Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 1.35pm in Closed Session

1. Dioxins Report

The Committee deliberated the report and approved the amendments as discussed at the meeting of 3 November. The Members requested that confirmation be sought from the Department in relation to exact figures in relation to compensation and that following receipt of that information from the Department, the report be published. Members agreed to forward a copy of the published report to the Minister.

The Committee expressed their thanks to the Committee Support Office for their work in organisation of the Committee Inquiry and in compilation of the Report.

Patsy McGlone entered the meeting at 1.36pm
Willie Clarke entered the meeting at 1.37pm
Patsy McGlone left the meeting at 1.39pm
George Savage entered the meeting at 1.40pm
Patsy McGlone rejoined the meeting at 1.41pm

2. Addendum to the Report on Diseases of Animals Bill

A draft copy of the Committee Addendum to the Report on the Diseases of Animals Bill detailing the agreed amendment to Clause 8 of the Bill was tabled at the meeting. The Committee agreed the report be published and laid in the Business Office of the Northern Ireland Assembly and. Members agreed to forward a copy of the published report to the Minister.

Thomas Burns entered the meeting at 1.45pm

The meeting opened in Open Session at 1.45pm

3. Apologies

As above

4. Minutes

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 3 November 2009.

5. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 3 November 2009.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 3 November 2009.

Tom Elliott left the meeting at 1.49pm
Jim Shannon entered the meeting at 1.52pm

6. Presentation – DARD – Update against PSA Targets

John Smith, Pauline Keegan and Roly Harwood, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.58pm and presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Jim Shannon left the meeting at 2.04pm
Jim Shannon rejoined the meeting at 2.12pm
William McCrea left the meeting at 2.41pm
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.45pm
Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.48pm
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.52pm
Patsy McGlone left the meeting at 3.03pm
Patsy McGlone rejoined the meeting at 3.08pm

Francie Molloy declared an interest
William Irwin declared an interest

Patsy McGlone left the meeting at 3.25pm

The officials left the meeting at 3.25pm

7. Presentation – Assisi Animal Sanctuary – Briefing on their work and views on the Animal Welfare Bill

Brian Bingham, Margaret Sinnott and Felicity Huston, representatives of Assisi Animal Sanctuary, joined the meeting at 3.26pm and presented to Committee in respect the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 3.35pm
Jim Shannon left the meeting at 3.53pm

The representatives left the meeting at 4.09pm

8. Forestry Bill – Oral Evidence Forward Work Programme

The Committee agreed the list of witnesses to be called to give evidence in relation to the Forestry Bill. The Committee was apprised of the timetable of evidence sessions.

The Committee agreed to hold an all day evidence session on Thursday 21 January 2010 at Castlewellan Forest Park.

9. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 November 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned at 4.12pm