Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 08 December 2009
Venue: Room 30
The meeting commenced at 1.37pm in Open Session
1. Apologies
As above
2. Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 1 December 2009
3. Matters arising
(a) Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 1 December 2009.
(b) Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 1 December 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from the Chairs of the five Rural White Paper Stakeholder Advisory Group sub-groups.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Permanent Secretary of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of the Public Accounts Committee requesting that DARD establish a framework of sanctions regarding fraudulent behaviour in relation to tuberculosis.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk forward correspondence from other Assembly Committees requesting DARD’s views on various matters directly to the Department for their comments.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward their views to the Committee for Employment and Learning on the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s proposed amendments to the Agricultural Wages Board in respect of the draft Employment Bill following the DARD presentation to Committee on 12 January 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive a presentation from Born Free Foundation in relation the proposed Animal Welfare Bill, to be scheduled by the Clerk.
4. Presentation – Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator – Update on position
The following representatives joined the meeting at 1.40pm
Danny Moore – President
David Kerr – Strategic Planning
The representatives presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Clarke entered the meeting at 1.42pm
Mr Shannon entered the meeting at 1.44pm
Mr Elliott entered the meeting at 1.45pm
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 1.55pm
Mr Doherty entered the meeting at 2.07pm
Dr McCrea left the meeting at 2.11pm
Mr McGlone entered the meeting at 2.15pm
Mr Burns declared an interest
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.24pm
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.27pm
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 2.27pm
Mr Paisley left the meeting at 2.30pm
The representatives left the meeting at 2.30pm
Mr Elliott took the Chair at 2.30pm
5. Presentation – DARD – December Monitoring Round
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.31pm
John Smith – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Pauline Keegan – Grade 5 – Assistant Secretary
Ian McKee – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.32pm
Mr McGlone rejoined the meeting at 2.36pm
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.48pm
Mr McGlone left the meeting at 2.50pm
Mr Paisley rejoined the meeting at 2.55pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 2.57pm
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.04pm
Mr Burns left the meeting at 3.15pm
Mr Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.34pm
Mr Elliott placed on record his objection to £1 million being returned by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to Department of Finance and Personnel for reallocation to DSD.
The officials left the meeting at 3.35pm
6. Presentation – DARD – SL1: The Specified Animal Pathogens (Amendment) Order ( Northern Ireland)
The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.35pm
Jackie Robinson – Grade 7 – Principal Officer
Christine Henderson – Staff Officer
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
The officials left the meeting at 3.41pm
7. Pre-consultation: The Animals (Specified Diseases) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010 & The Animals (Insect Transmissible Diseases) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2010
Agreed: The Committee agreed that officials should present to Committee when a detailed analysis of responses has been undertaken
8. SL1: The Diseases of Animals (Importation of Machinery & Vehicles) Order (NI) 2009
Agreed: The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
9. SL1: The Lough Neagh (Levels) Scheme 2009
Agreed: The Committee agreed the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.
The meeting moved into closed session at 3.42pm
10. Report on the Committee Inquiry into the Dioxin Contamination Incident, December 2008
The Committee considered the content of the draft report:
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraphs 1-4
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraphs 5-8
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraph 9
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraphs 10-11
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraphs 12-15
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraphs 16-21
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraphs 22-25
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of paragraphs 26-31
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of Appendices 1 - 3
Agreed : The Committee agreed the content of Appendix 4
Agreed: The Committee agreed to allow the Chairperson to approve the minutes of today’s meeting in order that they are included in the report
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Report on the Committee Inquiry into the Dioxin Contamination Incident, December 2008 be the Second Report of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee to the Assembly
Agreed: The Committee agreed the content of the draft motion for debate of the report in plenary session.
11. Date of the next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 January 2010 at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting was adjourned at 3.49pm
