeting at 15.08pm.

13. Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Presentation

The representatives from AFBI rejoined the meeting at 15.09pm and answered questions from the members. The representatives left the meeting at 15.28pm.

The meeting was suspended for 15 minutes to allow members to vote in a division in the Assembly and to return to the meeting. All members left the meeting at 15.28pm.

The meeting was reconvened at 15.44pm and Dr McCrea, Mr Bresland, Mr Burns, Mr Clarke, Mr Irwin, Mr McHugh and Mr Savage rejoined the meeting.

14. Equality Impact Assessment on the Rural Development Programme – Proposed Consultation

Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 15.45pm.

Liam McKibben, Anne Dorbie, Michael McCann and Sharon Fitchie, Department officials, joined the meeting at 15.45pm and gave a presentation on the proposed consultation exercise. The officials then answered questions from the members.

The Committee had no comments on the proposed consultation but requested details of the responses to the exercise and an analysis of those responses.

The officials left the meeting at 15.55pm.

15. Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regns (NI) 2007

The Committee deferred a decision until it has considered the response from the UFU and the Department’s comments on the response.

16. Foyle and Carlingford (Angling) (Amendment No. 2) Regns 2007 – Proposed Consultation

Liam McKibben, Department official and Derick Anderson and Declan Lawlor, Loghs Agency officals, joined the meeting at 15.58pm and gave a presentation on the proposed consultation exercise. The officials then answered questions from the members.

The Committee had no comments on the proposed consultation but requested details of the responses to the exercise and an analysis of those responses.

The officials left the meeting at 16.05pm.

17. Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) (NI) Regns 2007 – Proposed Consultation

Liz Redmond and Colette McMaster, Department officials, joined the meeting at 16.06pm and gave a presentation on the proposed consultation exercise. The officials then answered questions from the members.

The Committee had no comments on the proposed consultation but requested details of the responses to the exercise and an analysis of those responses.

The officials left the meeting at 16.18pm.

18. Correspondence Received

The Committee noted the response of 29 June 2007 from the Department to the Committee’s letter of 27 June 2007.

The Committee discussed correspondence received from individuals and agreed that while the contents may not be relevant to the Committee, it would forward the correspondence to the Department.

19. Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 4 September 2007 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 16.21pm.