COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2007
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley
The Lord Browne MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Apologies:
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Linda Gregg (Clerk)
Dr Kathryn Bell (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Mairéad Higgins (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Alister Strain (Clerical Officer)
Mr Denis Arnold (Bill Office)
The meeting opened at 10.05am in public session.
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Chairperson’s business
Agreed – the Committee agreed to write to the Chairperson of the Chairpersons’ Liaison Group requesting that the Group establish the protocols for Hansard coverage of Committee meetings.
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Committee response on Draft Budget, Programme for Government and Investment Strategy
Agreed – the Committee agreed its responses on the Draft Budget, Draft Programme for Government and Draft Investment Strategy.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to request further information on the Draft Budget from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
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Update on Northern Ireland Events Company
The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure joined the meeting at 10.35am, accompanied by the following official:
Mr Mick Cory (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure)
The Minister briefed the Committee on the current position in relation to the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC). This was followed by a question and answer session.
The Minister agreed to respond to the Committee in writing on the question of whether the various motor-cross events funded by the NIEC were run by the same organisation, and on the mechanisms for grants being drawn down by the NIEC from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
The Minister agreed that his officials would respond to the Committee’s request for further information on the Department’s allocations in the Draft Budget.
Mr Ramsey left the meeting at 11.17am.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.17am.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 11.17am.
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Draft minutes of the meetings held on 22 and 28 November 2007
Agreed – the draft minutes were agreed.
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Matters arising
The Chair advised members of the arrangements for the Committee’s visit to Central Library in Belfast on 6 December 2007.
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Libraries Bill (NIA 5/07)
The Chair referred members to correspondence from the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure on the appointment of the Chief Executive Designate, the position of library staff, and options for corporate services.
The following officials joined the meeting at 11.18am:
Mr Colin Jack (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure)
Ms Julie Mapstone (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure)
Ms Irene Armstrong (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure)The Committee carried out a detailed clause by clause scrutiny of main body of the Bill, along with Schedules 1. The clauses were read along with the related commentary in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum.
Clause 1 (The Northern Ireland Library Authority)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Mr Shannon rejoined the meeting at 11.19am.
Clause 2 (Duty of Authority to provide library services)
Agreed – the Committee agreed to defer consideration of Clause 2 until its next meeting.
Clause 3 (Ancillary Powers of Authority)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 4 (Power of Authority to undertake commercial activities)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 5 (Powers of Authority in relation to land)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 6 (Charges for certain library services)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 7 (Byelaws in respect of use of library services)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 8 (Grants for or in connection with library services)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 9 (Directions)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 10 (Amendments and repeals)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 11 (Interpretation)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 12 (Commencement)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Clause 13 (Short title)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the clause as drafted.
Mr McNarry rejoined the meeting at 11.45am.
Schedule 1 – The Northern Ireland Library Authority
Paragraph 1 (Status)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 2 (Membership)
Agreed – the Committee agreed to defer consideration of paragraph 2 to its next meeting.
Mr Bradley left the meeting at 11.50am.
Paragraph 3 (Tenure of office)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 4 (Remuneration, etc., of members)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 5 (Employees)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Mr Robinson left the meeting at 12.00pm.
Paragraph 6 (Employees)
Agreed: that the Committee is opposed to the paragraph as drafted.
Mr Bradley rejoined the meeting at 12.02pm.
Paragraph 7 (Remuneration, allowance and pensions of employees)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Mr Robinson rejoined the meeting at 12.05pm.
Paragraph 8 (Arrangements for assistance)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 9 (Committees)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 10 (Delegation to committees and staff)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 11 (Proceedings)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 12 (Proceedings)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 13 (Application of seal and documents)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 14 (Application of seal and documents)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 15 (Premises)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 16 (Finance)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 17 (Accounts)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 18 (Annual report)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Paragraph 19 (Interpretation)
Agreed: that the Committee is content with the paragraph as drafted.
Schedule 3 – Amendments
Agreed – the Committee agreed to defer consideration of Schedule 3 until its next meeting.
Schedule 4 – Repeals
Agreed – the Committee agreed to defer consideration of Schedule 4 until its next meeting.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to continue its consideration of the Bill at its next meeting.
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Any Other Business
Agreed – the Committee agreed to write to the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to request information on departmental underspends as detailed in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2007.
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Date and time of next meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold its next meeting on Thursday 6 December 2007 at 10.45am in Central Library, Belfast.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.20pm.