Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.36pm in Public Session.

1. Apologies

As above.

The Committee expressed its condolences at the death of Mr Burns’ mother and agreed to write to Mr Burns.

2. Minutes of last meeting

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 8 January 2008.

Mr Bradley joined the meeting at 1.39pm.

3. Ministerial Attendance

Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, Minister, and Liam McKibben, Liz Redmond, John Smith and Mark McLean, Department officials, joined the meeting at 1.39pm. The Minister updated the Committee on a range of matters, including, CAP Healthcheck, Ministerial priorities, the draft Budget and the outcome of the EC Fisheries Council in December 2007.

Mr Savage joined the meeting at 2.00pm.

The Minister and officials answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that the Minister would provide the Committee with copies of her correspondence to Peter Robinson MP MLA, Minister for Finance and Personnel, in relation to additional funding for delivery of the Red Meat Task Force report. The Minister supported the Committee’s proposal to bring all parties interested in supporting the fishing industry in Northern Ireland together.

The Minister and officials left the meeting at 2.42pm.

4. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence Issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 8 January 2008.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 8 January 2008.

5. Presentation - Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG)

Dr Freda Magill, Campbell Tweed, Sean Convery and Ruth Ruddell, representatitives of FWAG, joined the meeting at 2.45pm and made a presentation on the role of FWAG and how it assists the farming community.

Mr F Molloy left the meeting at 2.59pm.

The representatives answered questioned from the members. It was agreed that the Committee would write to the Department about providing support for added value products.

The representatives left the meeting at 3.15pm.

6. SL1 – The Unlicensed Fishing for Crab and Lobster Regulations (NI) 2008

Paddy Campbell, Department Official, joined the meeting at 3.16pm and made a presentation on the proposed legislation and a query raised by the Committee when it first considered this proposal at the meeting on 11 December 2007. He then answered questions from the members.

The Chairperson proposed the following motion;-

‘that the Committee agrees to the progression of the proposed legislation.’

Dr W McCrea, Mr A Bresland, Mr G Savage and Mr W Irwin supported the motion. Mr W Clarke and Mr PJ Bradley abstained. The motion was agreed.

Mr Campbell left the meeting at 3.26pm.

7. Presentation – Dangerous Dogs

Colette Connor and John Terrington, Department officials, joined the meeting at 3.27pm and updated the Committee on the current position in relation to dangerous dogs legislation. The officials answered questions from the members.

The officials left the meeting at 3.46pm.

8. Mournes National Park Working Party Report

The Committee considered the Department’s response to the above report and agreed to forward it to the Minister for Environment.

9. Committee Inquiry Update

The Committee considered the Assembly Research and Information paper providing options for Committee visits to progress the inquiry on renewable energy/alternative land use.

It was agreed that members would consider these in detail.

10. AOB

(A) The Committee considered a letter from the LMC and agreed to write to progress discussions.

(B) The Committee considered a letter from Royal Mail and agreed that the issue was not relevant to this Committee.

(C) The Committee considered a letter from Portstewart Forum and agreed to forward the letter to the Committee for Environment.

(D) It was agreed to consider a response to the Draft Waste Management (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regns (NI) 2007 at next week’s meeting.

(E) The Committee provisionally agreed to meet with representatives of the DEFRA Committee in London on 27 February 2008.

(F) The Committee discussed a number of issues relating to the development of Forkhill military base and agreed to further discussions at next week’s meeting. It was agreed to contact the Department regarding funding for the project.

11. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 22 January 2008 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.06pm.