COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
THURSDAY 17 APRIL 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 Pat Ramsey MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Mr Jim Shannon MLA
Apologies: Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney 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 10.37 a.m. in public session
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Apologies
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
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Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 10 April 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 10 April 2008 were agreed.
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Matters arising
The Committee discussed the ongoing correspondence with the Minister on the development of a Museums Policy.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to seek an update from the Minister on the formulation of a Museums Policy when he attends the Committee meeting on 29 April 2008.
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Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson advised the Committee that an invitation had been received from Save the Children to attend an event on 21 April 2008 on the 2007 “Young Life and Times” Survey.
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Presentation from the Northern Ireland Music Rights Society
The following representatives from the Northern Ireland Music Rights Society (NIMRS) joined the meeting:
Mr Richard Abbott (Songwriter/Music Publisher and Founder/Chair of NIMRS)
Mr Hugh Duffy (Accountant and Advisor to NIMRS)
Mr Brian Speers (Solicitor and Advisor to NIMRS)
Mr Brian Kennedy (Songwriter/Artist and Member of NIMRS)The representatives briefed the Committee on the Northern Ireland Music Rights Society. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to table issues raised by the NIMRS with the Minister when he attends the Committee meeting on 29 April 2008.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to request Research and Library Service to conduct research into songwriter royalties and to include an analysis of the potential revenue which could be gained and an estimation of membership numbers should a royalty collection agency be set up in Northern Ireland.
Mr Brolly left the meeting at 11.48 a.m.
Mr McNarry left the meeting at 11.48 a.m.
Mr McCausland left the meeting at 11.48 a.m.
Mr Robinson joined the meeting at 11.49 a.m.
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Presentation from the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals
The following representatives from the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals joined the meeting:
Mr Paddy Ormonde (Vice Chairperson)
Mr Richard Mills (Castlereagh Festival)The representatives briefed the Committee on the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals (AUDF). This was followed by a question and answer session.
Mr McCausland rejoined the meeting at 11.53 a.m.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to discuss issues raised by the AUDF with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland when it briefed the Committee later in the meeting.
Mr McNarry rejoined the meeting at 12.21 p.m.
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Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that there should be Hansard coverage for the presentations by Blackwater Regional Partnership and the Public Records Office Northern Ireland.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that a Committee meeting has been organised in the Millennium Forum for 22 May 2008, followed by a visit to the Playhouse Theatre, Derry City Library and the Greater Shantallow Arts Project.
Agreed – Committee Members agreed to contact Committee Office staff to advise of their availability to attend the meeting on 22 May 2008 and to indicate travelling arrangements.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that a US/NI Investment Conference is taking place on 7-9 May 2008 in Belfast and Members will be invited to attend.
Agreed – the Committee agreed that the Committee meeting on 8 May 2008 should go ahead as per the Forward Work Programme.
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Correspondence
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 7 April 2008 from the Committee for Finance and Personnel on departmental submissions to statutory committees on quarterly monitoring rounds, which included a template to improve the monitoring round information
Agreed – the Committee had no comments to make on the proposed template.
The Committee noted the correspondence dated April 2008 from the Minister on the update on the Northern Ireland Events Company.
The Committee noted the correspondence dated 10 April 2008 from the Minister on Confirmation of Budget Figures for Children and Young People.
The Committee noted the email dated 14 April 2008 from OFCOM on the second Public Service Broadcasting Review – Northern Ireland Scenarios.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to receive a presentation from OFCOM prior to responding to the consultation.
The Chairperson advised the Committee that a copy of the Business Plan 2008-09 for the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland has been received in the Committee Office.
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Any other business
The Chairperson advised the Committee that Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chair of Sport NI has retired.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to write to Professor Saunders to wish him well in his retirement.
Mr Ramsey left the meeting at 12.24 p.m.
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Date and time of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 24 April 2008 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 152.
The Chairperson suspended the meeting at 12.30 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 1.33 p.m. in public session
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Discussion with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The following representatives of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland joined the meeting:
Ms Roisin McDonough (Chief Executive)
Ms Noírín McKinney (Director of Arts Development)
Ms Gilly Campbell (Drama and Dance Officer)The representatives briefed the Committee on the review of drama and the development of a National Theatre of Northern Ireland. The representatives also provided an update following the meeting with Mr Drew McFarlane, Northern Ireland Secretary of Equity on the development of the Northern Ireland Theatre Initiative.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 2.46 p.m.
Agreed – the Committee agreed to request a presentation from the Northern Ireland Theatre Association.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 2.58 p.m.