Minutes of Proceedings

10.10 a.m. The meeting commenced in Open Session

1. Apologies

Apologies are as noted above.

2. European Issues – Oral Briefing Jim Nicholson MEP

Mr Nicholson briefed the Committee on European issues and this was followed by a Question and Answer session.

Mr Irwin declared an interest as a farmer.

3. Estate Management Strategy – Oral Briefing DARD

The following Departmental officials joined the meeting:

Mr Graeme Wilkinson, Assistant Secretary

Mr John McAreavey, Deputy Principal

The officials briefed the Committee on the Estate Management Strategy and this was followed by a Question and Answer session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request full details of the Asset Management Strategy and details of the functions that are currently operating out of DARD Headquarters.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to request the details on ownership/lease of DARD properties and their legal entitlements.

Agreed: The Committee agreed not to endorse the Estate Management Strategy until a more comprehensive strategy was presented to the Committee.

4. AOB

There was no other business.

5. Date and time of the next meeting

Agreed: The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development will take place on Tuesday 22 May 2012, at 1.30pm, Room 30, Parliament Buildings

The meeting was adjourned at 11.40 a.m.

Paul Frew, Chairperson, Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development