Minutes of Proceedings

1.31 p.m. The meeting commenced in Open Session

1. Apologies

The apologies are noted above.

2. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson advised the Committee that a note of the meeting with the PSNI to discuss agri-crime will be provided next week.

The Chairperson advised the Committee that the Deputy Chairperson had a pre-brief on Monday with the Minister on her Statement on Financial Corrections.

3. Minutes of the meeting 15 and 20 November 2012

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meetings of 15 and 20 November 2012.

4. Matters arising

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding issues raised at the meetings of 9 October and 6 November 2012.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing for January 2013 with the Minister to discuss forthcoming priorities and the response to the Bovine TB report.

Noted: The Committee noted the update provided by the Department on Ash Dieback.

5. Committee Consideration on Single Farm Payment

Mr McCarthy declared an interest as a recipient of Single Farm Payment.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the clerk would draft wording for a Committee Motion on Single Farm Payments and bring it back to the Committee for agreement.

1.57 p.m. Mr Irwin left the meeting.

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

1.58 p.m. The meeting was suspended.

2.05 p.m. The meeting resumed.

The following Members were present; Mr Frew, Mr Byrne, Mr Irwin and Mr McMullan

6. Oral Briefing DARD: Rural White Paper Action Plan

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.05 p.m.

Keith Morrison, Assistant Secretary

Niall Heaney, Principal Officer

Nigel Quinn, Deputy Principal

2.07 p.m. Mr Clarke joined the meeting.

2.22 p.m. Mr Byrne left the meeting.

Mr Irwin declared an interest as a farmer.

2.29 p.m. Mr Byrne rejoined the meeting.

2.45 p.m. Mr Clarke left the meeting.

2.50 p.m. Mr Clarke rejoined the meeting.

2.55 p.m. Mr Swann joined the meeting.

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

7. Oral Briefing DARD – Fishing Opportunities 2013

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting at 2.55 p.m.

John Speers, Assistant Secretary

Ian Humes, Principal Officer

Paddy Campbell, Deputy Principal

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

3.00 p.m. Mr Hazzard rejoined the meeting.

3.21 p.m. Mr Irwin left the meeting.

3.40 p.m. Mr Byrne left the meeting.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request information on the allocation of the European Fisheries Fund.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request that it liaises with Producer Organisations regarding the commercial opportunities for discarded fish.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request that it is promptly updated of the outcome of the December Fisheries Council.

8. Correspondence

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for the Environment on the Modiolus Restoration Plan and agreed to forward it to the Department for comment.

Agreed: The Committee noted the correspondence from Mr C Murphy on the Single Farm Payments/Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowance Consultation and agreed to forward it to the Department for comment.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the Strategic Investment Board report on the Executive’s Investment Strategy.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the OFMDFM Committee detailing the Activity Report for the Department for November 2012.

Noted: The Committee noted the correspondence from the Woodland Trust regarding the work it is doing to tackle tree disease.

9. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.

10. Any other business

There was no other business.

11. Date and time of the next meeting.

Agreed: The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 4 December 2012 at

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

The meeting adjourned at 3.50 p.m.

Paul Frew, Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development