Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
Minutes of proceedings 15 May 2025
Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee minutes of proceedings 15 May 2025.pdf (168.9 kb)
Meeting Location: Room 30
Present:
Ciara Ferguson MLA (Chairperson)
David Brooks MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Declan Kearney MLA
Peter Martin MLA
Emma Sheerin MLA
Present by Video:
Steve Aiken MLA
Jonathan Buckley MLA
Eóin Tennyson MLA
Apologies:
None.
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)
In Attendance by Video:
None.
The meeting commenced at 10.02am in closed session.
1. Apologies
As above.
2. Declaration of Members’ Interest
None.
3. COM/2023/451 Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/858 and 2019/1020 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC - Legal Advice
Simon Kelly, Legal Adviser, Assembly Legal Services, joined the meeting at 10.03am.
Members considered the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/451 Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/858 and 2019/1020 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC.
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 whether it appears likely that the proposed EU act differs significantly (in whole or in part) from the content or scope of the EU act it is amending/replacing.
Declan Kearney joined the meeting at 10.07am.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to continue its consideration of the proposed EU act in public session.
The Legal Adviser left the meeting at 10.15am.
4. COM/2023/770 Proposal for a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 - Legal Advice
Julie Byers, Legal Adviser, Assembly Legal Services, joined the meeting at 10.16am.
Members considered the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/770 Proposal for a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.
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 whether it appears likely that the proposed EU act differs significantly (in whole or in part) from the content or scope of the EU act it is amending/replacing.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to continue its consideration of the proposed EU act in public session.
The Legal Adviser left the meeting at 10.25am.
Agreed: Members agreed to move to public session at 10.25am.
The meeting commenced at 10.25am in public session.
5. Draft Minutes
Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 8 May 2025.
6. Matters Arising
None.
7. COM/2023/770 Proposal for a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 - Departmental Oral Evidence
Agreed: The Committee agreed to bring forward agenda item 8.
The meeting was suspended at 10.26am.
The meeting resumed at 10.31am in public session.
The Committee continued its consideration of the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/770 Proposal for a Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.
The following officials joined the meeting at 10.32am:
Neal Gartland Director, Animal Health and Welfare Policy Division, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Christopher Andrews Grade 6, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Chris Wade Deputy Principal, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
The officials gave oral evidence on the proposed EU act.
A question and answer session followed.
Jonathan Buckley left the meeting at 10.46am.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The officials left the meeting at 11.00am.
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.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite the Ulster Farmers’ Union to give oral evidence on the proposed EU act.
8. COM/2023/451 Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/858 and 2019/1020 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC - Departmental Oral Evidence
The Committee continued its consideration of the following proposed EU act:
COM/2023/451 Proposal for a Regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/858 and 2019/1020 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC.
The following officials joined the meeting at 11.02am:
Tommy McNamara Policy Lead for ELV, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Karl Beattie Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Adrian Borland Head of Legislation Branch, Department for Infrastructure
Caroline Hobson Head of Vehicle Policy Branch, Department for Infrastructure
The officials gave oral evidence on the proposed EU act.
A question and answer session followed.
The evidence session was reported by Hansard.
The officials left the meeting at 11.28am.
The Committee noted that the UK Government Explanatory Memorandum on the proposed EU act states that EU legislation concerning the treatment of end-of-life vehicles is not currently included under the Windsor Framework, however EU type-approval legislation is.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to ask the UK Government to clarify which specific provisions of the proposed EU act would apply in Northern Ireland under Article 13(3) of the Windsor Framework, and would therefore be notified to the Committee.
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.
9. Correspondence
9.1 The Committee considered a response from the Minister for the Economy regarding the provision of departmental evidence to the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson should agree to meet with the Minister for the Economy following the Department’s review of its internal procedures and working relationships with the UK Government, which is expected to be complete in June.
9.2 The Committee noted correspondence from the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee regarding oral evidence on the operation of the Windsor Framework.
9.3 The Committee noted correspondence from the EU Affairs Manager regarding EU scrutiny arrangements.
9.4 The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Public Accounts Committee regarding primacy over Northern Ireland Audit Office reports.
9.5 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the Paymaster General regarding veterinary medicines and the Windsor Framework.
9.6 The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee to the Paymaster General regarding the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.
10. Chairperson's Business
None.
11. Any other business
None.
12. Date, time, and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 22 May 2025 at 10:00am in Room 30.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.34.
Ciara Ferguson, MLA
Chairperson, Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee
