Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2012/2013

Date: 13 June 2013

Venue: The Education Room, Mount Stewart

2.10 p.m. The meeting commenced in Open Session

1. Apologies

The apologies are recorded above.

2. Chairperson's Business

None.

3. Minutes of the meeting 4 June 2013

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2013.

4. Matters arising

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 4 June 2013 from the Minister and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the SBRI Competition for Sustainable Utilisation of Poultry Litter.

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 5 June 2013 from the Department regarding the Fodder Crisis and Rural Support. The Committee agreed to seek an update on the completion of the review of funding to Rural Support in the autumn.

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 25 May 2013 from the Department regarding Farm Family Health Checks, Rural Proofing and the Public Services Pension Bill 2013 and agreed to seek a written briefing on the Public Service Pension provision.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 5 June 2013 from the Department on a number of issues raised at the Committee meeting on 21 May 2013.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 5 June 2013 from the Minister regarding issues surrounding the recent severe weather and the impact this has had on farmers and their families.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 3 June 2013 from the Department regarding Public Sector Renewables.

Noted: The Committee noted the copied correspondence dated 31 May 2013 from the Department which issued to the Health Committee on the Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Noted: The Committee noted the Research paper on Livestock Market Values – Hardship Scheme 2013.

Noted: The Committee noted the weekly Ash Dieback update from the Department.

5. Oral Briefing – National Trust

The following representatives of the National Trust joined the meeting at 2.12 p.m.

Heather Thompson, Director for Northern Ireland
John Baird, Head of Consultancy, Conservation
Ian McCurley, Consultancy Manager and Forestry Advisor
Paul Stewart, Garden and Park Manager
Alan Ryder, Propagator, Mount Stewart

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

6. Oral Briefing – Rivers Agency: The Reservoir Bill (Pre-Legislative Stage) Kiltonga Nature Reserve

Mr David Porter, Director of Development, Rivers Agency, joined the meeting at 2.50 p.m.

Mr Porter briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr McCarthy declared an interest as a member of Ards Borough Council.

Agreed: The Committee amended and agreed the draft Press Release on the visit to the Kiltonga Reservoir.

7. Correspondence

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 4 June 2013 from the Department on the National Fraud Initiative – Single Farm Payments and agreed to seek an update on the outcome of the pilot data matching exercise.

Agreed: The Committee noted the copied correspondence dated 7 June 2013 from Millar, McCall and Wylie Solicitors regarding a complaint on the Management of Strangford Lough. The Committee agreed to request that the Department copies it into the response to the solicitors.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department which issued to the Committee of the Environment which provides an overview of the Rural Development Programme.

Noted: The Committee noted the copied correspondence dated 30 May 2013 from the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to the Department which provides an update on the contamination of beef products with horsemeat.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 15 May 2013 from the Department of the Environment on the roadworthiness testing for T5 tractors.

Noted: The Committee noted the Explanatory Memorandum on EU Legislation on Bluefin Tuna.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence dated 28 May 2013 to the Chairperson from Mrs Hamilton regarding the difficulties experienced during the severe weather.

Noted: The Committee noted the Investing Activity Report for the Department for May 2013.

8. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the Forward Work Programme until the next meeting.

9. AOB

There was no other business.

10. Date and time of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 18 June 2013 at 1.30 p.m. in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 3.15 p.m.

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