Minutes of Proceedings

1.32 p.m. The meeting commenced in Open Session

1.    Apologies

There were no apologies.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider agenda item 5 next.

2.    Oral Briefing ANIFPO: NI Fishing Industry Issues    

Mr Alan McCulla, Chief Executive of the Anglo North Irish Producers Organisation and John Cassidy, Fish Sales Manager joined the meeting at 1.34 p.m. Mr McCulla and Mr Cassidy briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.

1.35 p.m. Mr Irwin joined the meeting.
1.40 p.m. Mr Hazzard joined the meeting.
1.45 p.m. Mr Irwin left the meeting.
1.55 p.m. Mr Clarke and Mrs Dobson left the meeting.
2.07 p.m. Mr Buchanan joined the meeting.
2.27 p.m. McAleer left the meeting.
2.28 p.m. Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting.
2.31 p.m. Mrs Dobson rejoined the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request sight of the papers ANIFPO submitted to the Environment Committee on the Marine Bill.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to ask her to outline her intentions regarding the Days at Sea Scheme and the SELTRA Trawl and her opinion on the Concordat on the Management of the UK’s fish quotas and licences.

2.46 p.m. Mr Buchanan left the meeting.

3.    Chairperson’s business

The Chairperson advised the Committee that a visit to two dog breeding establishments is scheduled for Thursday 8 November and the areas proposed are Dungannon and Fivemiletown. Members were asked to indicate their intention to attend the visit or otherwise.

4.    Minutes of the meeting 16 October 2012

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on

16 October 2012.

5.    Matters arising

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department and a letter from Northern Ireland Fish Producers’ Organisation (NIFPO) on the Strangford Lough Modiolus Biogenic Reef Restoration Plan. The Committee agreed to forward the Hansard of the recent Departmental briefing on Strangford Lough to NIFPO and to request a copy of the response by the Minister to the NIFPO letter.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward correspondence from the Hunting Association, Canine Breeders of Ireland, and Lucy’s Trust on the Stakeholder Event on Dog Breeding Establishments, to the Department for consideration.

6.    Oral Briefing DARD – Forestry Land Byelaws (NI) 2012 & the Forestry (2010 Act) (Commencement No.2) Order (NI) 2012

The following departmental officials joined the meeting at 3.00 p.m.

Malcolm Beatty, Chief Executive

John Joe O’Boyle, Director of Forestry

Michael McCann, Deputy Principal

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

Agreed: The officials agreed to provide clarification on the byelaw around removing offenders from forestry land.

Agreed: The Committee that the Forestry Land Byelaws (NI) 2012 should progress to the next legislative stage.

The officials further briefed the Committee on the proposed emergency legislation on Ash Dieback.

3.08 p.m. Mr Irwin left the meeting.

7.    Committee Consideration – Food Supply Chain

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request oral evidence from the NI Grain Trade Association.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek written evidence from processors in the NI food supply chain.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request oral evidence from the University of Ulster.

Mrs Dobson declared an interest as a beef farmer.

3.15 p.m. Mr Irwin rejoined the meeting.

3.19 p.m. Mr McAleer rejoined the meeting.

8.    Correspondence 

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel regarding Financial Forecasting.

Agreed:  The Committee noted the letter from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure on the ownership of Lough Neagh and agreed to forward the letter to the Department.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding the return of DARD staff to Dundonald House.

Noted: The Committee noted the details of the conference on Agriculture and Food on 4 December 2012 at the Dunadry Inn.

9.    Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed the draft Press Release on the visit to Dog Breeding Establishments.

Noted: The Committee noted that a meeting has been arranged with the PSNI on 27 November 2012 at 10.30 a.m. to discuss Agri-Crime.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to inform the committees for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Environment, Enterprise Trade and Investment and Regional Development that the Department will brief the Committee on the Lough Neagh Ownership issue.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.

The Committee move into Closed Session at 3.27 p.m.

The following Members were present; Mr Frew, Mr Byrne, Mrs Dobson, Mr Irwin, Mr McAleer, Mr McCarthy, Mr McMullan and Mr Swann.

10.   Review of Bovine Tuberculosis – Draft Committee Report

Agreed: The Committee considered the draft report into the Review of Bovine Tuberculosis and agreed amendments to paragraphs 85, 87, 90, 94, 101, 102, 105 and 116. It further agreed paragraphs 75-84, 86, 88-89, 91-93, 95-100, 103, 104, 106-115.

3.34 p.m. Mr Byrne left the meeting.
3.40 p.m. Mr Byrne rejoined the meeting.
3.57 p.m. Mr McMullan left the meeting.
4.01 p.m. Mr McMullan rejoined the meeting.
4.05 p.m. Mrs Dobson left the meeting.
4.10 p.m. Mr Dobson left the meeting.
4.11 p.m. The meeting was suspended.
4.29 p.m. The meeting resumed.

The following Members were present; Mr Frew, Mr Byrne, Mr McAleer, Mr

McCarthy, Mr McMullan and Mr Swann.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Membership and Powers.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Table of Contents.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Introduction.

Agreed: The Committee agreed Appendix 1-6.

11.    AOB

There was no other business.

12.    Date and time of the next meeting

Agreed: The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 6 November 2012 at

1.30 p.m. in Room 30, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting adjourned at 4.39 p.m.

Paul Frew, Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development