Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 1.35pm in Public Session .

1. Apologies

As above.

2. Minutes of last meeting

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 16 September 2008.

3. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence Issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 16 September 2008.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 16 September 2008.

The Committee noted the correspondence from the department on queries arising from the meeting of 9 September 2008 and on Committee procedures.

The Committee noted the invitation to Members to attend the Rural Community Network annual conference on 26 – 27 September 2008.

The Committee considered the report on the Committee Stage of the Public Reform Bill, presenting the Committee argument for the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board.

The Committee agreed that departmental officials should present to Committee on the High Court Ruling on the 5% heifer requirement within the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme.

Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 1.37pm.

4. Presentation – Premier Woodland- Replanting Grants and the 1953 Forestry Act

John Hetherington and Lord Jamie Hamilton, representatives from Premier Woodland joined the meeting at 1.37pm and presented to Committee on the current difficulties they are experiencing in regards to Replanting Grants and the 1953 Forestry Act. Following their presentation, the representatives then answered questions from the Members. It was agreed that the Chairperson would facilitate meetings between Premier Woodland and the department on the above mentioned issues.

George Savage joined the meeting at 1.40pm. 
Edwin Poots left the meeting at 1.55pm.

The representatives left the meeting at 2.10pm.

5. Presentation – Wind Turbines Review– DARD, UFU and Participants.

Gerry Lavery and Kevin Murphy, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.10pm and presented to Committee on the Review of the Wind Turbines. The officials then answered questions from the Members.

Edwin Poots re-joined the meeting at 2.11pm. 
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 2.50pm. 
Tom Elliott re-joined the meeting at 2.54pm.

The officials left the meeting at 2.55 pm. 
Trevor Clarke left the meeting at 2.55pm.

Robert Cochrane and Angus Cuthbert, representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union joined the meeting at 2.55pm and presented to Committee on the above mentioned issue. Members also heard from participants: Gavin Hayes and Peter McWilliams. Following the presentations, the representatives then answered questions from the Members.

Trevor Clarke re-joined the meeting at 2.59pm.

The officials left the meeting at 3.15 pm.

6. Presentation- DARD - PSA Targets

John Smith and Lynda Lowe, departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.17pm and made a presentation on the departments PSA Targets. Following their presentation, Members asked questions.

Thomas Burns left the meeting at 3.19pm. 
William Irwin left the meeting at 3.20pm. 
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.24pm. 
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 3.27pm. 
Tom Elliott re-joined the meeting at 3.28pm. 
Willie Clarke left the meeting at 3.30pm. 
Willie Clarke re-joined the meeting at 3.32pm. 
George Savage re-joined the meeting at 3.36pm. 
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 3.40pm.

The officials left the meeting at 3.41pm.

7. Presentation – Rivers Agency – Government Response to the Flood Management Policy Review – ‘Living with Rivers and Seas’.

John C Clarke and Philip Mehaffey, Rivers Agency officials joined the meeting at 3.42pm and made a presentation on the above mentioned Review. Following their presentation, Members asked questions.

Pat Doherty re-joined the meeting at 5.45pm. 
Thomas Burns re-joined the meeting at 3.52pm. 
George Savage left the meeting at 4.07pm. 
Pat Doherty left the meeting at 4.18pm.

The officials left the meeting at 4.21pm.

8. First Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules .

The Committee noted that the Examiner has comments on two Statutory Rules:

The Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 was in breached of the 21 Day Rule.

The Examiner has also recommended an amendment to The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Prohibition of Sale of Salmon and Sea Trout Caught by Rod and Line) Regulations 2008. Members agreed to defer this matter until they received comments from the Examiner of Statutory Rules.

9. Pre-consultation – Zoonoses and Animal By-Products (Fees) (Amendments) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

DARD plans to issue a consultation on the above. The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken.

10. i) SR – The Zoonoses & Animal By- Products (Fees) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Zoonoses & Animal By- Products (Fees) Regulations (NI) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

ii) SR – The Control of Salmonella in Poultry Scheme Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Control of Salmonella in Poultry Scheme Order ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

iii) SR – The Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered theInshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

iv) SR – The Foyle Area (Landing Areas for Oysters) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered theFoyle Area (Landing Areas for Oysters) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

v) SR – The Foyle Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered the Foyle Area (Control of Oyster Fishing) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

vi) SR – TheFoyle Area (Licensing of Oyster Fishing) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered theFoyle Area (Licensing of Oyster Fishing) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

vii) SR- Foyle Area (Oyster Logbook and Identification Tagging) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered theFoyle Area (Oyster Logbook and Identification Tagging) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and has no objection to the rule.

viii) SR - The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Prohibition of Sale of Salmon and Sea Trout Caught by Rod and Line) Regulations 2008

The Committee deferred the above mentioned rule until an adequate response from the Department was received.

11. Future Presentations

There are no legislative presentations scheduled for the meeting of the 30 September 2008.

12. AOB

It was agreed that departmental officials should present to Committee at the next meeting on the progress of Emergency aid to farmers following the floods of 15/16 August 2008.

It was agreed that the Organic Farming Group should present to Committee.

It was agreed that a future Committee Meeting should be held at the Agri- Food and Biosciences Institute at Loughgall, Co Armagh.

13. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 30 September 2008 at 1.30pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.40pm.