Research Papers 2015

Synopsis: Below you will find details of research publications relating to the work of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, published during 2015.

Origins, role, responsibilities and activities of the UK’s Grocery Code Adjudicator

- Date: 18/12/2015

This paper provides an overview of the origins, role, responsibilities and activities of the UK’s Grocery Code Adjudicator. It also highlights some of the issues being considered in moving forward both role of the Adjudicator, as well as providing a snapshot of EU activity on the issue of Unfair Trading Practices which might potentially complement or supersede the role of the Adjudicator.

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The Rural Needs Bill

- Date: 24/11/2015

This Bill paper provides an overview of the Rural Needs Bill as introduced to the Assembly on the 9th November 2015. The paper also identifies those areas within the Bill which may benefit from further scrutiny. It should be read in conjunction with RaISe Bill Costing Paper NIAR 645-15 (17 November 2015), which addresses the potential cost implications of the Bill.

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Rural Needs Bill – Assessing the Costs

- Date: 19/11/2015

On 9 November 2015 the Rural Needs Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the Assembly. This Review of Bill Costs provides a framework to facilitate Assembly financial scrutiny of the Bill. It should be read in conjunction with RaISe Bill Paper NIAR 177-15 (15 November 2015), which addresses policy issues.

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Background, overview and progress on Going for Growth – June 2015

- Date: 17/06/2015

This paper provides an overview of the key elements of the Going for Growth Action Plan, the current state/health of the agri-food sector, and an assessment of the performance of DARD and DETI in relation to actual implementation of particular recommendations/actions identified within Going for Growth.

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EU issues relating to the work of the ARD Committee – Spring 2015 and beyond

- Date: 11/03/2015

This briefing paper provides an overview of current EU issues that have implications for the work of the ARD Committee in Spring 2015 and beyond, with a particular emphasis on the following: CAP Pillar 1 implementation issues and future direction; RDP progress – lack of Commission approval for NIRDP; State of EU dairy market and interventions; State of the EU pork market and interventions; Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) CETA; and Unfair Trading Practices.

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Overview of selected animal registration and traceability systems outside NI – main features and costs

- Date: 18/02/2015

This briefing paper provides a brief overview of selected animal registration and traceability systems in use outside of Northern Ireland. The selected systems are compared in terms of their key features and costs. The context for this paper is provided by DARD’s proposal to develop a new Northern Ireland Food Animal Information Service (NIFAIS) to replace the current Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) which went live in 1998.

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Contextual overview of the use of Remote Sensing data within CAP eligibility inspection and control

- Date: 18/02/2015

This paper provides a brief overview of how remote sensing is utilised across the EU as a control mechanism in relation to the Single Farm Payment/Basic Payment scheme. The paper also highlights the usage of control with remote sensing in Northern Ireland and expands upon data from a previous RaISe paper that considered the benefits and effectiveness of remote sensing as a CAP eligibility control mechanism within the Republic of Ireland and Wales.

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Supplementary information on the Irish Dairy sector in support of Briefing Paper 29/15 (NIAR 912-14)

- Date: 18/02/2015

This briefing note provides supplementary information to RaISe Briefing paper Briefing Paper 29/15 (NIAR 912-14) which looked at the state of the dairy industry within the Republic of Ireland.

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The Dairy Industry in the Republic of Ireland – strategic direction, current state and challenges moving forward

- Date: 18/02/2015

This briefing paper provides an overview of the current state of the dairy industry in the Republic of Ireland in terms of strategic direction, current status and the challenges that industry faces going into 2015 and beyond.

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