Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.33pm in Public Session .

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Minutes of last meeting

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 6 May 2008.

3. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence Issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 6 May 2008.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 6 May 2008.

The Chairperson briefed the Committee on an invitation from Mariann Fischer Boel, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, for a delegation from the Committee travel to Brussels to meet with her on Wednesday 21 May 2008 to discuss the way ahead for the Pig Industry.

4. Ministerial Attendance

Michelle Gildernew MP MLA , Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Malcolm McKibben, Bert Houston, Liz Redmond and Ian McKee, Department officials joined the meeting at 1.35pm and gave an update on Bluetongue. The Minister and officials answered questions from Members.

William Irwin joined the meeting at 1.35pm.
Willie Clarke joined the meeting at 1.36pm.
Tom Elliott joined the meeting at 1.40pm.
George Savage joined the meeting at 1.55pm.
The Minister and officials left the meeting at 2.15 pm.

5. Presentation – Diseases of Animals Bill

Collette Connor and Jennifer Corkey, Department officials joined the meeting at 2.16pm and made a presentation on the summary of the Consultation Responses to the Diseases of Animals Bill. The officials then answered questions from the Members.

William Irwin left the meeting at 2.16pm.
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.17pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.25pm.
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.42pm.
The officials left the meeting at 2.55pm.

6. Hansard Transcripts

The Committee acknowledged the Transcripts received from Hansard for the Oral Evidence Session held on 24 April 2008. Amendments are to be sent to the Committee Office by 14 May 2008.

7. Forward Work Plan

Members were made aware that the Department’s Forward Work Plan had not progressed as anticipated. Members agreed to seek explanations from the Department at a future meeting.

8. AOB

Members were informed that the Department have invited Members to attend a visit to different farms participating in the Countryside Management Scheme in Co Down. The visit is scheduled to take place on 19 June 2008.

9. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 20 May 2008 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.20pm.