Minutes of Proceedings

1.35 p.m. The meeting commenced in Closed Session

1. Apologies

The apologies are noted above.

2. Committee Review on Tree Disease - Consideration

Agreed: The Committee agreed the position paper subject to amendment to paragraphs 8, 17, 26 and 44 and the inclusion of additional paragraphs.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the motion for debate on 9 September 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to further consider the speeches for the Tree Disease debate at the next meeting.

1.40 p.m. Mr Milne and Mr McAleer joined the meeting.
1.55 p.m. Mrs Dobson left the meeting.
2.03 p.m. Mr McCarthy left the meeting.

2.10 p.m. The meeting moved into open session

3. Chairperson's Business

The Chairperson advised the Committee that Royal Mail and NILGA, who were due to present today, have both cancelled their presentations.

4. Minutes of the meeting 13 June 2013

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2013.

5. Matters arising

Noted: The Committee noted the monthly update from the Department on the Schmallenberg Virus.

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

6. DARD Strategic Plan 2012-2020 – Oral Briefing

The following Departmental officials joined the Committee meeting at 2.14 p.m.

Joe Cassells, Corporate Policy Director (Acting)
Gerry Lavery, Senior Finance Director

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

2.34 p.m. Mrs Dobson re-joined the meeting.

7. SR 2013/139 The Forestry (Felling of Trees) Regulations (NI) 2013 and SR 2013/138 The Forestry (2010 Act) (Commencement No 3) Order (NI) 2013

Question put and agreed;

That the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has considered SR 2013/139 The Forestry (Felling of Trees) Regulations (NI) 2013 and has no objections to the rule.

Noted: The Committee noted SR 2013/138 The Forestry (2010 Act) (Commencement No 3) Order (NI) 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to seek assurances that Forest Service will act promptly to approve felling licences, and, approvals will not be delayed due to the impact of dealing with Tree Diseases.

8. Correspondence

There was no correspondence to consider.

9. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Committee would be represented at the Ploughing Championships in Co Laois by one Member per party for an overnight stay on 24 September 2013.

Agreed: Members agreed to seek the details on the participation of DARD in the Ploughing Championships in Laois and what further participation / input it will have in the NI Ploughing Championships in October 2013 at Bushmills on the Causeway Coast.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to reschedule a briefing with NILGA in October 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to reschedule a briefing with First Trust Bank for September 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold an informal strategic planning meeting on 10 September 2013, prior to the resumption of the regular meeting on the same date.

10. Any other business

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask what measures she intends to monitor and regulate in relation to charities who work with animals.

11. Date and time of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural
Development will take place on Tuesday 25 June 2013 at 1.30 p.m. in
Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 3.07 p.m.

Paul Frew, Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development