Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.30pm in Public Session.

1.    Apologies

As above.

2.    Minutes of last meeting

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 13 November 2007.

3.    Matters arising

(A) Correspondence Issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 13 November 2007.

(B) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 13 November 2007.

(C) Agricultural Wages Board

Denis Arnold, Bill Office, joined the meeting at 1.31pm and provided advice on the process involved in taking forward a Committee bill. He then answered questions from members. Mr Arnold left the meeting at 1.38pm.

It was agreed that the Committee would introduce a bill to repeal the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) ( Northern Ireland) Order 1977.

4.    Draft Budget

The Committee discussed its response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel (CFP) which is co-ordinating the views of all statutory committees.

Mr W Clarke and Mr Savage joined the meeting at 1.42pm
Mr Burns joined the meeting at 1.57pm.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.22pm.
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 2.22pm.

The meeting was suspended at 2.22pm.
The meeting reconvened at 2.40pm.

Mr McHugh joined the meeting at 2.47pm.

The Committee agreed a response to the CFP.

5.    Programme for Government/draft Investment Strategy 2008 - 2011

John Smith, Pauline Keegan, Colette McMaster and John Clarke, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.49pm and gave a presentation on the Department’s commitments within the Programme for Government/draft Investment Strategy.

Mr McHugh left the meeting at 3.01pm.

They then answered questions from the members.

The officials left the meeting at 3.38pm.

6.    Scientific Evidence on fishing stocks and health

Paddy Campbell, Department official, Walter Crozier and Pieter Jan Schon, AFBI officials, joined the meeting at 3.39pm and gave a presentation on the scientific methods used to assess fishing stocks and health.

Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.44pm.
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 3.54pm and Mr Elliott took the Chair.
Mr McHugh rejoined the meeting at 3.55pm.

The officials then answered questions from the members.

Mr Irwin left the meeting at 4.28pm.

The officials left the meeting at 4.33pm.

7.    SL1 – Plant Health (Amendment No 2) Order (NI) 2007

Peter Toner, Wilf Weatherup and Reid Colemen, Department officials, joined the meeting at 4.34pm and gave a presentation on the proposed Statutory Rule. The officials then answered questions from the members.

The Committee agreed to the proposal.

The officials left the meeting at 4.39pm.

8.    Statutory Rule – The Plant Health (Phytophthora Ramourum) (Amendment) Order (NI) 2007

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered The Plant Health (Phytopthora Ramourum) (Amendment) Order (NI)2007 and, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, has no objection to the rule.

The Committee agreed to question the Department as to why ‘country of origin’ cannot be required on all agricultural produce entering Northern Ireland.

9.    Visit to Brussels

The Committee was updated on the arrangements for the meeting with Commissioner Borg in Brussels on 6 December 2007.

It was agreed that all members of the Committee may join the visit.

10. Mournes National Park – Consultation

It was agreed that the Committee would consider a response to the outcome of the consultation.

11. Fifth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules

The Committee noted the fifth report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules and noted that drafting errors were found again within the DARD legislation.

It was agreed to seek the views from DARD regarding its processes in drafting secondary legislation.

12. AOB

The Committee was advised of the arrangements for the visit to Enniskillen.

The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from the League Against Cruel Sports.

The Committee noted the Department’s performance in relation to the payment of the Single Farm Payments this year.

13. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Thursday, 29 November 2007 in the Conference Room, CAFRE, Enniskillen.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.50pm.