The first public session of the Northern Ireland Assembly committee structure convenes today with representatives of the farming industry giving evidence to the Assembly agriculture board under the chairmanship of the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley.
The agriculture committee, which held its first closed session yesterday, intends to focus on how the farming sector can alleviate the burden of debt facing the industry. The Ulster Farmers Union, the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association and representatives of fishing organisations in Kilkeel and Portavogie, Co Down, are among those expected to appear, according to a committee member, Mr Ian Paisley jnr.
Mr Danny Kennedy, the chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly committee for education, said yesterday he expects a "robust exchange" of views when he meets the Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, early next week.
The Ulster Unionist MLA for Newry and Armagh, described the inaugural meeting of the education committee yesterday as constructive, with all 11 members present for an initial examination of the issues.
The committee on social development, chaired by the Ulster Unionist MLA for North Belfast, Mr Fred Cobain, and the Assembly committee for the department of culture, arts and leisure, chaired by Mr Eamon O'Neill of the SDLP, also convened for the first time yesterday.