Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2011/2012
Date: 07 December 2010
Venue: Room 30
1.36pm The meeting commenced in Public Session.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above
2. Minutes of 30 November 2010
The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meeting of 30 November 2010
3. Matters arising
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Correspondence issued
The Committee noted the correspondence issued since the meeting of 30 November 2010.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that a response should be made in relation to previous correspondence regarding the Child Poverty Strategy Consultation Document.
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Correspondence received
The Committee noted the correspondence received since the meeting of 30 November 2010.
1.41pm Mr Gibson joined the meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed a response to the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to Spending Review and draft Budget 2011-15.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it will forward correspondence received from other Committees to the Department for a response.
Members noted a revised agenda for the meeting tabled today.
4. Presentation: Equine Council Northern Ireland
The following witnesses joined the meeting:
Tony McCusker (Chairperson)
Howard Whelan
Helen Troughton
The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
1.54pm Mr W Clarke joined the meeting
1.58pm Mr McCarthy left the meeting
2.00pm Mr Molloy left the meeting
2.12pm Mr T Clarke joined the meeting
The witnesses left the meeting
5. Welfare of Animals Bill – Clause by Clause Scrutiny and Consideration of First Draft Committee Report
The following Departmental Officials joined the meeting:
Colette McMaster -Grade 5 - Assistant Secretary (Director of Animal Health and Welfare Policy Division);
Kate Davey - Grade 7 - Principal Officer (Head of Welfare of Animals Bill Team);and
Andrew Kell - DP - Deputy Principal (Welfare of Animals Bill Team).
The Bill Clerk presented a draft amendment to Clause 6 and advised that there will be consequential amendments.
Agreed: Members agreed revisions and the revised text will be presented next meeting.
Agreed: The Department would provide information to the Committee in relation to the amendment in advance of the next meeting.
2.00pm Mr Molloy rejoined the meeting
The Chairperson advised that the Committee will consider Clause 6 and the consequential amendments to other clauses at the next meeting. Consequential amendments will be required to clauses 31, 32, 33, 36, 41 and 55.
The Committee considered its draft Report on the Bill and, subject to consequential amendments being presented next week, agreed the following:
Agreed: The Committee considered the Executive Summary of the report and agreed a number of amendments and areas to be deferred until next meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would defer consideration of the Recommendations section until the next meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Introduction of the Report
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it will remove the section of the draft report summarising the Bill and that it should be replaced with a hyperlink to the Bill.
Agreed: The Committee considered the Summary of Consideration and Agreed Amendments section of the report and agreed a number of amendments and areas to be deferred until next meeting.
Agreed:The Committee agreed the section of the report relating to its Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Bill.
During the Committee’s consideration of the Report:
The following Members declared an interest as Local Government Councillors:
Mr Moutray, Mr Beggs, Mr, W Clarke, Mr T Clarke, Mr Irwin, Mr Molloy
Mr Irwin left the meeting at 2.53pm and rejoined the meeting at 3.05pm.
Mr Gibson left the meeting at 3.05pm and rejoined the meeting at 3.10pm.
Mr Beggs left the meeting at 3.07pm and rejoined the meeting at 3.18pm.
Mr Moutray left the meeting at 3.21pm and Mr Beggs took the Chair.
Mr Molloy left the meeting at 3.44pm.
The officials left the meeting
6. Presentation : DARD The Strangford Lough (Sea Fishing Exclusion Zones) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2011
The Committee noted stakeholder correspondence in relation to the above.
The following officials joined the meeting:
Ian Humes - Grade 7 - Principal Officer; and
Paddy Campbell - DP - Deputy Principal.
The officials presented to Committee in respect of the above.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Strangford Lough (Sea Fishing Exclusion Zones) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2011 should progress to the next legislative stage.
The officials left the meeting
7. DARD : Strategy for the Sustainability Of the Honey Bee
The following witnesses joined the meeting:
Peter Toner - Grade 7 - Principal Officer;
Seamus Hughes - DP - Deputy Principal; and
Tom Williamson – Inspector (Group 5)
The witnesses presented to Committee in respect of the above.
Following the presentation, Members put questions.
The witnesses left the meeting
8. AOB
No items were raised
9. Date of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Monday 13 December 2010.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.07pm
