Minutes of Proceedings

The Chairperson opened the public meeting at 10.04am.

1. Correspondence Issued

The Chair briefed the Committee on Correspondence issued regarding the Inquiry since the last inquiry meeting which was held on the 1 May 2008 .

2. Correspondence Received.

The Chair briefed the Committee on Correspondence received regarding the Inquiry since the last inquiry meeting which was held on the 1 May 2008 .

3. Committee Business – SR The Financial Assistance for Young Farmers Scheme (Amendment) Order (NI) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Financial Assistance for Young Farmers Scheme (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and, subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules report has no objection to the rule.

4. Evidence Session with The Carbon Trust.

The representative joined the meeting at 10.07am.

The Committee took oral evidence from Geoff Smyth, a representative from The Carbon Trust. A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson thanked the representative for his presentation.

The representative left the meeting at 10.52am.

5. Evidence Session with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

The officials joined the meeting at 10.52am.

The Committee took oral evidence from Barbara Swann, David Sterling and Olivia Martin, representatives from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. A question and answer session followed.

The Chairperson thanked the officials for their presentation.

The officials left the meeting at 12.02pm.

6. Committee Business- Presentation – Origin Labelling of Beef.

Niall Heaney, Dr John Speers and Jill Garnett, representatives from DARD, joined the meeting at 12.03pm and made a presentation to the Committee on the Origin Labelling of Beef. They then answered questions from the Members.

The officials left the meeting at 12.30pm.

The Chair suspended the meeting at 12.30pm.

Members of the Committee went on a tour of the Renewable Energy Centre in AFBI, Hillsborough at 1.00pm to 1.48pm.

The Chair reconvened the meeting at 1.55pm.

7. Committee Business – Presentation – Axis 3 of the NIRDP.

Gareth Evans, official from DARD, joined the meeting at 1.55pm and made a presentation on the Axis 3 of the NIRDP with reference to the establishment of Council Clusters. He then questions from the Members.

The official left the meeting at 2.30pm.

PJ Bradley left the meeting at 2.30pm.

8. Evidence Session with Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute.

The representatives joined the meeting at 2.33pm.

The Committee took oral evidence from Dr Lindsay Easson, Dr Alistair McCracken and Dr Peter Frost, representatives from Agri- Food and Biosciences Institute. A question and answer session followed.

William Irwin left the meeting at 3.09pm.

The Chairperson thanked the representatives for their presentation and hosting the evidence session for the Committee’s Inquiry.

The representatives left the meeting at 3.20pm.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.22pm.