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 12 June 2007.

3. Matters Arising

The Committee considered the further information provided on issues raised at last weeks meeting:-

(a) Bovine TB and Badgers

Members wanted more time to consider the information and It was agreed to return to this issue at next week’s meeting.

(b) Letters to Minister and Permanent Secretary

The Committee discussed the above letters which were sent after last week’s meeting.

Mr McHugh and Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 2.05pm.

The Committee discussed the arrangements for sending correspondence on behalf of the Committee.

Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 2.17pm.

Mr Elliott proposed the following motion:-

‘That correspondence issued by the Chairperson or Clerk on behalf of the Committee does not need to be approved by members before despatch but it should be copied to all members after despatch. If a member has a concern about correspondence issued on behalf of the Committee, the member should raise the matter at the next meeting of the Committee.’

Dr McCrea, Mr Elliott, Mr Bresland, Mr Clarke, Mr Irwin and Mr Savage supported the motion. Mr McHugh and Mr Molloy opposed the motion. Mr Bradley abstained. The motion was carried.

(c) DARD response to National Park consultation

The Committee noted the papers provided by the Department.

4. Presentation by Mourne Heritage Trust

Dr Arthur Mitchell and Martin Carey, representatives from the Mourne Heritage Trust, joined the meeting at 2.21pm and gave a presentation on the Trust’s support for a National Park in the Mournes area.

Mr Burns joined the meeting at 2.36pm.

After their presentation, the representatives were joined by Sean Fitzpatrick and Desmond Patterson and all answered questions from the members.

Mr Burns left the meeting at 3.01pm.

The representatives left the meeting at 3.15pm.

5. Presentation by the Livestock Meat Commission

Owen Brennan, Phelim O’Neill, Kenneth Sharkey,

John Speers and Peter McArdle, representatives from the Livestock Meat Commission, joined the meeting at 3.18pm and gave a presentation on the Red Meat Taskforce project.

After their presentation, the representatives answered questions from the members.

The representatives left the meeting at 4.03pm.

The meeting was suspended for 15 minutes to allow members to vote in a division and to return to the meeting. All members left the meeting at 4.03pm.

The meeting was reconvened at 4.20pm and Dr McCrea, Mr Elliott, Mr Bresland, Mr Clarke, Mr Molloy and Mr Savage rejoined the meeting.

6. Proposed Statutory Rule

John Speers, Peter Toner and David Miller, DARD officials, joined the meeting at 4.20pm and gave a presentation on The Plant Health (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2007.

Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 4.22pm.
Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 4.23pm.

In order to give members sufficient time to consult on and to consider the issues, it was agreed to return to this item at next week’s meeting.

7. Proposed Statutory Rule

John Speers, Peter Toner and David Miller, DARD officials, remained in the meeting and gave a presentation on the Seed Potatoes (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007.

In order to give members sufficient time to consult on and to consider the issues, it was agreed to return to this item at next week’s meeting.

8. Proposed Statutory Rule

John Speers, Peter Toner and David Miller, DARD officials, remained in the meeting and gave a presentation on the Pig Production Development Committee (Winding Up) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.

In order to give members sufficient time to consult on and to consider the issues, it was agreed to return to this item at next week’s meeting.

It was also agreed to seek further information from DARD.

The officials left the meeting at 4.30pm.

9. Correspondence

The Committee noted the response from the Strangford Lough Management Advisory Committee to the consultation paper from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the proposed Marine Bill.

It was agreed to seek further information from DARD on the implications for fishing in Northern Ireland.

10. AOB

(a) South Antrim Rural Network

The Committee was advised that SARN represented the Rural Community Network and would deliver a presentation at next week’s meeting.

(b) Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

The Committee noted the consultation responses provided by DARD.

It was agreed to ask DARD to detail how:-

• it specifically addressed the concerns raised within each of the consultation responses and
• how much weight was accredited to those concerns from the UFU and NIAPA

Mr McHugh rejoined the meeting at 4.32pm.

(c) Review of Environmental Governance in Northern Ireland

The Committee noted the report on the above issue.

Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 26 June 2007 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting closed at 4.33pm.