Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
Minutes of Proceedings - 8 May 2025
Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee - Minutes of Proceedings - 8 May 2025.pdf (103.72 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30
Present:
Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)
David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Declan Kearney MLA
Emma Sheerin MLA
Present by Video:
Joanne Bunting MLA[1]
Jonathan Buckley MLA
Apologies:
Steve Aiken MLA
Peter Martin MLA
Eóin Tennyson MLA
In Attendance:
Jessica Jacques (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Christopher Dickison (Senior Assistant Clerk)
Victoria Bourquin (Assistant Clerk)
Carla Campbell (Clerical Supervisor)
Suzanne Walsh (Clerical Supervisor)
Damien Brown (Clerical Officer)
Shelley Garner (Clerical Officer)
In Attendance by Video:
Sinead Kelly (Assistant Clerk)
The meeting commenced at 10.04am in closed session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Members' Interest
None.
3. COM/2023/411 Proposal for a Regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625 - Legal Advice
Julie Byers, Legal Adviser, Assembly Legal Services, joined the meeting at 10.06am.
Members considered the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/411 Proposal for a Regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
Members noted that the proposed EU act has not been notified to the Committee, but following a work planning exercise on 20 February 2025, the Committee agreed to gather evidence on the proposed EU act.
The Legal Adviser provided advice on the content and scope of the proposed EU act.
The Legal Adviser left the meeting at 10.14am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to continue its consideration of the proposed EU act in public session.
Agreed: Members agreed to move to public session at 10.14am.
The meeting commenced at 10.14am in public session.
4. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2025.
5. Matters Arising
None.
6. COM/2023/411 Proposal for a Regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625 - Departmental Oral Evidence
The Committee considered the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/411 Proposal for a Regulation on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
The following officials joined the meeting at 10.17am:
Sharon Gilmore Head of Standards and Dietary Health, Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland
Colin Coates Policy Adviser, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
The officials gave oral evidence on the proposed EU act.
A question and answer session followed.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
Jonathan Buckley left the meeting at 10.32am.
The officials left the meeting at 10.35am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask the UK Government to clarify whether the proposed EU act would apply under Article 13(3), Article 13(4), or both these articles of the Windsor Framework.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask RaISe to provide a short, focussed list of key representatives of businesses and civil society who may be affected by the proposed EU act.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek the views of stakeholders identified by RaISe via Citizen Space with a four-week deadline for response.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that RaISe monitor the progress of the proposed EU act and inform the Secretariat when the draft final text is available.
7. COM/2025/137 Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) No 251/2014 as regards certain market rules and sectoral support measures in the wine sector and for aromatised wine products
The Committee considered the proposed replacement EU act: COM/2025/137 Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) No 251/2014 as regards certain market rules and sectoral support measures in the wine sector and for aromatised wine products.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request legal advice and an initial departmental assessment of impact to help inform its decision on whether to monitor the proposed EU act.
8. Correspondence
8.1 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the Chair of the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office regarding EU-related scrutiny arrangements.
9. Chairperson's Business
None.
10. Any other business
None.
11. Date, time, and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 15 May 2025 at 10:00am in Room 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.38am.
Ciara Ferguson, MLA
Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Co
[1] Peter Martin MLA appointed Joanne Bunting MLA as a substitute Member for this meeting.
