Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2007/2008
Date: 03 October 2007
COMMITTEE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Minutes of Proceedings
THURSDAY 4 OCTOBER 2007,
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Patsy McGlone (Chairperson)
Mr Cathal Boylan (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr David Ford
Mr Samuel Gardiner
Mr Ian McCrea
Mr Peter Weir
In Attendance:
Ms Patricia Casey (Assembly Clerk)
Mr William Long (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Mr Sean McCann (Clerical Supervisor)
Miss Pauline Devlin (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Billy Armstrong
Mr Trevor Clarke
The meeting opened at 10.04a.m. in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
The Chairperson informed members that Mr Armstrong was unable to attend the meeting as he had recently been injured in a farming related accident.
Agreed: That a ‘get well soon’ card is sent to Mr Armstrong.
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Minutes
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters Arising
The Chairperson briefed members on a meeting he and the Deputy Chairperson had with the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Agreed: That the Committee would exchange papers with the DETI Committee.
Members were advised that the SR 2007/372 – Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (NI) 2007 had been annulled in Plenary on Monday 1 October.
Members discussed a suitable date to hold their informal working lunch to discuss the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: That members forward suitable dates to the Committee Office staff.
Members were informed that a letter asking for all papers relating to the Giant’s Causeway Visitors’ Centre planning application had been sent to the department.
Agreed: That a paper is requested from Assembly Library and Research Services on the legality and working of the planning process.
Members were advised of a request from the Committee for Regional Development for a briefing by Randall Scott of the Drinking Water Inspectorate which has been forwarded to the Departmental Assembly Liaison Officer.
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Taxis Bill
Eamon Grogan and Raymond Dempster, Accessible Taxi Association NI, outlined their views on the proposed Taxis Bill and answered members’ questions.
Terence Maguire, public hire taxi driver, outlined his views on the proposed Taxis Bill and answered members’ questions.
Mr McCrea left the meeting at 11.02a.m.
William Black, public hire taxi driver, outlined his views on the proposed Taxis Bill and answered members’ questions.
James McVeigh and Brian Press, International Airport Taxi Co, outlined their views on the proposed Taxis Bill and answered members’ questions.
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Departmental Briefing on Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan
Departmental official Al Adair briefed the Committee and answered members’ questions on the Belfast Metropolitan Area plan.
Agreed: That the Belfast Metropolitan Residents’ Group are invited to brief the Committee once the findings of the Planning Appeals Commission local public inquiry have been released.
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Correspondence
Memo from Clerk to the Committee for Regional Development, outlining action taken on correspondence forwarded by the Environment Committee.
Agreed: That the letter from Avril Swann is forwarded to the Committee for Social Development.
Article from Eamonn O’Donnell, North West Taxi Proprietors, which was written for ‘NI Taxi’ magazine by Mr O’Donnell.
Agreed: That this article is added to the Taxis master file.
Letter from Adrian Wilson providing a submission in support of his previous request to brief the Committee on constraints by the planning system to tourism in Northern Ireland.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the department asking how Mr Wilson’s recommendations have been taken forward.
Members noted a response by the department to the Committee’s query re: detail of the Departments Budget spending proposals for 2007.
Members noted a response by the department to the Committee’s query on funeral cars.
Members noted a letter from Nigel Crothers and an outline of the course he has devised.
Members noted a letter from the department re: European Directive 56/2000/EC which require member states to introduce changes to the motorcycle driving test.
Agreed: That a letter is sent to the department requesting clarification on which site has been removed.
Members noted an e-mail from the department re: decision on PPS14 and the request by the Committee for a briefing
Members noted a letter from Minister Arlene Foster re: the court judgement on PPS14.
Members noted a letter from the department and attached copies of correspondence from DETI to the ETI Committee in relation to the Giants Causeway development.
Members noted a letter from the department and news release detailing the Ministers intention to make a statement re: development of the Titanic Quarter.
E-mail giving further information on the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan.
Agreed: That an update is provided to the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group
Letter from Department in response to Committee query re: Irish Hare.
Agreed: That clarification is sought from the Department on the status of the statutory rule.
Members noted the following Press Releases:
DOE Press Release – ‘Foster Pledges Half a Million Pounds for Mournes Access Management. ’
DOE Press Release – ‘ Minister Praises Omagh College’s Work on Renewable Energy ’
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Any Other Business
Members were informed that Royal Mail will be taking strike action and will not return to work until 10 October.
Agreed: That the meeting papers for the meeting on 11 October are distributed via members’ pigeon holes and support staff.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 11 October 2007 at 10.30am in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.20 p.m.
