Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 2 May 2024
Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - Minutes of Proceedings 2 May 2024.pdf (211.04 kb)
Room 21, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Tom Elliott MLA (Chairperson)
Declan McAleer MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
John Blair MLA
Nicola Brogan MLA
Tom Buchanan MLA
Patsy McGlone MLA
Michelle McIlveen MLA
Áine Murphy MLA
Present by Video or Teleconference:
None
Apologies:
William Irwin MLA
In Attendance:
Dr Janice Thompson, Assembly Clerk
Ms Pamela Carson, Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk
Mr Michael Greer, Clerical Supervisor
Mr Damien Brown, Clerical Officer
The Chair reminded members of the ‘Declaration of Interests’ and asked Members if there are any new interests to declare, relevant to the items under consideration at this meeting, that had not already been declared at the first meeting.
The meeting opened in public session at 10.06 am
1. Apologies
As detailed above.
2. Minutes
Minutes of 18April 2024 were agreed and signed.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed Members that he has been invited by a private company to attend the Maritime UK Awards on the 5th June but that he will be unable to attend.
The Chairperson informed Members that at the informal meeting with Farmers for Action on 30th April, the Committee was asked to consider taking their proposed Farm Welfare Bill forward.
Agreed: Members agreed to consider that matter in a closed session with RaISe to consider a paper that was produced by RaISe in 2021 providing an overview of the Bill.
The Chairperson advised that a Member had raised an issue regarding the Ministerial Statement issued earlier in the week on the Dalradian Public Inquiry.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting an oral briefing on the matter and issues raised in the Ministerial Statement.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that the Minister has offered to brief the Committee on the 6th June at 9.15am to update the Members on progress of strategies and plans.
Agreed: The Committee was content to proceed as stated.
4. Matters Arising
The Chairperson advised the Committee that it had received a response from the Department dated, 12 April 2024, regarding further information on what consultation the Department had carried out on the LCM on Pet Abduction that was laid on 19th April.
Agreed: The Committee was content to note.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that it had received a response from the Department, dated 12 April 2024, regarding further clarification around the potential time extension to the operation of Ammonia Monitoring Stations.
Agreed: The Committee was content to note.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that it had received a response, dated 24 April 2024, from the Department relating to the format of Proposals to Introduce a Statutory Policy Statement on Environmental Principles. DAERA confirms that the policy statement will take the form of a statutory guidance document defining the five core environmental principles and how they should be considered in policy making.
Agreed: The Committee was content to note.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that it had received a response, dated 24 April 2024, from the Department relating to a Proposed Bill to amend two Legacy CMO Schemes. The Department confirmed the rationale for new legislation rather than using existing Ministerial powers.
Agreed: The Committee was content to note.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that it had received a response from the Department, dated 29 April 2024, regarding clarification on how the proposals in the British Wool Marketing Scheme (Amendment Order) will impact on the role of the IGWC the role of the Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC).
The Department highlighted that the work of the IGWC and British Wool are interconnected and the work to modernise British Wool and make it more resilient to future change should therefore be beneficial to the ongoing work of the IGWC.
Agreed: The Committee was content to note.
5. Briefing from Briefing from Department - Rethinking Our Resources - Measures for Climate Action and a Circular Economy - Consultation Overview
The Chairperson welcomed the DAERA Officials to the meeting and invited them to brief the Committee:
- Ms Rachael Hook, Head of Resources and Waste Strategy, DAERA.
- Mr Colin Breen, Assistant Director of Environmental Resources Policy Division, DAERA.
The Officials briefed the Committee, followed by a question and answer session with Members.
Issues covered included: the current climate crisis, Net Zero by 2050 targets, the need to reduce waste in landfill, the impact on the economy and the need to increase the quality and quantity of what we recycle.
The Chairperson thanked the Officials for attending the meeting.
The Officials left the meeting at 10:57am
6. SL1 - Draft ‘Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024
Members considered the SL1 – Dangerous Dogs (Designated Types) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024.
Members had a number of queries on this SL1 and deferred this item of business to next week to allow time to arrange for Officials to brief the Committee.
