COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2008
ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
Mr Pat Ramsey MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Apologies:
Mr Dominic Bradley 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 closed session at 10.07 a.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Inquiry into the Development of a Museums Policy for Northern Ireland
10.10 a.m. Mr Robinson joined the meeting.
The Committee considered the main body of its draft report and proposed a number of amendments.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider a further draft of the report at its meeting on Thursday 4 December 2008.
10.29 a.m. Mr McCausland joined the meeting.
The meeting moved into public session at 10.30 a.m.
10.30 a.m. Mr McCartney joined the meeting.
10.30 a.m. Mr Shannon joined the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on the 20 November 2008 were agreed.
4. Committee discussion on Ofcom consultation
The Committee noted the research papers on broadcasting in Wales and in the Republic of Ireland prepared by Assembly Research and Library Services.
10.45 a.m. Mr Shannon left the meeting.
Agreed : The Committee agreedto write to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to raise its concerns at Ofcom’s refusal of grant an extension to the consultation period, particularly given the Assembly’s approval of the motion on the issue debated in the House on Monday 24 November 2008.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to further consider its draft response to the Ofcom consultation at its meeting on Thursday 4 December 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to Minister Campbell to ask that he writes back to the Committee after his meeting with his counterparts in Scotland and Wales regarding their approaches to local broadcasting.
5. Departmental briefing on outcome of September Monitoring, December Monitoring and End of Year Estimates
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Minister expressing its concern that the Department’s paper had been received late.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to issue a press release supporting the launch of Rally Ireland.
The following officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure joined the meeting:
Ms Deborah Brown - Director of Finance
Ms Linda Wilson - Director of Culture
Ms Hazel Campbell - Acting Director of Sports/Museums/Recreation
The officials briefed the Committee on the outcome of September monitoring, the Department’s proposed return for December monitoring and end of year estimates. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Departmental officials agreed to provide further information on how the 3% efficiency savings had been made, the additional contract costs associated with the PRONI new build, and the outstanding payments relating to the Northern Ireland Events Company.
6. Discussion following Northern Ireland Theatre Initiative meeting
Agreed :The draft minutes of the meeting held on the 25 November 2008 were agreed.
The Chair referred Members to the Clerk’s report of the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to those who participated in the meeting advising that it would seek an update in March 2009 on how discussions were progressing within the sector.
7. Matters Arising
The Committee noted the Department’s position report on the Northern Ireland Events Company and its management of its arms-length bodies.
11.45 a.m. Mr Ramsey left the meeting.
The Chair advised that the Committee would consider draft terms of reference at its meeting on Thursday 4 December 2008 for the Committee’s review of the Department’s management of the Northern Ireland Events Company and its other arms length bodies.
8. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson referred Members to the Clerk’s report of the meeting held with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) on 20 November 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to invite CRY, Sport NI and the Arts Council to brief it on strategies for encouraging more heart screening of young people.
11.49 a.m. Mr Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that an informal meeting had been arranged with various interest groups on Tuesday 9 December from 12 p.m. – 1p.m. in Room 144.
Agreed : The Committee agreed its Christmas card greeting, subject to minor amendments to the Ulster Scots spellings.
The Chairperson advised Members that he was to be interviewed by BBC Arts Extra regarding the work undertaken by the Committee in relation to the arts.
9. Correspondence
The Committee notedthe response from the Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association to the Committee’s enquiry on how it is constituted.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister in relation to sick absence target levels within the Department.
Agreed : Members agreed to write to the Minister to request a copy of his response to the President of the Ulster-Scots Language Society, and to write to same advise him of this request.
The Committee noted the letter from NI Environmental Link regarding bovine TB.
The Committee noted the letter to the Minister from the Deputy Chairperson in relation to the Northern Ireland Events Company.
The Committee noted theresponse from the Minister to the Committee’s enquiry on safety at sports grounds.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister to the Committee’s enquiry on heritage sub-groups and other working groups.
Agreed : The Committee noted the letter from Youth Music Theatre UK and agreed to invite this group to its informal meeting on Tuesday 9 December 2008.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Principal of St Patrick’s College to congratulate the school on Eoghan Quigg’s continued success on the X-Factor competition.
Agreed : The Committee noted theletter from the Urban Arts Academy and agreed to invite this group to its informal meeting on Tuesday 9 December 2008.
The Committee was advised that a copy of the Autumn 2008 Project Report by Carson and McDowell is available in the Committee Office Library.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward a letter from the Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minster
on the construction industry to Minister Campbell, and to request to be copied into the response.
10. Forward Work Plan
The Committee noted its forward work plan.
Agreed : The Committee agreed that Hansard would record the briefing from the Minister on a language strategy, the briefing from officials on the Gaeltacht Quarter, and the discussion on the Ofcom consultation at its meeting on Thursday 4 December 2008.
11. Any Other Business
Ofcom
Agreed :The Committee agreed to issue a press release advising that the Speaker has written to Ofcom and UTV following the Assembly’s approval of the motion on broadcasting on 24 November 2008, and to request that UTV and Ofcom respond to the Speaker’s letter immediately.
Carville Group
Mr McNarry advised that he had been contacted by the Carville Group regarding proposals for a new art gallery in Belfast.
Agreed: The Committee agreed that Mr McNarry would invite the Carville Group to write to the Committee outlining their proposals.
Arts Council funding
Mr McCausland advised that he had obtained information on funding applications made by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in response to an Assembly question (AQ 2576/09).
12.06 p.m. Mr Ramsey left the meeting.
12. Date and time of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 4 December 2008 at 10.30 a.m. in the Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.09 p.m.