COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 24 January 2008
Present:
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
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 Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
In attendance:
Mr Martin Wilson (Principal Clerk)
Mrs Linda Gregg (Clerk)
Mrs Elaine Farrell (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Mairéad Higgins (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Angela Aboagye (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 10.31 a.m. in public session
1. Apologies
Apologies as detailed above.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 10.35am
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2008
Agreed - the draft minutes of the meeting were agreed as amended.
3. Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2008
Agreed - the draft minutes of the meeting were agreed
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 21 January 2008 from the Chairman of the Western Education and Library Board.
The Committee noted correspondence dated 21 January 2008 from the Belfast Circus School.
Agreed - the Committee agreed to invite the Belfast Circus School to make a presentation to the Committee.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister in which he has provided information on the budget implications of the proposed transfer of the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland from DCAL to DFP.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that it had no further concerns regarding the SL1 Transfer of Functions Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
5. Briefing from DCAL officials on the February monitoring, outcome of December monitoring and the Department’s final draft budget.
The following witnesses attended:
Mr Anthony Carleton (Director of Corporate Services)
Ms Deidre Lundy (Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure)
Ms Carol Caves (Head of Libraries Branch)
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 10.53am
This was followed by a question and answer session. The officials agreed to provide further information on a number of issues raised by the Committee.
Agreed - the Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask for clarification in light of the Ministerial Budget Statement made by the Minister for Finance and Personnel on Tuesday 22 January 2008, regarding the extra allocation of money to arts and libraries and to enquire if any provision has been given to sport.
Mr McCausland left the meeting at 11.45am
Mr Brolly left the meeting at 11.45am
Mr McCausland rejoined the meeting at 11.47am
Mr Brolley rejoined the meeting at 11.48am
Mr Bradley assumed the Chair at 12.01pm
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.01pm
Mr Ramsey left the meeting at 12.01
6. Presentation from the Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB)
The following witnesses attended:
Ms Karen Simpson (Chief Executive)
Mr Michael Crilly (FCB Executive Committee)
The Committee were briefed on the abolishment of the FCB and transfer of functions to DCAL.
Agreed - the Committee agreed to write to FCB asking them to outline their concerns regarding the transfer of FCB to DCAL.
Agreed - the Committee agreed to write to the Department outlining the concerns of the Committee in relation to the transfer of FCB and asking the Department to provide information in relation to the role of the FCB stakeholders.
7. Briefing from DCAL Officials on the abolishment of FCB and transfer to DCAL
The Committee were briefed by the following officials:
Ms Alison McQueen (Head of Inland Waterways and Inland Fisheries)
Mr Marcus McAuley (Chief Fisheries Office)
Mr Liam Devlin (DCAL)
This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed - the Committee agreed to respond to the FCB Salmon and Inland Fisheries Stakeholder Forum Consultation.
8. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted and agreed the updated Forward Work Plan.
Agreed - the Committee agreed to request briefing papers in relation to the Irish Language and Ulster Scots Language in advance of the meeting with the Minister on 31 January 2008.
9. Libraries Bill
The Principal Clerk of Bills, briefed the Committee on the 4 groups of amendments relating to Libraries Bill, which will be moved at the Consideration Stage of the Bill.
Agreed - the Committee agreed to the amendments as set out in the Department’s letter of 23 January 2008 and to the four groups of amendments proposed by the Principal Clerk.
10. Correspondence
The Committee noted the response from the Minister regarding Independent Libraries.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister on the update on the forensic audit report on events surrounding the Northern Ireland Events Company.
The Committee noted the response from Edgar Jardine, Deputy Secretary, DCAL on the research into the social and economic value of the Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland (VALCAL).
Agreed - the Committee agreed that a request should be made to Research Service to review the report which has been forwarded to the Committee.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment concerning the Innovation Strategic Action Plan.
11. Any other business
The Committee were advised that the Minister will be in attendance at the meeting on 31 January 2008 at 10.30 a.m. to discuss the Irish Language and Ulster Scots Language, heritage and culture Strategy.
12. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture Arts and Leisure will be held on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 10.00 a.m. in Room 152, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.04 p.m.