COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
In attendance:
Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mrs Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Mairéad Higgins (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Angela Aboagye (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 10.36 a.m.
1. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on the 6 November 2008 were agreed.
2. Matters Arising
The Chairperson advised that in his letter of 7 November 2008 to UTV, he had agreed with the Clerk to request an extension to the voluntary redundancy scheme until after the Committee has heard evidence on the issues. The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to the response from UTV, which advised that the deadline had been extended to 24 November 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to request a briefing from the Department on the evaluation of the Curriculum Development Unit for Ulster-Scots at its meeting on 27 November 2008. It was agreed to defer the briefing on the Ulster Scots Academy to a future meeting.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson reminded the Committee that he would be speaking as part of a panel at the Ofcom public service broadcasting conference that afternoon.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that on Tuesday 11 November 2008, he attended the official opening of the University of Ulster’s World Class Sports Facilities, at which Lord Coe was present.
The Chairperson advised that ‘Cardiac Risk in the Young’ had offered to brief Members of the Committee on the afternoon of Thursday 20 November 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Chair and other Members would meet with ‘Cardiac Risk in the Young’ on Thursday 20 November 2008 at 2 p.m. in Room 152.
4. Salmon and Inland Fisheries Forum Consultation
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting:
Mr Marcus McCauley - Chief Fisheries Officer
Mr Liam Devlin - Inland Fisheries Branch
Ms Kathleen Hyland – Inland Fisheries Branch
10.49 a.m. Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
10.57 a.m. Mr Bradley joined the meeting.
The officials briefed the Committee on the Department’s consultation on the proposed Salmon and Inland Fisheries Forum. This was followed by a question and answer session.
11.04 a.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
5. Statutory Rule (SL1) Fisheries (Amendment No. 2) Byelaws (NI) 2008
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting:
Ms Karen Simpson – Chief Executive, Fisheries Conservancy Board
Mr Seamus Connor – Deputy Chief Executive, Fisheries Conservancy Board
The officials briefed the Committee on the SL1 for the proposed Fisheries (Amendment No. 2) Byelaws (NI) 2008 . This was followed by a question and answer session.
6. Statutory Rule (SL1) Eel Fishing (Licence Duties) 2008
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting:
Ms Karen Simpson – Chief Executive, Fisheries Conservancy Board
Mr Seamus Connor – Deputy Chief Executive, Fisheries Conservancy Board
Mr Liam Devlin - Inland Fisheries Branch
Mr Devlin briefed the Committee on the SL1 for the Eel Fishing (Licence Duties) 2008 . This was followed by a question and answer session.
7. Consideration of OFMDFM inquiry into European issues
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward the response from the Minister on the European issues which come under his remit to the Committee for the Office of the First Minster and deputy First Minister.
Agreed : Members agreed that the Clerk should liaise with the Clerk for the Committee for the Office of the First Minster and deputy First Minister, to ensure it was aware of a previous report done on these issues.
11.21 a.m. Mr Ramsey left the meeting.
8. Briefing from the Arts Council on traditional arts policy
The following officials from the Arts Counciljoined the meeting:
Ms Noírín McKinney – Director for Arts Development
Mr Damian Smyth – Literature and Language Officer
Officials briefed the Committee on the Arts Council’s policy on traditional arts. This was followed by a question and answer session.
11.45 a.m. McNarry rejoined the meeting.
The officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information on how the funding for traditional arts was allocated, the percentage of overall budget that is allocated to traditional arts, and the Arts Council’s new staffing structure.
9. Correspondence
The Committee noted the response from the Environment Minister to the Committee’s enquiry on pollution incidents in local rivers.
The Committee noted the publication of the annual report of the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland (OCPANI).
Agreed : Members agreed to accept an invitation from NICSSA Sports & Leisure to visit the Pavilion complex. The Committee agreed to seek information on how the Association is constituted.
The Committee noted the additional correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to the Budget Stocktake 2009 -2011.
Members noted the letter from Queen’s Film Theatre regarding the Ofcom consultation and proposed staff cuts at UTV.
Members noted the letter from the Grand Opera House regarding the Ofcom consultation and proposed staff cuts at UTV.
Members noted the letter from the Belfast Film Festival regarding the Ofcom consultation and proposed staff cuts at UTV.
Members noted the letter from Invest in Inspiration regarding the Ofcom consultation and proposed staff cuts at UTV.
Members noted the letter from the Lyric Theatre regarding the Ofcom consultation and proposed staff cuts at UTV.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward a letter on the construction industry from the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning to the Minister for his consideration.
The Committee noted the invitation from the British Council to a programme of events for a visit by educational specialists from Jordan.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the British Council to inquire whether the programme reflected the cultural diversity of Northern Ireland; to request an assurance that this would be taken into account in the future; and to request feedback on the event.
10. Forward Work Plan
The Committee noted its forward work plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Hansard would record the items relating to the Ofcom consultation on public service broadcasting on 20 November 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Hansard coverage would not be necessary for the roundtable discussion on a possible Northern Ireland theatre initiative on 25 November 2008.
11. Any other business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Arts Council to seek further information on its overall budget and how it allocates its funding.
12. Date and time of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 20 November 2008 at 10.30 am in the Senate Chamber.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.08 p.m.