Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Note of informal CAERA meeting via Microsoft Teams video conferencing facility on 9 April 2020

Members present:

Declan McAleer (Chairperson)
Philip McGuigan (Deputy Chairperson)
Clare Bailey
Rosemary Barton
John Blair
Maurice Bradley
Pat Catney
Harry Harvey
William Irwin

Staff present:

Stella McArdle
Elaine Farrell
Marion Johnston
Marrianne McGuiggan

Members had been issued various briefing documents and correspondence from the Department through the Post Box facility on their tablets on Tuesday 7th April.

The following items were considered and discussed at an informal meeting starting at 10am.

1& 2 COVID 19 update from the Department, alongside a response to questions asked by Members from the previous update.

Members discussed and agreed questions for the Department on the COVID 19 update (see attached for details). Members also agreed to forward any further questions to the Clerk by 12 noon.

Members agreed to publish the Department’s COVID 19 update and response to previous questions on the Committees’ web page.

Members agreed to issue a Tweet to inform that the COVID 19 update was now published on the Committee web page.

3. SR 2020/56: Single Use Carrier Bag Charge:

The Committee considered the SR and agreed to forward questions (copy attached) to the Department for response and consideration at the next informal meeting w/c 20 April 2020, when it will formally consider the SR.

The Committee agreed to issue a Tweet to advise that it will scrutinise and formally consider the SR at the next informal meeting w/c 20 April 2020.

4. SL1 - The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2020:

The Committee considered the SL1 and agreed to forward questions for the Department to the Clerk by 12 noon. The Committee agreed to issue a Tweet that it is currently considering the SL1.

5. The LCM Fisheries Bill Report:

The Committee considered a further amendment to the body of the report. The revised repot will be formally considered at the next informal meeting of the Committee w/c 20 April 2020, when it will be agreed and ordered to print.

6. Departmental Update on the progress of the Fisheries Bill and the Environment Bill in Westminster:

The Committee noted the latest update in relation to the current delay in progressing both Bills in Westminster due to the ongoing public health crisis.

7. Assembly Guidance on the application of Standing Orders 115 and 116:

The Committee noted the recently issued guidance on the temporary Standing Orders 115 and 116

8. Committee for Finance correspondence on the 2020/21 Budget process:

The Committee noted the information.

9. Committee for Finance correspondence on the In Year Monitoring Revised Arrangements:

The Committee noted the information.

10.Issued correspondence from the Committee to the Minister on the lack of notice given to the Committee regarding COVID 19 measures the Department are taking and the laying of SR 2020/56:

The Committee noted the issued correspondence.

11.Draft letter to the Minister on the importation of beef from Poland and the implication for local beef farmers and producers:

The Committee agreed to issue the letter to the Minister for response. The Committee considered a draft press release on the issue of importation of Polish Beef. Subject to amendment, the Committee agreed that the press release is issued.

12.Draft letter to the main supermarkets on the importation of beef from Poland and the implication for local beef farmers and producers:

The Committee agreed to issue the letter to the supermarkets for response.

The Committee further agreed to write to the LMC to ask what support it is providing to farmers during the COVID 19 situation.

The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Economy to ascertain what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of workers in supermarkets during the current health crisis.

13.Correspondence from the Health Committee on the guidance issued by the RNIB on accessibility of online guidance on Coronavirus.

The Committee noted the correspondence.

14. Copied correspondence from the UFU to the Minister on the recent announcement by the Department urging farmers to halt prescribed fires:

The Committee noted the correspondence