Minutes of Proceedings - 22 November 2001
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 22 November 2001 in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
Present: -
Rev Dr Wm. McCrea (Chairperson)
Mr A Doherty
Mr D McClarty
Mr M McLaughlin
Mr M Murphy
Mr E Poots
Mr D Watson
Apologies: -
Ms C Hanna (Deputy Chairperson)
Mrs J Carson
Mr D Ford
In Attendance:
Mr J Simmons (Committee Clerk)
Miss J Adair (Assistant Clerk)
Mr J Beatty (Assistant Clerk)
Mr J Nulty (Executive Support)
Mr M McCourt (Administrative Support)
The meeting commenced at 10.30 a.m.
- Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting of 15 November 2001 were agreed.
- Replies Outstanding
- Proposed Ferry - update awaited from Newry and Mourne District Council.
- Dumping of Toxic Waste - reply awaited from the Department of the Environment.
- Ballyrickard Landfill Site - replies awaited from Larne Borough Council and the Department of the Environment.
- Hare coursing - reply awaited from the Department of the Environment.
- Sellafield MOX Plant - reply awaited from the Minister of the Environment.
- Waste Management Strategy - reply awaited from the Department and one of the three Waste Management Regional Partnerships.
Agreed: To write to the remaining Waste Management Regional Partnership seeking an early response.
- Cut in the Resource Element of the General Exchequer Grant - reply
awaited from the Minister of the Environment.
- School Transport Inquiry - replies awaited from the Minister of the
Environment and the Education, Employment and Learning and the Regional Development Committees.
Mr McClarty joined the meeting at 10.40 a.m.
- Statutory Rules
The Committee gave consideration to the following SL1:
The Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth) (Temporary Exception)
(No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
Agreed: That the Committee had no comment to make on the proposed Rule.
The Committee considered the following Statutory Rules now laid before the Assembly:
- Motor Vehicles Testing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
- Goods Vehicles Testing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
- Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
- Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
- Road Traffic Offenders (Additional Offences and Prescribed Devices) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001.
- The Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth disease) (Temporary
Exception) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001.
The Committee noted the reports from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. The following Motions were put and agreed by the Committee: -
"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Motor Vehicles Testing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule."
"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Goods Vehicles Testing (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule."
"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Public Service Vehicles (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001
and has no objection to the Rule."
"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule."
"That the Committee for the Environment has considered the Community Drivers' Hours (Foot and Mouth disease) (Temporary Exception) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 and has no objection to the Rule."
- Local Government (Best Value) Bill
Dr Wm. McCrea, Mr D McClarty, Mr M Murphy and Mr E Poots declared an interest as Local Government Councillors before this item was discussed.
The Committee considered a detailed paper on an option for the way forward on this Bill discussed at its 15 November 2001 meeting. This included advice from the Assembly's Legal Services.
Mr John Buchanan, Chief Local Government Auditor, and Mr Brian Kernoghan, Principal Auditor joined the meeting at 10.57 a.m. They gave a presentation and answered Members' questions on the impact of the proposed Bill on the role of the Local Government Auditor and how this role would be affected if Best Value continued on a voluntary basis.
The Chairperson thanked Mr Buchanan and Mr Kernoghan for their attendance and they left the meeting at 11.44 a.m.
Agreed: That the Committee would give Clause by Clause onsideration to the Local Government (Best Value) Bill at next week's meeting.
- EC Directive 96/61 on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) - Transposition in Northern Ireland
The Committee considered a draft response to the above consultation paper issued by the Department of the Environment having previously discussed the consultation paper on 6 September 2001 and had written to the Department of the Environment seeking advice on a number of issues. The draft response sought clarification 2 outstanding issues; the Committee's concern about proposals for a 'simplified permitting procedure' and how the Department will interpret the condition that a site must be restored to a 'satisfactory state'.
Mr McClarty left the meeting at 11.53 a.m.
Mr Norman Simmons, Ms Margaret McClenaghan and Mr David Bell, Officials from the Department attended the meeting and answered Members' questions.
Agreed: To issue the draft response as discussed.
- Proposal to increase PSV Inspection Fees
The Committee considered a draft response to the above consultation paper issued by the Department of the Environment. Departmental Official, Mr John Martin, attended the meeting and answered Members' questions
Mr McClarty rejoined the meeting at 12.07 p.m.
Agreed: To issue the draft response to the Department of the Environment.
- Committee of the Centre - European Inquiry
The Committee considered a letter from the Committee of the Centre regarding its intention to undertake an inquiry into the effectiveness of Northern Ireland institutions in engaging the European Union. The Committee of the Centre had asked for input and comments from all Statutory Committees.
Agreed: To provide a formal response to this inquiry and to write to the Department seeking information regarding EU funding and ministerial attendance at European Council of Ministers' meetings.
- Mullaghboy
The Committee noted that arrangements were being made for the proposed visit to Mullaghboy by some Members of the Committee to take place probably next week.
- Any other Business
- The Committee noted that the Committee Stage debate on the Game
Preservation (Amendment) Bill was scheduled for Monday 26 November 2001 and that the Chairperson would have an opportunity to speak in support of the Bill and the Minister's proposed amendment to Clause 2. The Committee also noted that two Members of the Committee had tabled a number of amendments in their role as Assembly Members.
- The Committee noted a number of letters received by the Chairperson including:
- Letters from Banbridge District Council and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) regarding the impact of the proposed £2m cut in the Resource Element of the General Exchequer Grant.
- A letter from the Chairperson of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee regarding a proposed visit by the French Minister of Culture to Belfast in March 2002.
- A letter from a member of the public regarding concerns about the proposed developments at the Giant's Causeway.
- A letter from a Coleraine Borough Councillor regarding the de-listing of The Cranagh, Ballysally, Coleraine.
- A letter from a member of the public regarding concerns about the proposed development at Hawthornden Road, Belfast.
Agreed: To circulate the letters to all Members of the Committee.
To consider the issue of the 39 historic buildings de-listed by the Department at a future meeting.
To write to the Department seeking information on a number of issue arising from this correspondence.
- Statutory Rules (continued)
The Committee noted the particular comments in the Examiner of Statutory Rules' Report on the Road Traffic Offenders (Additional Offences and Prescribed Devices) Order (Northern Ireland) 2001. The Examiner drew the Committee's attention to this Rule, as it appeared to be 'an unusual or unexpected exercise of statutory powers'.
Agreed: To seek advice from the Examiner of Statutory Rules on his comments regarding this Rule.
- Next Meeting
The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 29 November at 10.30 a.m. in Room 144, Parliament Buildings.
The meeting adjourned at 12. 38 p.m.
Dr Wm. McCrea MLA (Chairperson)
