Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.02pm in Closed Session.

1. Red Meat Task Force Report

The Committee agreed that the Committee should receive representatives from the Red Meat Task Force in Closed Session.

Mr W Clarke joined the meeting at 1.14pm.
Mr McHugh joined the meeting at 1.19pm.
Mr Molloy joined the meeting at 1.22pm.
Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 1.24pm.
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 2.07pm.
Mr W Clarke left the meeting at 2.12pm.

The representatives left the meeting at 2.14pm.

The meeting moved to Public Session at 2.15pm.

2. Apologies

As above.

3. Minutes of last meetings

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 25 September 2007.

4. Matters Arising

(a) Correspondence Issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 25 September 2007.

(b) Correspondence Received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 18 September 2007.

5. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Bluetongue Update

Dr Malcolm McKibben, Bert Houston and Liz Redmond, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.20pm and gave a short update on the current position in relation these diseases.

Mr Burns joined the meeting at 2.23pm.

The officials then answered questions from the members.

The officials left the meeting at 2.42pm.

6. (a) Budgets and Priorities

(b) October Monitoring

Dr Malcolm McKibben, Gerry Lavery, Liz Redmond and John Smith, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.43pm and made a short presentation on the above issues. The officials then answered questions from the members.

The Committee agreed the Departmental proposals in respect of the October Monitoring Round.

The officials left the meeting at 3.46pm.

7. A6 Dualling

Hilda Stewart, John Stewart, Sandra Ross, Kerr Woolsey and Stephen Nichol, representatives of an action group opposing the current proposals for dualling of the A6 from Randalstown to Toomebridge, joined the meeting at 3.50pm. The representatives gave a presentation on the issues surrounding the proposed road and answered questions from the members.

It was agreed that the Committee would put a number of questions to the Committee for Regional Development for a response from that Department.

The representatives left the meeting at 4.26pm.

Mr Burns left the meeting at 4.26pm.

8. Fishing Industry Presentation

Alan McCulla, Dick James and Paul Kerr, representatives of the fishing industry, joined the meeting at 4.27pm and gave a presentation on current situation within the industry and the process leading up to the December negotiations in Brussels.

Mr Irwin left the meeting at 4.40pm.
Mr McHugh left the meeting at 4.16pm.
Mr Elliott left the meeting at 4.57pm.

The representatives then answered questions from the members. Mr McCulla agreed to provide the Committeee with further information on the industry’s priorities for the forthcoming negotiations.

The representatives left the meeting at 5.03pm.

9. The Export Restrictions (Foot and Mouth Disease) (Amendment No. 2) Regns (NI) 2007

The above Regulations were laid in the Assembly Business Office on 24 September 2007. The Committee accepted the need for the urgency to progress this legislation.

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Export Restrictions (Foot and Mouth Disease) (Amendment No. 2) Regns (NI) and, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.

Mr W Clarke left the meeting at 5.05pm.

10. SL1 – Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (AmenDment) Regns (NI) 2007

Ian McKee and Linda Meldrum, Department officials, joined the meeting at 5.05pm and gave a presentation on the proposed statutory rule.

Mr McHugh rejoined the meeting at 5.08pm.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 5.08pm.

The representatives then answered questions from the members.

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

The officials left the meeting at 5.11pm.

Mr Elliott rejoined the meeting at 5.12pm.

11. Pre-consultation on new entitlements under SFP

Norman Fulton, Seamus McErlean and Mark McLean, Department officials, joined the meeting at 5.12pm and gave a presentation on the proposed consultation exercise.

Mr W Clarke rejoined the meeting at 5.15pm.
Mr McHugh left the meeting at 5.18pm.

The officials then answered questions from the members.

The Committee agreed that it had no objection to the proposed consultation exercise.

The officials left the meeting at 5.21pm.

12. Pre-consultation on The Olive Oil (Marketing Standards) Regns (NI) 2007

The Committee considered the Department’s proposed consultation exercise and had no objection.

13. Letter from Ben Vista Nursery

The Committee considered a letter from the owner of Ben Vista Nursery which raised queries relating to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. It was agreed to pass the letter to DEFRA for comment.

14. Letter for the Northern Coast Lobster Fishermen’s Association

The Committee considered a letter for the above association about proposed legislation. It was agreed to pass the letter to DARD for comment.

15. Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.00pm on Tuesday, 9 October 2007 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 5.28pm.