Minutes of Proceedings

Apologies

As above.

1. Minutes of last meeting

The Committee agreed to the Minutes of the meeting of 12 February 2008.

2. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence Issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 12 February 2008.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 12 February 2008.

4. Update - Bluetongue Outbreak

Bert Houston and Ian McKee, Department officials, joined the meeting at 1.32pm and gave an update on the current position of Bluetongue in relation to Northern Ireland.

Willie Clarke left the meeting at 1.47pm.

The officials then answered questions from the Members and left the meeting at 1.48pm.

5. Review of Forest Services

David Small and John Joe O’Boyle, Department officials, joined the meeting at 1.48pm and presented the Committee with an update on the proposed re-organisation of the Forest Service and answered Members questions.

William Irwin left the meeting at 2.00pm.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 2.06pm.
Willie Clarke joined the meeting at 2.08pm.
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 2.15pm.
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 2.43pm.

The officials left the room at 2.43pm.

6. Consultation Summary – Single Farm Payment Scheme to Fruit, Vegetable, Potato, Orchard and Nursery Stock Producers

Norman Fulton, Seamus McErlean and Mark McLean, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.43pm and gave a presentation on Single Farm Payment in reference to Fruit, Vegetable, Potato, Orchard and Nursery Stock Producers. The officials then answered Members questions.

PJ Bradley left the meeting at 2.47pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.53pm.
Pat Doherty joined the meeting at 2.55pm.
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.56pm.
The officials left the meeting at 3.07pm.

7. SL1 – The Dairy Produce Quotas (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008 and – SL1 – The Dairy Produce Quotas (General Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2008

Jill Garrett and Daniel Glenn, Department officials, joined the meeting at 3.07pm and made a presentation to the Members on proposed amendments to the regulations on Dairy Produce Quotas. The officials answered questions from the Members. It was agreed by the Members to progress to the next stage. The officials left the meeting at 3.09pm.

8. AOB

None.

9. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 26 February 2008 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.10pm.