COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.
Present:
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry (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 Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Apologies:
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
In attendance:
Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Clerk)
Mrs Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Mairéad Higgins (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Angela Aboagye (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 10.05 a.m .
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Apologies
The apologies are detailed above.
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Draft Minutes of the meetings held on 9 and 11 September 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2008 were agreed.
The draft minutes of the meeting held on the 11 September 2008 were agreed.
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Matters arising
The Chairperson advised Members that a further briefing with the Permanent Secretary is planned as soon as the Committee’s request for the KMPG report and associated extracts has been collated by the Department.
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Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson advised members that the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is planning to move from the Interpoint building to the Causeway Exchange as part of the workplace 2010 initiative.
The Committee notedthe report on the Chairperson and Mr Brolly’s attendance at the meeting of the Joint Committee on the Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs in Leinster House on 10 September 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to accept a lunch invitation from the Mayor of Derry City Council, when it holds its meeting at the Guildhall on Thursday 2 October 2008.
The Chairperson reminded Members of the meeting with David Boyd from the Beat Initiative on Thursday 25 September 2008.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that an invitation has been received from Sport NI to a conference they are hosting on Thursday 2 October 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to defer the presentation from Bill Morris, Head of Culture & Ceremonies for the Olympics 2012 until the New Year. Mr Morris will be accompanied by a departmental official to provide the Northern Ireland perspective.
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Consideration of Statutory Rule 318 Fisheries (Amendment) Byelaws (NI) 2008
‘Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure has considered the Fisheries (Amendment) Byelaws (NI) 2008 and has no objection to the rule’.
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Consideration SR 319 Fisheries (Conservation of Coarse Fish) Byelaws (NI) 2008.
‘Question put and agreed:
That the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure has considered the Fisheries (Conservation of Coarse Fish) Byelaws (NI) 2008 and has no objection to the rule’.
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Inquiry into the Development of a Museums Policy for Northern Ireland
The Committee noted the additional information supplied by the Heritage Lottery Fund following their briefing to the Committee on Thursday 11 September 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to request that Armagh City and District Council present oral evidence to the inquiry.
The Chairperson asked Members to declare any relevant interests in advance of hearing oral evidence.
Mr McElduff declared an interest as a Councillor in Omagh District Council;
Lord Brown declared an interest as a Councillor in Belfast City Council and as a trustee of the Somme Association;
Mr McCarthy declared an interest as a Councillor in Ards Borough Council;
Mr McCausland declared an interest as a Councillor in Belfast City Council;
Mr Shannon declared an interest as a Councillor in Ards Borough Council as a member of the Somme Association.
Oral evidence session with National Museums Northern Ireland
10.30 Mr McNarry joined the meeting.
10.31 Mr Robinson joined the meeting.
10.37 Mr McCartney joined the meeting.
10.56 Mr McNarry left the meeting.
Members took oral evidence from Mr Tim Cook, Ms Amanda Lilley, Dr Jim McGreevy and Mr Paddy Gilmore , representing National Museums Northern Ireland . A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Oral evidence session with Craigavon Borough Council
Members took oral evidence from Ms Elaine Hill representing the Craigavon Borough Council . A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Oral evidence session with the Somme Association
Members took oral evidence from Dr Ian Adamson, Mr Ian Vincent and Ms Carol Walker representing the Somme Association . A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Oral evidence session with Fermanagh District Council
12.04 Mr McNarry rejoined the meeting
Members took oral evidence from Ms Sarah McHugh and Ms Bronagh Cleary representing Fermanagh District Council . A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
12.24 p.m. Mr Brolloy left the meeting
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BBC News - item on Health & Safety Standards in Stadium
The Deputy Chairperson drew Members’ attention to a report by the BBC of 20 August 2008 regarding health and safety standards at sports grounds.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to seek a copy of the transcript of the programme and to seek the Department’s comments on it. It was also agreed to request a paper from Research & Library Services and to discuss the issue at next week’s meeting.
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Correspondence
Members noted correspondence from Mr Jimmy Blair with regard to the provision of sports facilities for the 2012 Olympics.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to request that the Minister responds to Mr Blair directly and copies the Committee into his reply.
The Committee noted the quarterly update from the Arts Council on progress with the Drama Strategy .
12.35 p.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting
Agreed : The Committee agreed not to submit evidence to the committee stage of the Public Authorities Reform Bill. The Committee agreed to pursue its concerns regarding angling stakeholder representation via the Department’s consultation on a Salmon and Inland Fisheries Stakeholder Forum.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to request monthly forecast outturn data from the Department.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Federation for Ulster Local Studies enclosing a draft letter it intends to send to the Minister. The Chair advised members that a copy of its magazine ‘Due North’ has been placed in the Committee Office Library.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to consider the issue of a policy for local history at a later date.
The Chairperson reminded Members of the Save the Children event on child poverty in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 23 September at 12.30pm.
The Committee noted the Minister’s response to its enquiry regarding the bid for voluntary redundancy funding for senior staff of the library service.
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Forward Work Programme
Agreed : The Committee agreed that Hansard would record the inquiryevidence session and the Committee’s response to the Committee for Financeand Personnel’s inquiry into Budget Logistics.
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Any Other Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to seek a briefing from the Arts Council on its policy regarding traditional arts.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to send written congratulations to local athletes who had participated in the 2008 Paralympics.
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Date and time of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 25 September 2008 at 10.00 am, in Room 152 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.45 p.m.