Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting commenced at 1.33pm in Open Session

1. Apologies

As above

2. Minutes

The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 17 November 2009.

3. Matters arising

(a) Correspondence issued

The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 17 November 2009.

(b) Correspondence received

The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 17 November 2009.

Thomas Burns joined the meeting at 1.41pm

4. Presentation – DARD – Cross Compliance Penalties

Ken Laverty, Malcolm Beatty, Sam Kennedy and David Torrens, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 1.41pm and presented to Committee in respect of the above. Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Francie Molloy entered the meeting at 1.45pm
Jim Shannon left the meeting at 1.47pm
Patsy McGlone entered the meeting at 1.51pm
Francie Molloy left the meeting at 1.55pm
Francie Molloy rejoined the meeting at 2.00pm

Tom Elliott declared an interest

Patsy McGlone left the meeting at 2.11pm
Thomas Burns left the meeting at 2.13pm
Patsy McGlone rejoined the meeting at 2.15pm

William McCrea declared an interest
William Irwin declared an interest

Thomas Burns rejoined the meeting at 2.45pm

The officials left the meeting at 2.50pm

Tom Elliott left the meeting at 2.50pm
William Irwin left the meeting at 2.50pm

5. SL1: The Diseases of Animals (Importation of Machinery and Vehicles) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee agreed to defer this item to allow for a response from the Department to a query regarding inspections of machinery and vehicles.

6. SL1: The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.

7. SL1: Dogs (Licensing and Identification) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Committee noted the above mentioned legislation should proceed to the next stage.

8. Presentation – DARD – Update on Rural Proofing, Rural Champion and Rural White Paper

Niall Heaney, Keith Morrison and Zita Murphy, departmental officials, joined the meeting at 2.54pm and presented to Committee in respect of the above.

Following the presentation, Members put questions.

Willie Clarke left the meeting at 2.55pm
Tom Elliott rejoined the meeting at 3.02pm
Pat Doherty entered the meeting at 3.07pm
Jim Shannon rejoined the meeting at 3.11pm
William Irwin rejoined the meeting at 3.14pm
Tom Elliott left the meeting at 3.16pm
Patsy McGlone left the meeting at 3.24pm

Francie Molloy declared an interest

Patsy McGlone rejoined the meeting at 3.27pm
Jim Shannon left the meeting at 3.27pm

The officials left the meeting at 3.43pm

9. Engagement: Visit to Rural Community Network and Rural Development Council, Cookstown

The Clerk apprised Members of the draft itinerary for this visit on Thursday 3 December 2009 and asked Members to advise the Committee Support Office of their availability to attend.

10. AOB

George Savage requested information from the Department on which is the responsibility department for the removal of dead calves that have been dumped in rural areas.

11. Date of the next meeting

The next Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 1 December 2009 at 1.30pm in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

Patsy McGlone left the meeting at 3.46pm

The meeting was adjourned at 3.47pm