COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 28 JANUARY 2010
ROOM 21, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, STORMONT
Present :
Mr Barry McElduff MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Dominic Bradley MLA
Mr PJ Bradley MLA
Lord Browne MLA
Mr Trevor Clarke MLA
Mr Billy Leonard MLA
Mr Kieran McCarthy MLA
Mr Raymond McCartney MLA
Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Mr Ken Robinson MLA
Apologies:
Mr David McNarry MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
In attendance: Dr Kathryn Bell (Clerk)
Mrs Elaine Farrell (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Jonathan Lamont (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Christopher Baird (Clerical Officer)
The meeting opened in public session at 10.34 a.m.
1. Apologies
The apologies are noted above.
2. Draft Minutes of 14 January 2010
Agreed : The draft minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2010 were agreed.
3. Matters arising
The Committee noted the Forecast Outturn from the Department for January 2010 to March 2010.
The Committee noted the response from the Department regarding the acknowledgement of major commemorations.
The Committee noted the response from the OFMDFM Committee regarding engagement in European issues.
10.35 a.m. Mr McCartney joined the meeting.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to consider European issues at a later date following receipt of the briefing paper by the Department.
The Committee noted the memo from the DFP Committee on post project evaluations (PPE).
Agreed : The Committee agreed to request an update from the Department on the outstanding PPEs for Lisburn Library, Ulster Council GAA and Soccer Strategy.
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Lough Neagh & Lower Bann Advisory Committees regarding funding issues.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ask it to clarify its position regarding future funding. The Committee also agreed to write to the Lough Neagh & Lower Bann Advisory Committees to advise them of this action.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Department to express its concern regarding the delay in responding to the Committee in relation to a number of issues.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources regarding online RTE video streaming.
The Committee noted the response from the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs regarding funding to Irish Language bodies funded by Foras na Gaeilge.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to write again to the Minister of Communications, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to seek clarification on whether the number of funded bodies is to be reduced.
The Committee noted the response from the Arts Council regarding best seller lists for books.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward the Arts Council response to Mr McAllister.
The Committee noted the response from the Department regarding the nominations for the annual sporting reception in Parliament Buildings on 28 January 2010.
10.47 a.m. Ms McIlveen joined the meeting .
4. Briefing from DCAL on the revised budget 2010/2011
The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
Mr Edgar Jardine, Deputy Secretary, DCAL
Ms Deborah Brown, Director of Finance and Corporate Services, DCAL
Mr Michael O’Dowd, Head of Finance, DCAL
The officials briefed the Committee on the revised budget proposals 2010/2011. This was followed by a question and answer session.
11.01 a.m. Mr PJ Bradley left the meeting.
11.08 a.m. Mr Clarke joined the meeting.
Agreed: The Departmental officials agreed to provide clarification to the Committee on a number of issues.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider a draft response to the Finance and Personnel Committee on the revised budget proposals 2010/2011 at its next meeting.
5. Briefing from DCAL on maritime issues
The following departmental officials joined the meeting:
Mr Paul Sweeney, Permanent Secretary, DCAL
Mr Brian Smart, Head of Museums Branch, DCAL
The officials briefed the Committee on maritime museum provision. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to engage with a number of stakeholders on maritime museum issues at a later date.
12.30 p.m. Lord Browne left the meeting.
6. Update on townland names
The Committee noted the correspondence from Dr Brian Turner regarding townland names.
The Committee noted the report of the meeting held on 19 January 2010 with the NI Place Name Project.
The Committee noted the response from the Big Lottery Fund regarding the availability of funding for the NI Place Name Project.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the NI Place Name Project to advise it to contact the Big Lottery Fund regarding funding.
The Committee noted the correspondence from Mr Kevin Murphy seeking Committee support in relation to the use of townland names in all GAA correspondence.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the GAA Ulster Council to ask it to endorse the use of townland names in correspondence.
7. Public Access to Art Work
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Arts Council regarding the display of art works in Parliament Buildings.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward the Arts Council correspondence and catalogue of works to the Assembly Commission.
The Committee noted the response from Cookstown Borough Council regarding art work.
8. Committee’s Inquiry into Participation in Sport and Physical Activity in NI
Agreed : The Committee agreed to host a stakeholder focus groups event on 25 March 2010 in Parliament Buildings as part of the evidence gathering process for the inquiry, and to provide lunch for the participants.
The Committee discussed various options regarding an event to launch the inquiry.
The Committee noted the Personal Heath & Fitness brochure forwarded by Damian Crowne.
9. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson advised the Committee that the NI Affairs Committee launched its report on Television Broadcasting in Northern Ireland on 26 January 2010.
The Committee noted the response from the Department regarding the private collection of artifacts held by Professor McCutcheon.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to Professor McCutcheon to advise him of the Department’s response.
10. Correspondence
The Committee noted the correspondence from NIPSA regarding the strategic review of libraries.
The Chairperson advised that Research Services will undertake a GIS analysis of the proposed library closures.
The Committee noted the correspondence from the Arts Council regarding the recommendations from the Committee inquiry into the funding of the arts in Northern Ireland.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to consider the Arts Council’s and the Department’s responses to the arts inquiry recommendations at its meeting on 11 February 2010.
The Committee noted the correspondence from Durnien Consultants regarding Central Procurement Directorate.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence to the Finance and Personnel Committee and to seek its comments on the matter.
The Committee noted the correspondence forwarded by the ETI Committee providing an update on the transfer of events-related functions from DCAL to NITB.
The Committee noted the correspondence from the NI Marine Task Force on future marine management options.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to seek his views on the position of the Department regarding this issue.
The Committee noted the request from the Community Relations Council to brief the Committee.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to add a briefing from the Community Relations Council to its Forward Work Programme.
The Committee noted the memo from the OFMDFM Committee regarding the Promoting Social Inclusion Working Group Report on Disability.
11. Forward Work Programme
The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to request Hansard coverage of the February monitoring round and of the briefing by NIPSA on the Libraries Review.
12. Any other business
Agreed : The Committee agreed to seek further information from the Shared History Interpretive Project regarding their proposals for a memorial.
Agreed : The Committee agreed to look into the possibility of hosting an event in the Long Gallery on 15 February 2010 to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
13. Date and time of the next meeting.
The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Thursday 4 February 2010 at 10.30 a.m. in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.55 p.m.