The Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

PART III EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE AND RELATED SUBJECTS

Education and research in agriculture and related subjects

11.—(1) Section 2 of the Queen’s University of Belfast Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 (c. 21) (which requires the payment to the governing body of the Queen’s University of Belfast in respect of each financial year of sums for defraying certain costs of the Agricultural Faculty in that year) shall cease to have effect in relation to any financial year beginning after the coming into operation of this Article.

(2) Section 5 of the Agriculture Act (Northern Ireland) 1949 (c. 2) (provision for education and instruction and undertaking of research) is amended as follows.

(3) For subsections (1) to (2A) substitute—

“(1) The Department may provide, equip and maintain colleges and other institutions for the purpose of instructing persons in agriculture and related subjects.

(2) The Department may—

(a) provide instruction in agriculture and related subjects;

(b) arrange for the provision by others of such instruction;

and arrangements under paragraph (b) may include the provision by the Department of financial or other assistance.”.

(4) For subsection (4) substitute—

“(4) The Department may—

(a) undertake research in agriculture and related subjects for such purposes as the Department thinks appropriate;

(b) assist such research in any manner it thinks fit, including by the provision of financial assistance.”.

(5) At the end add—

“(5) In this section—

“financial assistance” means assistance by way of grants or loans on such conditions (including conditions as to repayment) as the Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel determine;

“related subjects” includes (in so far as they do not fall within the definition of agriculture)—

(a)

the manufacture, processing, packaging, marketing and supply of food;

(b)

veterinary science and the keeping and care of animals;

(c)

the use of equipment, technology and business practices in the carrying on of agricultural activities;

(d)

the protection of the natural rural environment;

(e)

rural development and enterprise;

(f)

forestry;

(g)

fisheries;

(h)

any science or applied science relating to any of the above; and

(i)

any other subject appearing to the Department to conduce to a knowledge of the science and practice of agriculture.”.