Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.06pm in Public Session.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Minutes of last meetings

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 16 October 2007.

3. Matters Arising

(a) Correspondence Issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued following the meeting of 16 October 2007.

(b) Correspondence Received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 9 October 2007.

It was agreed to write to the Department again for further details relating to the amounts raised and invested by Agrisearch.

It was agreed to seek further information regarding an injunction taken out against Cavan/Monaghan Councils and their plans for LEADER +.

4. Single Farm Payments Appeals

George O’Doherty, Bregeen Glendinning and Valerie Bell, Department officials, joined the meeting at 1.40pm and gave a presentation on the appeals process.

Mr McHugh joined the meeting at 1.45pm.

The officials then answered questions from the members.

Mr Burns joined the meeting at 2.21pm.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.50pm.

The Committee and officials discussed the payment arrangements for the SFPs this year.

The officials left the meeting at 2.55pm.

5. Closure of DARD Offices

Gerry Lavery and Pauline Rooney, Department officials, joined the meeting at 2.56pm and gave a presentation on the Department’s manpower plans and the future roll-out of DARD Direct.

Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.01pm.

The officials then answered questions from the members and left the meeting at 3.16pm.

It was agreed to invite representatives from NIPSA to address the Committee on this issue.

6. The Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007

Question put and agreed.

That, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.

7. The Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Amendment No 3) Regulations (NI) 2007

Question put and agreed.

That, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (Amendment No 3) Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.

8. AOB

(a) Visit to Enniskillen

The Committee agreed to reschedule the meeting in CAFRE, Enniskillen for Thursday, 29 November 2007.

(b) Draft Budget

It was agreed to commence consideration of the draft Budget proposals at the meeting on 6 November 2007.

9. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 6 November 2007 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 3.22pm.