COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 16 OCTOBER 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
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:
Lord Browne 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 10.08 a.m.
1. Apologies
The apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2008 were agreed .
3. Chairperson’s business
The Chairperson advised Members that the Minister’s launch of the World Rally Championship had been postponed.
The Committee was informed that the meeting between the Chairperson and Committee Members with Roma Tomelty, Artistic Director of the Centre Stage Theater Company, had been arranged for Thursday 23 October at 1.30 p.m. in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Committee was reminded that the meeting between the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, the Beat Initiative, the Department and the Arts Council was taking place on Thursday 16 October at 3pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
4. Inquiry into the Development of a Museums Policy for Northern Ireland
The Clerk briefed the Committee on additional information received from Assembly Library and Research Service.
The Committee noted additional information on the Cultural Forum and the Heritage Sub Group in relation to the Local Museum and Heritage Review.
The Chairperson asked Members to declare any relevant interests in advance of hearing oral evidence.
The Chairperson declared an interest as a Councillor in Omagh District Council;
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 McCartney declared an interest as a trustee of the Bloody Sunday Trust;
Mr Ramsey declared an interest as a Councillor in Derry City Council; and
Mr Shannon declared an interest as a Councillor in Ards Borough Council.
Oral evidence session with Armagh City and District Council
Members took oral evidence from Ms Sharon O’Gorman and Mr John Briggs, representing Armagh City and District Council . A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
10.25 a.m. Mr Robinson joined the meeting.
10.35 a.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
10.45 a.m. Mr Bradley left the meeting.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Oral evidence session with the Causeway Museum Service
10.50 a.m. Mr McNarry rejoined the meeting.
Members took oral evidence from Councillor Evelyn Robinson and Ms Helen Perry from the Causeway Museum Service. A question and answer session followed. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
11.12 a.m. Mr Bradley rejoined the meeting.
Hansard recorded the evidence session for publication in the Committee’s report.
Oral evidence session with the Northern Ireland Museums Council
Members took oral evidence from Mr Chris Bailey and Ms Briony Crozier from the Northern Ireland Museums 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.
12.04 p.m. Mr McCarthy left the meeting.
5. Matters Arising
Northern Ireland Events Company
The Committee was advised that the Chairperson and the Clerks hadmet with Mr John Dowdall, the Comptroller and Auditor General, on Tuesday 14 October 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Mr Dowdall would brief the Committee at its meeting on Thursday 23 October 2008. It was agreed that the Permanent Secretary would accompany Mr Dowdall to the meeting.
12.10 p.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
6. Creative Industries Innovation Fund
The Chairperson reminded Members of the invitation from the Minister to the launch of Creative Industries Innovation Fund on Friday 17 October 2008 in Limavady.
The following representatives from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure joined the meeting:
Mr Gregory Campbell MP MLA (Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure)
Ms Linda Wilson (Head of Culture Division)
Ms Anne Tohill (Head of Arts)
The Minister briefed the Committee on his plans for developing the creative industries to meet the goals set out in the Programme for Government. A question and answer session followed.
7. Matters Arising
12.53 p.m. Mr Ramsey left the meeting.
Northern Ireland Events Company
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request that a member of the Assembly Legal Service attend the meeting on 23 October 2008.
Safety at Sports Grounds
The Committee noted the responses from the Minister and Sport NI regarding its correspondence on safety at sports grounds.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that the Clerk and he had met with Professor Eamonn McCartan of Sport NI on Wednesday 15 October 2008. The Chairperson drew the Committee’s attention to the Clerk’s report on the meeting. The Chairperson informed Members that the Department is scheduled to brief the Committee on the issue on 11 December 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Professor McCartan would be invited to brief the Committee on safety at sports grounds on 11 December 2008.
Agreed : Members agreed that Assembly Library and Research Service would brief the Committee on safety at sports grounds on 11 December 2008.
8. Correspondence
The Committee noted the copy of the Minister’s response to Mr Jimmy Blair regarding sports facilities in Northern Ireland for the 2012 Olympics.
The Committee noted the correspondence from Mr Weatherup, regarding the management of Armagh County Museum following the Review of Public Administration (RPA).
Agreed The Committee agreed to write to Mr Weatherup, advising that the Department has stated that under RPA, the Armagh County Museum will return to the local Council, and to thank him for his service to the Armagh County Museum.
Members noted the letter from Liam Harbison, Chief Executive Officer of the Paralympic Council of Ireland.
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Department regarding the responses to the public consultation on the proposal for an Ulster Scots Academy. The Committee was informed that the Department will update the Committee on the Ulster Scots Academy on 27 November 2008.
The Committee noted the invitation from Mr Chris Clark, Chief Executive of BT Ireland, to attend the ‘BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2009’.
The Committee noted the invitation from the Arts Council to a poetry reading on Saturday 18 October in the QUB Great Hall, Belfast.
Members were advised that the October edition of ‘ACTIVE’, the newsletter of Disability Sports NI, was available in the Committee Office Library.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite Disability Sports NI to make a presentation to the Committee.
12.58 p.m. Mr McCartney left the meeting.
9. Forward Work Plan
Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Inquiry into the Development of a Museums Policy for Northern Ireland and the Department’s briefing on the Budget Stocktake would be covered by Hansard at the meeting on 23 October
2008 .
10. Any Other Business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Manager and players of the Northern Ireland football team congratulating them on their recent success.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Eoghan Quigg, to wish him continued success in the X-Factor competition.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Christine Bleakley, to wish her continued success in the Strictly Come Dancing competition.
11. Date and time of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 23 October 2008 at 10.00 am in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.03 p.m.