Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 2.00pm in Public Session

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Update

Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Bert Houston and Liz Redmond, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.02pm and presented an update on the current position in relation to FMD. The officials then answered questions from the members.

The officials agreed to provide the Committee with a copy of the Health and Safety Executive report on Pirbright Laboratories as soon as it is available.

The Committee considered The Export Restrictions (Foot and Mouth Disease) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007.

Question put and agreed.

‘That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Export Restrictions (Foot and Mouth Disease) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007 and, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.’

The officials left the meeting at 2.57pm.

3. (a) Priorities and Budgets

(b) Efficiency Delivery Plans

Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Gerry Lavery, John Smith and Lynda Lowe, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.58pm and gave a short presentation on the Department’s financial plans. The officials then answered questions from the members.

Mr Burns left the meeting at 3.10pm.

The officials agreed to confirm the position on planning backlogs with the Planning Service Office, Craigavon and to advise the Committee.

It was agreed that the format in which the information had been provided was inappropriate and that the Clerk to the Committee should meet with Department officials to discuss how to improve this before the next meeting. It was also agreed that the Clerk to the Committee should write to the Department with a number of outstanding questions.

The officials left the meeting at 4.40pm.

4. SL1 – Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (No 2) Regulations (NI) 2007

George O’Doherty, Liz McWatters and Suzie McMullan, Department officials joined the meeting at 4.42pm and gave a presentation on the above SL1. The officials then answered questions from the members.

After the Committee had agreed the SL1, the officials confirmed that payment of the allowances would begin by 12 September 2007 and that at least 94% of all payments would be paid by the end of September 2007.

The officials left the meeting at 4.52pm.

5. Press Release

The Committee agreed a press release.

6. Next Meeting

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

The meeting closed at 4.54pm.