Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 2 OCTOBER 2008
GUILDHALL, DERRY/LONDONDERRY

Present:
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
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

Apologies:
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA

In attendance:
Mrs Nuala Dunwoody (Clerk Assistant)
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 10.34 a.m.

1. Apologies

The apologies are detailed above.

2. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2008 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

The Chairperson advised Membersthat further to a request forinformation on the circulation of departmental press releases, the Department has confirmed that press releases are issued to all media outlets and interested parties.

The Chairperson advised the Committeethat the Department for Finance and Personnel has requested input from all Departments to the ‘Budget Stocktake’ by 24 October 2008. The Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure will brief the Committee on their proposed return at its meeting on 23 October 2008.

The Committee was advised that the Department has been requested to provide its projected spend from October to the end of the financial year in March 2009 on a monthly basis. This will then be compared to actual spend to allow the Committee to monitor any underspends.

The Committee was advised thatthe Leadership Group responsible for the Cultural Olympiad is chaired by the Minister and consists of senior representatives from stakeholder organisations. The Director of Sports, Museums and Recreation Division liaises with the London Organisation Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

4. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to correspondence from Ms Tomelty of the Centre Stage Theatre Company to the Minister, seeking support for performances to mark the centenary of the birth of Sam Hanna Bell.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and other Members would meet with Ms Tomelty.

The Chairperson drew the Committee’s attentionto the Clerk’s report on the meeting he had with Mr David Boyd from the Beat Initiative.

Agreed:The Committee agreed that the Chair and Deputy Chair would

facilitate a meeting between the Beat Initiative, the Department and the Arts Council. Members were asked to inform the Clerk if they wish to attend the meeting.

The Chairperson advised the Committee that heattended a performance of ‘Juno and the Paycock’ at the Millennium Forum on Friday 26 September 2008. The performance was co-ordinated by the Association of Regional Theatres.

The Chairperson informed the Committee that he and the Clerk had met with Mr Neil Murray, Executive Director of the National Theatre of Scotland in Dublin on 1 October 2008. The Chairperson and Clerk then attended a performance of ‘Blackwatch’ by the National Theatre of Scotland. The Chairperson advised that a written report would be provided by the Clerk.

5. Press release

Agreed: The Committee agreed its press release for the Committee’s

meeting in the Guildhall and its visit to the Tower Museum.

6. Consideration of Committee’s final response to DFP Review of Budget Logistics

Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue its response.

7. Inquiry into the Development of a Museums Policy for Northern Ireland

The Committee noted the additional information supplied by the National Trust following their briefing to the Committee on 11 September 2008.

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 Browne 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 McCartney declared an interest as a trustee of the Bloody Sunday Trust;

Mr McCausland declared an interest as a Councillor in Belfast City Council;

Mr Ramsey declared an interest as a Councillor in Derry City Council;

Mr Robinson declared an interest as a Councillor in Newtownabbey Borough Council; and

Mr Shannon declared an interest as a Councillor in Ards Borough Council, as a member of the Somme Association, and a member of the Apprentice Boys (Comber Branch) .

Oral evidence session with Derry City Council

Members took oral evidence from Mr McGuicken representing Derry City 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 Strabane District Council

Members took oral evidence from Ms Clare Mullen and Mr Adrian Beattie, representing Strabane 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.

Oral evidence session with The Apprentice Boys of Derry

Members took oral evidence from Mr William Moore, Mr Jim Brownlee, and Mr Alistair Simpson, representing the Apprentice Boys of Derry. 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.

12.10 p.m. Mr McCausland left the meeting

Oral evidence session with Museum of Free Derry

Members took oral evidence from Mr Eamonn McCann, Mr Tony Doherty and Mr Adrian Kerr representing the Museum of Free Derry. 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.

8. Northern Ireland Events Company – KPMG Report

The Chairperson advised the Committee that he was in receipt of the full copy of the KPMG Report and that it was being held by the Committee Office. The Chairperson advised that a meeting has been arranged with the Permanent Secretary for Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 10.30 a.m. to discuss the KPMG Report and that the Permanent Secretary has requested that it be held in closed session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to hold this meeting in closed session.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Clerk Assistant would attend this meeting.

The Chairperson advised that in accordance with the procedural guidance, notice had been given to all Members of the intention to revisit the previous decision not to request the Department to issue the full KPMG Report to all Committee Members .

Agreed : The Committee agreed to defer consideration of any proposal until after the meeting with the Permanent Secretary on 7 October 2008.

9. Correspondence

The Committee noted the Executive Summary of the Second Public Service Broadcasting Review consultation by OFCOM. Members were advised that a copy of the full consultation document had been requested for all Committee Members.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a Research Services paper on the background to and main issues covered by the consultation document.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that OFCOM come before it to brief the Committee.

The Committee noted the brochure received from Sport Northern Ireland on ‘A Guide to Pre-games Training camps in Northern Ireland’.

The Chairperson advised that correspondence had been received from Mr Morrow, Chairperson of Erne & Melvin Enhancement Co, following the Chair’s visit to the fish hatchery on 6 June 2008.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to respond to Mr Morrow, congratulating him on the success of the hatchery.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Minister of the Environment

to enquire what proactive pollution prevention is being undertaken by the Department to protect fish stocks within local river systems.

The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to an invitation received from Lifeline to all members to a presentation in the Long Gallery on Monday 6 October at 11.00am.

10. Forward Work Programme

Agreed : The Committee agreed to schedule a departmental briefing on the Dutton Report before the Christmas recess.

11. Date and time of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 10.30 am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.56 p.m.

Mr Barry McElduff MLA
Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure
9 October 2008

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