Minutes of Proceedings

1.33p.m. The meeting commenced in Closed Session

1. Review of Bovine Tuberculosis – Draft Committee Report

1.55 p.m. Mr McMullan and Mr Swann left the meeting.

1.56 p.m. Mr Hazzard and Mr McCarthy left the meeting.

2.24 p.m. Mr Clarke joined the meeting.

2.25 p.m. Mr McMullan rejoined the meeting.

2.26 p.m. Mr McAleer left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee considered the draft report into the Review of Bovine Tuberculosis and agreed amendments to paragraphs 8, 24, 29, 33, 37, 43, 46, 56, 61 and 73. It further agreed paragraphs 1-7, 9-23, 24-28, 30-32, 34-36, 38-42, 44-45, 55-60, 62-72 and 74.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to reconsider paragraph 18 at the next meeting and recommence consideration of the draft report at paragraph 75.

2.34p.m. The meeting moved into Open Session

 2. Apologies

The apologies are noted above.

3. Chairperson’s business

The Chairperson advised the Committee that the visit to Kilkeel will take place on Thursday 18 October 2012 and a packed lunch will be available on request.

4. Minutes of the meeting 9 October 2012

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2012.

2.37 p.m. Mr Swann rejoined the meeting.

5. Matters arising

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding CAFRE’s promotional/recruitment activity outside of NI. The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ascertain if CAFRE intends to increase its promotional/recruitment activity in the Republic of Ireland and if so what the associated funding would be. The Committee further agreed to suggest that CAFRE considers cessation of promotional/recruitment activity in any EU Members states.

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding issues raised at the meeting on 25 September 2012. The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ascertain what interaction there has been with the farming community regarding the proposed EU changes to vehicle testing and to ask if any lobbying has taken place. The Committee agreed to write to the MEPs on this issue as well as to the UFU and DEFRA.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule an evidence session with the Department and the Rivers Agency regarding the ownership of Lough Neagh. The Committee further agreed to request a research paper on the involvement of various government departments in the Lough Neagh issue.

6. Oral Briefing – Loughs Agency

The following Loughs Agency officials joined the meeting at 3.00 p.m.

Derick Anderson, Chief Executive
John McCartney, Director of Conservation and Protection

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

3.03 p.m. Mr Hazzard rejoined the meeting.

3.12 p.m. Mr Irwin left the meeting.

3.15 p.m. Mr Clarke left the meeting.

3.27 p.m. Mrs Dobson left the meeting.

3.30 p.m. Mr Hazzard left the meeting.

3.36 p.m. Mrs Dobson rejoined the meeting.

3.41 p.m. Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting.

3.43 p.m. Mr McAleer and Mr McMullan left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to request that she considers meeting with FASTA.

7. Oral Briefing DARD – Belfast Lough Cockle Fishery

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.52 p.m.

Paddy Campbell, Deputy Principal
Matt Service, Principal Scientific Officer

3.55 p.m. Mr Byrne left the meeting.

3.55 p.m. Mr McAleer rejoined the meeting.

4.02 p.m. Mr Swann left the meeting.

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 ask for clarification on the figures quoted in the AFBI briefing paper in relation to the percentage of cockles landed smashed and the margin of error allowed.

4.10 p.m. Mr Byrne and Mr Swann rejoined the meeting.

8. Written Brief DARD: Pre-consultation, Draft Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2012

Agreed: The Committee noted the Pre-Consultation, Draft Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2013 and agreed that the Department returns to the Committee with a detailed analysis of the consultation responses.

9. Committee Consideration: Retailers in the Food Supply Chain

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to retailers to request written evidence and invite various umbrella organisations to brief the Committee and hold an additional meeting on Thursday 15 November 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider which producers to request written evidence from at the next meeting.

 10. Correspondence

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Justice on the Community Safety Strategy.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson would meet informally with the Drumlin Wind Energy Co-Operative.

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Regional Development on Shop Mobility and agreed to forward the correspondence to the Department for comment.

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Ulster Angling Federation on the Reservoirs Bill and agreed to ask for its response to the consultation and to engage with the group once the Bill comes to the Committee.

11. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.

12. AOB

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a visit to the Loughs Agency in the Spring of 2013.

13. Date and time of the next meeting

Agreed:The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 23 October 2012 at 1.30 p.m. in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 4.41 p.m.

Paul Frew, Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development