Agreed: to ask Officials to brief the Committee on this SL1.
7. SL1 - The Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024
Members considered SL1 – The Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
Members asked the DAERA Official in attendance (Zita Hale) to expand on the history and detail of this SL1.
The motion was put: That the Committee has considered a proposal by the Department to make a Statutory Rule: “The Agriculture (Student Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024” and agrees that it is content for the Department to make the rule.
The motion was passed unanimously.
8. Departmental Written Briefing – Budget 2024-25 Exercise
The Committee considered a written briefing from the Department regarding DAERA Budget 2024-25.
Agreed: Members agreed to note the written briefing and schedule an oral session with Officials.
9. Departmental Written Briefing - Introductory Update on Farm Support and Development Programme Briefing.
The Committee considered a written briefing from the Department regarding an introductory update on the Farm Support and Development Programme.
Agreed: Members agreed to note the briefing and noted that oral briefing sessions were being planned with the relevant Officials for later in May.
10. Correspondence
The Chairperson reminded Members that the Committee agreed to take copied correspondence from the House of Lords EU Affairs Sub Committee on the Windsor Framework on a case by case basis and Members can raise any concerns they have.
The Chairperson stated that he would draw attention to a number of items of correspondence.
Members considered correspondence from the Department requesting that the Committee note that the Ivory Act (Extension of Meaning of 'Ivory') (Transitional Provision and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024 is to be extended to Northern Ireland.
Agreed: Members agreed to note
Members noted correspondence from the Assembly Business Office containing the Lough Agency’s annual report and accounts for 2020 & 2021.
Agreed: Members agreed to note the report and accounts and to schedule an oral briefing with the Loughs Agency.
Members considered correspondence from the Northern Ireland Mushroom Growers Association detailing the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Agreed: Members agreed to note the correspondence and schedule an oral briefing with the Mushroom Growers Association.
Members noted correspondence from an Individual regarding his complaints against then Department.
Agreed: Members agreed to note the correspondence as the Committee awaits legal advice on this matter.
Members considered the Tenth Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules.
Agreed: Members agreed to note.
Members considered correspondence from NICCY regarding its priorities to safeguard the right of children and young people to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
Agreed: Members agreed to note.
Members considered correspondence from the Clerk to the Executive Office Committee regarding Scrutiny of Common Frameworks.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Clerk will write to TEO Clerk regarding the five outstanding Common Frameworks this Committee will have to consider.
Members noted Correspondence from the House of Lords EU Sub Committee on the Windsor Framework regarding the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill.
Agreed: Members agreed to write to the Department seeking a briefing on this matter.
Members considered Correspondence from the Department notifying the Committee of the Department’s intention to publish the outcomes of the consultation on “Northern Ireland’s 2030 & 2040 Emissions Reduction Targets & First Three Carbon Budgets & Seeking views on Climate Change Committee (CCC) Advice Report: The path to a Net Zero Northern Ireland”.
Agreed: Members agreed to note.
11. Forward Work Programme
Members considered the draft Committee Forward Work Programme.
Agreed: Members agreed to proceed as outlined in the Forward Work Programme.
12. Any Other Business
There were no other items of business.
13. Date, Time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee is on Thursday 9 May 2024, 10.00 am in Room 21.
The meeting went into closed session at 11:27am
14. Consideration of Legal Advice
Members considered legal advice from Assembly Legal Services regarding the ongoing situation of the residential apartments in Victoria Square, Belfast.
The Committee wished to place on record its thanks to Assembly Legal Services for the timely and substantive advice provided.
Agreed: Members agreed to forward the legal advice to the Committee for Communities.
15. LCM on the Pet Abduction Bill
Members considered the LCM on the Pet Abduction Bill and a number of papers provided by the Department.
Members also discussed the list of stakeholders that the Committee team have contacted asking for a written briefing.
Agreed: to arrange evidence sessions for next week with RaISe and Departmental Officials.
The Meeting adjourned at 11.40am
Tom Elliott, Chairperson
