COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
THURSDAY 10 APRIL 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
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: Mrs Linda Gregg (Clerk)
Mrs Elaine Farrell (Assistant Clerk)
Miss Mairéad Higgins (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Angela Aboagye (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened at 10.33 a.m. in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as detailed above.
Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 10.34 a.m.
2. Draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2008 were agreed.
Mr Robinson wished to record his disappointment regarding the non attendance of the three sporting bodies to the Committee meeting on 3 April 2008 to discuss the proposed multi-sports stadium.
3. Matters arising
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Draft Public Authorities Bill.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that they were content with the scope and proposals contained in the draft Bill.
4. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 2 April 2008 from W5 on its increased performance figures for the year.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to write to W5 to congratulate it on its success.
The Committee noted correspondence dated 3 April 2008 from the Western Education and Library Board inviting the Committee to visit Derry Central Library.
Agreed – The Committee agreed to accept the invitation to visit Derry Central Library.
Mr McNarry joined the meeting at 10.42 a.m.
Mr Brolly joined the meeting at 10.42 a.m.
Mr McCausland joined the metting at 10.43 a.m.
5. Briefing from the Ulster Angling Federation
The following representatives from the Ulster Angling Federation joined the meeting:
Mr Robbie Marshall (Development Officer)
Mr Alan Kilgore (Company Secretary)
Mr Alan Kirkpatrick (Director)
The representatives briefed the Committee on the Ulster Angling Federation. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.22 a.m.
6. Briefing from the National Museums Northern Ireland
The following representatives from National Museums Northern Ireland joined the meeting:
Mr Tim Cooke (Chief Executive)
Ms Amanda Lilley (Director of Finance and Planning)
Mr John Gilmour (Director of Development)
Mr Brolly left the meeting at 11.30 a.m.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 11.33 a.m.
Mr Brolly returned to the meeting at 11.34 a.m.
Mr Shannon returned to the meeting at 11.39 a.m.
Mr McCartney left the meeting at 11.49 a.m.
Mr McCartney returned to the meeting at 11.52 a.m.
The representatives briefed the Committee on the National Museums Northern Ireland. This was followed by a question and answer session.
National Museums Northern Ireland agreed to forward further information as requested by the Committee.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 12.18 p.m.
Mr McNarry returned the meeting at 12.30 p.m.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to add the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum to the Forward Work Programme for a future visit.
7. Update from DCAL on funding concerns relating to the Armagh Observatory
The following Departmental officials joined the meeting:
Mr Colin Watson (Head of Museums Branch)
Ms Alison McQueen (Acting Head of Sport, Museums and Recreation)
The officials updated the Committee on issues relating to the funding concerns of the Armagh Observatory.
Agreed – the Committee requested that the paper prepared by the Armagh Observatory on budgetary options, is forwarded to the Committee.
8. Consideration of draft response to the “Salmon and Inland Fisheries Stakeholder Forum Consultation”
The Committee considered the draft response to the “Salmon and Inland Fisheries Stakeholder Forum Consultation”.
Agreed – the Committee agreed a number of amendments to the draft response.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that an extract from the Hansard transcription of today’s Committee meeting relating to the Ulster Angling Federation should be sent to the Department as part of the Committee’s response.
9. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that there should be Hansard coverage for the presentations by NI Music Rights Society, the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that Committee Office staff should organise publicity for the NI Karate-Do Wado Kai demonstration in May 2008.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to hold a Committee meeting in the Millennium Forum on 22 May 2008 followed by visits to other arts projects in the area.
10. Correspondence
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 1 April 2008 from the Minister on the Community Festival Fund.
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 31 March 2008 from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland following its meeting with Equity.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to seek an update from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland when it attends the Committee meeting on 17 April 2008.
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 30 January 2008 from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Integrated Development Fund.
The Committee noted the correspondence dated March 2008 from the Minister on issues raised following the outcome of the February monitoring.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that the OFCOM annual plan for 2008/09 has been received.
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 8 April 2008 from the Minister on the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety on a proposed Statutory Rule – The Care Tribunal (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Mr McCartney left the meeting at 1.04 p.m.
11. Any other business
There was no other business
12. Date and time of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 17 April 2008 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 152.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.11 p.m.