Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.35pm in Public Session .

1. Apologies

As above

2. Minutes

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 10 February 2009.

3. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 10 February 2009.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 10 February 2009.

The Committee noted correspondence from the Department in respect of the Better Regulation exercise, the Rural Development (Financial Assistance) (Public Expenditure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) and PPS21.

(c) Tabled correspondence

The Committee noted tabled correspondence.

PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 1.40pm.

4. Presentation – PSA 17 and the Farm Modernisation Scheme

Keith Morrison and Zita Murphy, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.43pm.

The Clerk to the Committee appraised Members that a spokesperson for the EU Commissioner for Agriculture had indicated that the Farm Modernisation Programme might be in breach of EU Regulations.

Members indicated their concerns at this and the fact that farmers had to queue for up to two days to submit applications.

Members put a number of questions to the departmental officials in respect of the breach of regulations and the basis in which applications were being received.

Willie Clarke joined the meeting at 1.55pm.
Dr McCrea left the Chair at 1.55pm.
Mr Elliott assumed the Chair at 1.55pm.
Dr McCrea resumed the Chair at 1.58pm.
Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 2.00pm.

Members agreed to raise the matter urgently in the House and call for the Minister to make a Statement to the House.

Meeting suspended at 2.01pm.

Meeting resumed at 2.46pm.

Dr McCrea, Tom Elliott, PJ Bradley, Trevor Clarke, Willie Clarke, William Irwin and George Savage present.

Members agreed to invite the Minister to the next meeting. Members also agreed to write to the EU Commissioner for Agriculture to ask for a derogation in respect of the regulations for first tranche of the Farm Modernisation Programme.

Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 2.50pm.
Pat Doherty joined the meeting at 2.56pm.
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.00pm.

The departmental officials presented to Committee in respect of in year targets for PSA 17. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Pat Doherty left the meeting at 3.09pm.
PJ Bradley left the meeting at 3.16pm.

The officials left the meeting at 3.20pm.

5. Presentation – DARD – Red Meat Labelling, PPS21 and the Use of Waste Products in Animal Feeds

Jill Garrett, Stephen Nixon, David Wright and Dan Cartland, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 3.22pm and presented to Committee on a number of issues raised by industry stakeholder groups at previous meetings. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.

William Irwin left the meeting at 3.22pm.
William Irwin joined the meeting at 3.25pm.
PJ Bradley joined the meeting at 3.44pm.
Pat Doherty joined the meeting at 3.46pm.

Officials left the meeting at 3.47pm.

6. Presentation – SL1 – Agriculture Hardship Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2009

Peter Toner, Seamus Hughes and Jonathon McAdams, department officials, joined the meeting at 3.50pm and made a presentation on in respect of the above proposed legislation.

PJ Bradley asked that it be recorded that he opposed the scheme on the basis that the scheme did not address the true losses incurred by farmers following the floods of 16 August 2009.

The Committee agreed that the above mentioned draft rule should progress to the next legislative stage.

The officials left the meeting at 4.05pm.

7. Presentation – SL1 – The Seed Potatoes (Crop Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Rennie McDowell and Jim Crummie, department officials, joined the meeting at 4.05pm and made a presentation on in respect of the above proposed legislation.

The Committee agreed that the above mentioned draft rule should progress to the next legislative stage.

The officials left the meeting at 4.10pm.

8. Pre-Consultation – The Wine Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Members noted the above consultation papers and agreed that officials should return and present to Committee with an analytical summary of the consultation responses.

9. Future Presentations

The Committee Clerk briefed Members on the future business of the Committee. It was agreed to proceed as proposed.

10. AOB

There were no other matters for business.

11. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 24 February 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.10pm.