Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee

Minutes of Proceedings - 12 May 2026

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee - 12 May 2026.pdf (295.44 kb)

Meeting location: Room 21, Parliament Buildings, Belfast

Present:

Robbie Butler MLA (Chairperson)

Declan McAleer MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Tom Buchanan MLA

Aoife Finnegan MLA

Daniel McCrossan MLA

Michelle McIlveen MLA

Gareth Wilson MLA

In Attendance:

Dr Janice Thompson, Assembly Clerk

Glenda Doherty, Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk

Nick Faulkner, Assistant Assembly Clerk

Michael Greer, Clerical Supervisor

The meeting opened in Public Session at 1:23pm

1. Apologies

John Blair MLA

2. Declaration of Interests

The Chairperson reminded Members of their responsibility to declare any interests in any of the items under discussion.

None were declared.

3. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson referred to proposed agenda for the AERA & EFRA informal meeting at Balmoral on 14 May 2026.

Agreed: The Committee agreed the agenda.

4. Dilapidation Bill - Consideration of Committee Report

This agenda item was recorded by Hansard

The Chairperson stated that as the Committee Stage was now concluded the Committee would now agree the Committee Bill report section by section.

Title page, Contents Page, Powers, Membership and list of abbreviations and acronyms

Agreed: The Committee was content the Title page, Contents Page, Committee Powers, and Membership pages stand part of the Report.

Executive Summary

Agreed: The Committee was content that the Executive Summary - paragraphs 1 to 23 stand part of the Report.

Introduction Section

Agreed: The Committee was content that the Introduction at paragraphs 24 to 52 stand part of the Report.

Consideration of the Bill

Introductory paragraphs and Clauses 1-3: Maintenance notice - paragraphs 53 to 63.

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 53 to 63 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 4-6: Dilapidation notice - paragraphs 64 to 72

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 64 to 72 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 7-9: Dangerous structure notice - paragraphs 73 to 79

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 73 to 79 stand part of the Report.

Clause 10: Emergency action - paragraphs 80 to 82

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 80 to 82 stand part of the Report.

Clause 11: Defective premises notice - paragraphs 83 to 86

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 83 to 86 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 12-15: Liability for Costs etc- paragraphs 87 to 96

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 87 to 96 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 16-20: Miscellaneous functions of district councils - paragraphs 97 to 110.

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 97 to 110 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 21-23: General procedural matters etc - paragraphs 111 to 118

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 111 to 118 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 24-25: Interpretation - paragraphs 119-120

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 119-120 stand part of the Report subject to correction of a paragraph number.

Clauses 26-28: Supplementary- paragraphs 121 to 127

Agreed: The Committee was content that the section at paragraphs 121 to 127 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 29-31: Final - paragraphs 128 to 133

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 128 to 133 stand part of the Report.

Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 - paragraphs 136 to 141

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 136 to 141 stand part of the Report.

Committee Deliberations

The introduction paragraphs and Clauses 1-3- paragraphs 142 to 167

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 142 to 167 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 4-6 - paragraphs 168 to 191

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 168 to 191 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 7-9 - paragraphs 192 to 207

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 192 to 207 stand part of the Report.

Clause 10 - paragraphs 208 to 214

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 208 to 214 stand part of the Report.

Clause 11 - paragraphs 215 to 222

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 215 to 222 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 12-15 - paragraphs 223 to 237

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 223 to 237 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 16-20 - paragraphs 238 to 272

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 238 to 272 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 21-23 - paragraphs 273 to 285

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 273 to 285 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 24-25 - paragraphs 286 to 293

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 286 to 293 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 26-28 - paragraphs 294 to 298

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 294 to 298 stand part of the Report.

Clauses 29-31- paragraphs 299 to 306

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 299 to 306 stand part of the Report.

Schedules 1 and 2 - paragraphs 307 to 315

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 307 to 315 stand part of the Report.

New Review and Report Clause - paragraphs 316 to 320

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 316 to 320 stand part of the Report.

Proposed Ministerial Amendments - paragraphs 321 to 323

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 321 to 323 stand part of the Report.

Committee Recommendations - paragraph 324

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraph 324 stands part of the Report.

Clause by Clause Scrutiny of the Bill - paragraphs 325 to 361

Agreed: The Committee was content that paragraphs 325 to 361 stand part of the Report.

Appendices

The Chair referred to the Appendices section and noted that it would be updated with today’s minutes of proceedings and minutes of evidence when published.

Agreed: The Committee was content that the Appendices section at page 85 stand part of the Report, pending the addition of the minutes of the meeting 12 May 2026 and the minutes of evidence.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the “Report on the Dilapidation Bill” be the 5th Report of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Agreed: The Committee was content for the report to be laid in the Business Office and published on the Committee webpages; and to copy the Bill report to the Minister of AERA in advance of the Consideration Stage of the Bill.

The Chair stated that the Committee stage of the Dilapidation Bill was concluded and thanked Members and the Assembly Secretariat for their contributions throughout the scrutiny process.

5. Any Other Business

None

6. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 Mayat 10:00am at the Balmoral Show.

The meeting was adjourned 1:46pm

Robbie Butler MLA, Chairperson