COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2009
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
Present :
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Mr Francie Brolly MLA
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Apologies:
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
In attendance:
Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mrs Vivien Ireland (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jonathan Lamont (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Christopher Nickle (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 1.05 p.m.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Draft Minutes of 15 October 2009
Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2009 were agreed.
3 . Matters Arising
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the television licence fee income.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister regarding the length of closure proposed for the Public Record Office Northern Ireland.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence from the Minister to the Society of Genealogists and to John McAllister MLA.
1.10 p.m. Mr McNarry joined the meeting.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister regarding the Departmental budget.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to seek clarification on what bids and reduced requirements are currently being considered by the Executive in relation to the DCAL budget for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to seek clarity on a media report which stated that £110 million has been set aside by the Executive for stadia development. It was also agreed to obtain a transcript from Ulster Television of the interview held on Wednesday 21 October 2009 with the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure on this subject.
The Committee noted the letter received from the Ulster Scots Agency regarding the status of its language, publication and community relations strategies.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Ulster Scots Agency to obtain further details on the strategies.
The Chairperson reminded the Committee that at the meeting on 15 October 2009 a member raised a query relating to the rating of listed buildings. The Committee noted the response from the Assembly Research and Library Services.
1.25 p.m. Mr McCartney joined the meeting.
4. Briefing from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), DCAL and Sport NI on sports law and spectator safety consultation
The following witnesses joined the meeting:
Gareth Johnston – Deputy Director and Head of Criminal Justice
Policy Division, NIO
Tom Haire – Head of Criminal Law Branch, NIO
Ciaran Mee – Senior Sports Development Officer, DCAL
Paul Scott – Sport NI
The Committee took evidence from officials which was followed by a question and answer session. The session was recorded by Hansard.
Lord Brownedeclared an interest as a member of Linfield Football Club.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a summary of the responses to the consultation from the NIO and for a copy of the draft legislation when it is available.
2.15 p.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
2.25 p.m. Mr McNarry returned to the meeting.
5. Discussion with Departmental officials regarding indigenous language strategy
The Committee noted a written submission from DCAL and further information from Republic of Ireland government officials following the meeting of 24 September 2009.
The following witnesses joined the meeting:
Arthur Scott – Director of Culture, DCAL
Donal Moran – Head of Languages Branch, DCAL
Kevin Hamill – DCAL Official
The Committee took evidence from departmental officials which was followed by a question and answer session. The session was recorded by Hansard.
3.00 p.m. Mr McNarry left the meeting.
6. Discussion on possibility of Committee Townland Names Bill
The Committee considered a briefing paper from the Clerk on the process, workload and timescales involved with a Committee Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Committee for the Environment and the Committee for Finance and Personnel to ascertain their views on the possibility of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee bringing forward such a Bill.
7. Correspondence
The Committee noted correspondence received from Ofcom regarding the extension of their Broadcasting Code review and the research report on Local and Regional media.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Ofcom for further information on the Programme for Promotion of Digital Participation.
The Committee noted correspondence from the DFP Committee relating to reporting systems for PSA targets.
The Committee noted the Executive’s response to the European Action Plan.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to add consideration of DCAL’s engagement on European issues to its forward work programme.
The Committee noted correspondence from NILGA seeking information on the committee’s work programme and agreed that the Clerk should reply on its behalf.
The Committee noted correspondence from B9 Energy Offshore.
The Committee noted two newspaper articles forwarded by the Arts Council.
The Committee noted that the Community Relations Council’s journal ‘Shared Space’ is available in the committee office.
8. Chairperson’s business
The Chair advised that he had attended an informal meeting with the Chair and Chief Executive of the Odyssey on Wednesday 21 October 2009.
The Chair advised that he would be attending a seminar on issues affecting ethnic minority communities, in the Strule Arts Centre Omagh on Friday 23 October 2009.
The committee moved into closed session at 3.13 p.m.
9. Inquiry into the funding of the arts in Northern Ireland
The Committee considered its draft report and made a number of amendments to Chapter 1.
The Chairperson advised that the revised draft report will be presented at the meeting of 5 November 2009.
3.17 p.m. Mr PJ Bradley left the meeting.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to host a musical event in the Long Gallery to mark the launch of the report.
10. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister on the Digital Economy Bill and the Video Recordings Bill.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to request a presentation from DCAL officials on this issue on 12 November 2009.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite S.H.I.P. and HMS Caroline to make presentations on 19 November 2009.
11. Any other business
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Ofcom to seek advice regarding direct debit payments being taken by Sentanta Sports.
12. Date and time of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 5 November 2009 at 10.30am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 3.31 p.m.