Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.36pm in Public Session .

1.    Apologies

As above.

2.    Minutes of last meeting

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 27 May 2008.

3.    Matters arising

(a) Correspondence Issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 27 May 2008.

(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 27 May 2008.

The Committee noted correspondence received from the Department on the council clusters delivering Axis 3 of the NIRDP. The Committee agreed to send additional queries to the Department.

4.    Presentation – Northern Ireland Hotel Federation (NIHF)

Janice Gault joined the meeting at 1.40pm and presented to Committee on Beef Labelling in Northern Ireland. The representative then answered questions from Members.

The Chairperson left the meeting at 2.00pm
Willie Clarke joined the meeting at 2.01pm.

The representative left the meeting at 2.02 pm.

5.    SR – Plant Health (Amendment) Order (NI) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Plant Health (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

6.    SR- Olive Oil Marketing Standards Regulations (NI) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Olive Oil Marketing Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

7.    SLI- Reporting of Prices of Milk Products Regulations (NI) 2008

Jill Garrett and Daniel Glenn, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.05pm and made a presentation on proposed changes to the above legislation. The officials then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that the above legislation could move on to the next stage.

The Chairperson rejoined the meeting at 2.07pm.

The representatives left the meeting at 2.09pm.

8.    Presentation – DARD – Rural College

Roy McClenaghan, Pauline Keegan and Paul Donnelly, Department officials joined the meeting at 2.09pm and made a presentation to Committee dealing the decision to cease funding of the Msc in Rural Development at the Rural College. The officials then answered questions from the Members.

Committee were advised that the Department would fund the course until 2010 whilst also undertaking a review of departmental educational policy.

PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 2.09pm.
Trevor Clarke joined the meeting at 2.29pm.

The officials left the meeting at 2.29pm. .

9.    Presentation – May Monitoring Round

John Smith, Tom Rodgers, Seamus Doran, Ignatius McKeown and Roly Harwood, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.30pm and made a presentation DARD budget in the last year. The officials then answered questions from the Members.

The Department advised Members that the Committee recommendation to process advanced part-payments in respect of the Farm Management Nutrient Scheme had been accepted by the Department and would be implemented as soon as possible.

Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.36pm.
Pat Doherty rejoined the meeting at 2.45pm.
Alan Bresland left the meeting at 3.24pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 3.26pm.
Alan Bresland rejoined the meeting at 3.29pm.
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 3.29pm.
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.34pm.

The officials left the meeting at 3.45pm.

10. SL1 – The Zoonoses (Monitoring) Regulations (NI) 2008

Ian McKee and Austin Brown, department officials, joined the meeting at 3.45pm made a presentation to Committee on proposed changes to the above legislation. The officials then answered questions from the Members. The Committee agreed to defer its decision until it received evidence from the Ulster Farmers Union and Veterinary NI.

11. SL1 – The Bluetongue Regulations (NI) 2008

Ian McKee, Department official, made a presentation to Committee on the proposed changes to the above legislation. The official then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that the above legislation should move on to the next stage.

The official left the meeting at 3.55pm.

12. AOB

Members were reminded of the Committee Visit to the Mournes in association with DARD’s Countryside Management Scheme, scheduled to take place on Thursday 19 June 2008.

Members were reminded that there would be no Committee meeting next Tuesday but instead it will be held in CAFRE’S Greenmount College on Thursday at 9.30am and afterwards the Committee will go on a tour of the campus.

13. Date of the next meeting

The Committee will next meet at 9.30am on Thursday, 12 June 2008 in The Manor Suite, in Greenmount College, Antrim.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.02pm.