Minutes of Proceedings

1.35 p.m.       The meeting commenced in Open Session

 1. Apologies

Apologies are noted above.

2. Chairperson's Business

Agreed: The Chairperson advised the Committee of the outcome of a meeting he and the Deputy Chairperson had with the Minister regarding the Single Farm Payments. The Committee agreed to commission research on the use of remote sensing in the Single Farm Payment process in the Republic of Ireland and Wales.

1.37 p.m. Ms Boyle joined the meeting.

3. Minutes of the meeting 29 May 2012

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Minutes of the meetings held on 29 May.

4. Matters arising

Noted: The Committee noted the thank you letter from Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Department regarding the Marine Bill, to the Committee for the Environment.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding issues raised at the meeting on 8 May 2012.

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding issues raised at the meeting on 15 May 2012 and agreed to request research on compensation paid to farms with multiple breakouts of TB versus compensation paid to single farm claimants.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding issues raised at the meeting on 1 May 2012

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding the criteria used to determine the banding of eligible equipment for the Farm Modernisation Programme Tranche 3 and agreed to write to the Department to request information on how the banding will affect applications.

Noted: The Committee noted the extract provided and referred to by NI Vet.

5. Bovine TB Review – Oral Briefing Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA)

Dr Johanna Judge, Wildlife Biologist, FERA, joined the meeting. Ms Judge briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.

1.57 p.m. Mr McCarthy left the meeting.

2.20 p.m. Mr Swann joined the meeting.

2.21 p.m. Mr Clarke joined the meeting.

6. SL1 The Brucellosis Control (Amendment) Order (NI) 2012 and SL1 The Tuberculosis Control (Amendment) Order (NI) 2012

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting;

Collette McMaster, Assistant Secretary

Judith Graham, Veterinary Officer

Jackie McQuillan, Deputy Principal

The officials briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on whether insurance companies were consulted  during the consultation process.

Agreed: The Committee considered SL1The Brucellosis Control (Amendment) Order (NI) 2012 and SL1 The Tuberculosis Control (Amendment) Order (NI) 2012 and were content with the policy merits of the proposals as set out in the SL1.

7. CAFRE Tuition Fees Consultation Responses – Written Brief DARD

Noted: The Committee noted the written brief from the Department on the CAFRE Tuition Fees Consultation responses.

8. Sea-fish Gear Trial to reduce fish discards in the Irish Sea – Written Brief DARD

Agreed: The Committee noted Departmental briefing paper on the Sea-fish Gear Trial project and agreed to request that the Department forwards a copy of the report upon completion.

9. Pre-Consultation: Amendment to Cattle Identification, Registration and Movement Regulations – Written Brief DARD

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on how the issue of notification of lost or stolen cattle will be regulated.

Agreed: The Committee noted the Departmental briefing paper on the Pre-Consultation amendment to Cattle Identification, Registration and Movement Regulations and agreed that to request that the Department returns to brief the Committee with a detailed analysis of submissions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

10. SL1: The Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

Agreed: The Committee considered the SL1: The Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 and were content with the policy merits of the proposals as set out in the SL1.

11. SL1: The Plant Health (Amendment No 2) Order (NI) 2012 – Written brief DARD

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek clarification on the legislative position regarding Plant Health in the Republic of Ireland.

Agreed: The Committee considered the SL1: The Plant Health (Amendment No2) Order (NI) 2012 and were content with the policy merits as set out in the SL1.

12. SL1: The NI Poultry Health Assurance Scheme (Fees) Order (NI) 2012 – Written Brief DARD

Agreed: The Committee considered the SL1: The NI Poultry Health Assurance Scheme (Fees) Order (NI) 2012 and were content with the policy merits as set out in the SL1.

13. SR The Welfare of Animals (Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2012

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the SR The Welfare of Animals (Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2012 until further information regarding the certification process has been received from the Vets Association.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask if the certification form, to be completed by a vet is the same in England.

3.22 p.m. Mr McMullan left the meeting.

14. Correspondence

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for the First Minister and deputy First Minster regarding changes to the rates of pay to seafarers due to the introduction of the Race Relations Order, to the Department for comment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the Reform of NI Credit Unions, to the Department for comment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to receive an update from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on its proposed scrutiny of the Sustainable Energy Implementation Plan.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider correspondence from the Countryside Alliance requesting to brief the Committee, as part of the next agenda item.

Agreed: The Committee noted the invitation from the Committee for the Office of the first deputy First Minister in relation to its meeting of the European Advisory Panel and agreed to forward it to the Department.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding its Inquiry into Developing the Northern Ireland Economy through Innovation, Research and Development.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding the Monitoring of Post Project Evaluation.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding its discussion paper on maximising the Assembly’s Contribution to the NI Budget process.

Noted: The Committee noted the article regarding the Committee of the Regions proposal for a fairer and more ambitious CAP.

3.29 p.m. Mr Irwin left the meeting.

15. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed to host a stakeholder event on 18 September 2012 to help inform its consideration of the Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding) Establishments (NI) 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Press Release for the forthcoming visit to the UK.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.

16. Date and time of the next meeting

Agreed: The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 19 June 2012, at 1.30pm, Room 30, Parliament Buildings

The meeting was adjourned at 3.31 p.m.

Paul Frew, Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development