Proceedings of the Environment Committee Minutes of meeting held on 8 December 1999 in room 106, Parliament Buildings at 2.30pm.
Present were:
Rev. Dr W McCrea (Chairman)
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr T Benson
Mrs J Carson
Mr A Doherty
Mr D Ford
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
In Attendance:
Mrs D Pritchard (Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie (Executive Support)
Mr J Nulty (Administrative Support)
Apologies:
Mr J Leslie
Mr D Watson
Item 1 Introduction
The Chairman introduced the Committee staff and welcomed the Members.
The Chairman reminded Members of the following procedures:
- Registration of interests.
Under Standing Order 62(3) a Member must declare, before taking part in any proceedings of the Assembly or its Committees, any pecuniary interest or benefit of whatever nature which is relevant to the debate or proceedings, whether such pecuniary interest or benefit is held by the Member or an immediate relative. The Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members requires that before the first meeting of a Committee, all Members nominated to serve on the Committee are required to send the Clerk details of any pecuniary interests for circulation to the Committee (paragraph 48).
The Chairman confirmed that all Members have sent their details to either the Committee Clerk or to the Clerk of Standards and Privileges. The Committee Clerk will obtain copies and circulate them to the Members. This was agreed.
In addition, under the Code (paragraph 48 ( c)), before proceeding to business, all Members were invited to declare any interests they may have which relate to the terms of reference of the Committee, or which are likely to be relevant to a substantial part of the work which the Committee may be expected to undertake. Declarations were made as follows:
Rev. Dr W McCrea: Magherafelt Council
Ms C Hanna: Chair of the Health and Environmental Committee of Belfast City Council
Mr T Benson: Member of Ards Borough Council, its Planning Committee and the South Eastern Education and Library Board
Mrs J Carson: Member of Dungannon Council, the Social Development Committee and the Drainage Council
Mr A Doherty: Member of Limavady Borough Council and council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside
Mr M Murphy: Member of Newry and Mourne Council and the Environmental Committee of that Council
Mr M McLaughlin: Member of Derry City Council and the Planning Committee of that Council. He will be standing down from both in the near future
Mr D Ford: Member of Antrim Council
Mr E Poots: Member of Lisburn Council and the Planning Committee of that Council
- Privilege.
Under section 50 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, for the purposes of the law of defamation, absolute privilege shall attach to -
- the making of a statement in proceedings of the Assembly;
- the publication of a statement under the Assembly's authority.
The term "proceedings" includes the work of Committees. Written and oral evidence taken by Committees therefore attracts the same privilege as any other proceeding in the Assembly. Any statement made by a witness, whether in oral or written form, to a Committee during the course of its meetings is covered by privilege.
- Confidentiality.
Papers received by the Committee, and the contents of the Committee's private deliberations, are confidential to the Committee until made public in a report to the Assembly or published as evidence. Papers relevant to a particular evidence session held in public are generally made available to the press and public at that session and may thereafter be treated as in the public domain, but other papers may not be published until the Committee has agreed a report.
It is open to the Committee to agree to publish a report or paper at any time (by reporting it to the Assembly) but in the absence of such a decision Members, Committee staff and Committee Specialist Advisers are obliged to treat Committee papers as confidential. Disclosure of an unreported document - in particular of a draft report or agreed report before it has been officially made to the Assembly - may be regarded as a breach of privilege.
- Mobile phones
The Chairman also reminded Members that mobiles phones must be switched off during meetings.
- Conduct of business
The Chairman advised the meeting that he will note the names of Members wishing to speak, indicate to the Clerk which Member is to speak next and the Clerk will invite them to do so.
Item 2 Draft Press release
The draft press release was agreed and the Clerk will arrange its issue. Members will provide the Clerk with details of local newspapers in which they want the release placed.
Item 3 Presentations by Minister and Officials
It was agreed that the presentation by the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside should be brought forward to the third meeting and that of the Environment and Heritage Service should take place at the sixth meeting. The rest of the draft programme of work was agreed. The next meeting, therefore, will include a presentation by the Minister and his senior officials and it will be private. Members requested notes in advance of the presentation.
Item 4 Programme of Work
The Chairman invited all Members to put forward what they consider to be the key issues to be addressed.
Mrs C Hanna: Waste Management and Planning. Emphasis on Environment.
Mr T Benson: Waste Management and Planning.
Mrs J Carson: Planning control and preparation of area plans. Protection of countryside. Waste disposal. Local government re-organisation.
Mr A Doherty: Waste Management and the future of local government.
Mr M Murphy: Planning and the farming community.
Mr M McLaughlin: Agreed that the issues already identified are the priorities.
Mr D Ford: Sustainable Development.
Mr E Poots: Planning, local government, road safety and difficulties being experienced in the road haulage business.
The Chairman agreed that the problem with road haulage tax is major but it is an excepted matter although the Committee may consider it. Planning was identified as a major issue. The Committee had a general discussion on planning issues. It was agreed that the Committee should draw up a list of priorities for examination and inquiry.
Item 5 Secondary Legislation
The Committee agreed that it was vital that the Examiner of Statutory Rules should report to it on the technical issues while the Committee will consider the merits/policy.
The Clerk advised that the Examiner of Statutory Rules is an Officer of the Assembly and that he does not work for a Government Department.
It was agreed that the examination of Statutory Rules should be followed up with the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Assembly Commission, the Business Committee and the Minister. The Committee felt that it was imperative that the Examiner's services are available and that he reports directly to the Committee.
Item 6 Schedule of Meetings
The Committee is due to meet each Thursday at 10.30am in room 144. It was agreed that possible overlaps in the schedule should be examined to minimise clashes for Members who belong to more than one Committee.
Item 7 AOB
None
Item 8 Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be on Thursday 16 December 1999 at 10.30am in room144.
Meeting closed at 3.35pm.
