Minute of Proceedings 18 November 2021
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Minutes of Proceedings
Thursday 18 November 2021
Meeting Location: Room 30/Virtual Meeting via StarLeaf
Present:
Clare Bailey MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
Declan McAleer MLA (Chairperson)
Philip McGuigan MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Rosemary Barton MLA
John Blair MLA
Thomas Buchanan MLA
Harry Harvey MLA
William Irwin MLA
Patsy McGlone MLA
Apologies:
None
Present:
Nick Henry, Clerk
Oliver Bellew, Assistant Clerk
Emma Magee, Clerical Officer
In Attendance by Video or Teleconference:
Elaine Farrell, Clerical Supervisor
Barbara Love, Bill Office Clerk (Agenda Item 5 and 13)
The meeting commenced at 9.50 a.m. in Open Session
1. Apologies
None
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed Members that the sound quality issues that occurred during the meeting on 11 November 2021 had been raised with Assembly Broadcasting for investigation.
Members noted that the Communications Office is also exploring the matter in greater detail and that new broadcasting infrastructure is planned for 2022.
The Chairperson thanked Members for their patience whilst the Committee team dealt with the issues during the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021.
4. Matters Arising
None
Agreed: The Committee agreed to move into Closed Session.
The meeting moved into Closed Session at 9.52 a.m.
5. Informal Deliberations: The Climate Change (No.1) Bill
The Committee recommenced its informal deliberations on the Climate Change (No.1) Bill.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Bill Sponsor, Clare Bailey, in relation to Committee Stage amendments and the powers and functions of the proposed Climate Commissioner.
The Chairperson invited Clare Bailey MLA to brief the Committee on her papers.
The Committee discussed the proposed amendments.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek legal advice on the following aspects of the Bill:
- The sub-paragraphs of Clause 3 which relate to carbon leakage and what their implications may be, including the potential preclusion of NI produce from being exported;
- The implications of the proposed Climate Commissioner’s power to dispose of property/rights at his/her disposal and how it compares to other such office holders;
- The implications of the proposed Climate Commissioner’s ability to access information and whether this would be deemed as appropriate power; and,
- As per Clause 10 (3), whether an individual farm holding, for example, would be compelled to provide documentation to the Commissioner.
The meeting moved into Open Session at 11.02 a.m.
6. Clause – Clause Consideration of the Climate Change (No.1) Bill
It was agreed to defer this item pending receipt of advice from legal services in respect of the issues raised during the informal deliberations.
7. Clerk’s Written Briefing: Consideration of Topics for Mini-Investigation
The Chairperson invited the Clerk to brief Members on proposed methodologies for two potential mini-investigations, which the Committee had agreed to consider at its meeting on 4 November 2021.
Members were briefed on options for inquiries into Barriers to Farm Management for Women; and, the Impact of Covid-19 on Rural Areas.
The Clerk outlined the terms of reference and methodology for each topic with suggested timescales for completion of an inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that it would commence a mini-investigation into Barriers Facing Women in Farm Management.
Members commented on the value of seeking women’s views on their experience of Land Mobility Agreements, and engaging with key stakeholders such as the Rural Women’s’ Network and the Women’s’ Resource and Development Agency.
The Clerk advised the Committee that an online survey would be launched before Christmas recess and that the Committee’s survey would be signposted via social media and engagement with stakeholders.
8. Departmental Oral Briefing: Research and Development Operational Strategy Proposals
The Committee noted a Departmental written briefing on its proposals for a Research and Development Operational Strategy.
The following Departmental Officials joined the meeting via StarLeaf at 11.18 a.m.
Alister Carson, Chief Scientific Advisor
Pauline Rooney, Innovation and Science Transformation Director Pauline Devine, Head of Chief Scientific Advisor’s Office
The officials briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
9. Departmental Written Briefing: Avian Influenza Prevention Zone
The Committee noted a Departmental written briefing on the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. Members noted that the Zone had been introduced as a result of positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in some birds in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. The Committee noted that no confirmed cases of Avian Influenza had been recorded in Northern Ireland in this current outbreak.
The Chairperson informed Members that the Department would continue to monitor the situation in respect of a possible necessity for poultry housing and trade implications of a potential outbreak.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ascertain:
- What the Department’s assessment of the risk level is with the biosecurity measures in place;
- What consideration, if any, has been given to the need for compensation payments to poultry farmers in the event of an outbreak; and,
- What level of engagement has the Department had with counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.
10. Correspondence
The Committee noted the following items of correspondence:
i. Correspondence from the RSPB in respect of the Peatlands Strategy
2021-2040 and its research work on the Garron Plateaus;
ii. Departmental correspondence in respect of non-disclosure of the Minister’s engagements at COP26;
iii. Departmental correspondence advising of its intention to consult on proposed amendments to the Waste Management Licensing
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003;
iv. Invitation from the Human Rights Commission to the launch of its Annual Human Rights Statement on 9 December 2021;
v. Tabled correspondence from the Clerk to the Youth Assembly regarding the establishment of Youth Assembly Committees. The Clerk informed the Committee that he had liaised with the Clerk to the Youth Assembly Committee to advise that the Committee would be willing to engage with the youth members on areas of mutual interest.
11. Forward Work Programme
Agreed: The Committee agreed the Forward Work Programme.
12. Any Other Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Economy in relation to the incentivisation of farm holdings with renewable energy sources in connecting to the electricity grid, and to seek clarity on the available infrastructure for such properties.
13. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will take place on Thursday 25 November 2021 at 10.00 a.m. and will be a hybrid meeting streamed on the Assembly’s website.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to suspend the meeting.
The meeting suspended at 11.52 a.m.
The meeting resumed in Closed Session at 12.10 p.m. with all Members present.
14. Climate Change (No.2) Bill: Informal Deliberations
The Committee noted a Stakeholders Analysis Report and a table of suggested amendments relating to the Bill.
The following Departmental Officials joined the meeting via StarLeaf at 12.10pm.
Colin Breen, Director of Environmental Policy Division
Anthony Courtney, Grade 7, Environmental Policy Division
Arlene McGowan, Grade 7, Environmental Policy Division
The Officials briefed the Committee and this was followed by a question and answer session.
John Blair MLA left the meeting at 12.41 p.m.
The Chairperson thanked the officials for their attendance.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that consideration be given to a Departmental amendment to Clauses 1 to 3 which deal with emissions targets, in order that they specifically state that, as part of the at least 82% GHG emissions position, there will be a net-zero CO2 reduction by 2050 and a significant reduction in biogenic methane.
Agreed: In respect of Clauses 4 and 5, the Committee agreed to request that Departmental Officials consider an amendment to specifically legislate a commitment to non-regression in respect of the ability to adjust emission targets, years and baselines.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to to request that Departmental Officials consider an amendment in respect of Transboundary Considerations to ensure that due regard is given to Climate Change policy harmonisation and collaboration on research and development with neighbouring jurisdictions
Agreed: The Committee would write to the Department seeking clarity on the Global Methane Pledge recently accounced at COP26 and how this would potentially impact the emissions provisions in the Bill
The meeting was adjourned at 1.11 p.m.
