Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.32am in Public Session.

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued

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

(b) Correspondence received

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

3. Minutes

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

4. Presentation – CAFRE – Loughry Students

Hilary Andrews and Luke McGovern , students and John Fay, Director of CAFRE, joined the meeting at 10.34am and presented to Committee on courses available at Loughry College, CAFRE and the experiences of Student life at Loughry Campus. The students then answered questions from Members.

Edwin Poots joined the meeting at 10.40am.

The students and Director left the meeting at 11.01am.

5. Presentation – Dairy Sector

Dr Mike Johnston and Trevor Lockhart, representatives from Dairy UK, joined the meeting at 11.01am and presented to Committee on a number of difficulties currently facing Northern Ireland’s Dairy Industry. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

William Irwin declared an interest.

George Savage declared an interest.

The representatives left the meeting at 11.50am.

Dr David Dobbin, Harold Hamilton and James Walker, representatives from United Dairy Farmers, joined the meeting at 11.50am and presented to Committee on the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Edwin Poots left the meeting at 12.30pm.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.30pm.

6. Presentation – DARD – Review of the Research and Education Advisory Panel (REAP)

Norman Fulton, departmental official, joined the meeting at 12.30pm and made a presentation on the Review of the Research and Education Advisory Panel. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.

Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 12.40pm.

William Irwin left the meeting at 12.41pm.

William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 12.45pm.

The official left the meeting at 12.55pm.

7. Presentation – DARD – High Court Ruling on Duplicate Fields - Update

George O’Doherty and Valerie Bell, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 12.55pm and made a presentation on the above. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.

Edwin Poots left the meeting at 1.10pm.

The officials left the meeting at 1.10pm.

8. Presentation – DARD 2009/2010 Business Plan

Gerry Lavery, John Smith and Tom Rodgers, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.10pm and made a presentation on the above. Following the presentation, Members asked questions.

Edwin Poots rejoined the meeting at 1.15pm.

The official left the meeting at 1.40pm.

9. Presentation – SL1 – Aquatic Animal Health Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009

Mark McGaughan, Paul Moore and Judith Tener, departmental officials joined the meeting at 1.40pm and presented to Committee on the above mentioned legislation. Following questions from Members, it was agreed that the above mentioned legislation should move on to the next stage.

William Irwin left the meeting at 1.50pm.

The officials left the meeting at 1.52pm.

10. SL1 – Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee agreed that the above mentioned legislation should move on to the next stage.

11. Future Presentations

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

12. Date of the next meeting

The Committee will next meet at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 24 March 2009 in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 1.55pm.