CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 7 September 2000 at 10.15am
in the Senate Chamber Parliament Buildings
1. Apologies
2. Chairperson's business
3. Minutes of last meeting
4. Matters arising
5. Road Safety at Motor Bike Races
6. Public Evidence Session - Ballinderry River Enhancement Association
7. Public Evidence Session - Sion Mills Angling Club
8. Any other business
9. Date of next meeting
Present: Mr E ONeill (Chairperson)
Ms M Nelis (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr I Adamson
Mr I Davis
Mr D Hilditch
Mr K McCarthy
Mr B McElduff
Mr E McMenamin
Mr J Shannon
Mr J Wilson
In attendance: Mrs C White, Mrs L Gregg
Mr J McCourt, Mr J Nesbitt
Ms M Higgins
In attendance for public evidence session at 2:00pm: Ballinderry River Enhancement Association - Mr A Keys and Mr L Cassidy
In attendance for public evidence session at 3.00pm: Sionmills Angling Club - Mr M Patton, Mr E McCrea and Mrs S McCrea
The meeting opened, in private, at 10.23am
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mr F Agnew.
TOP2. Chairperson's business
- The Chairperson reminded members of the rules on the use of the Senate Chamber.
- The Chairperson sought comments from members on Statutory Rule 2000 No.248 -Foyle Area ( Rivers Finn and Foyle Angling Permits ) Regulations 2000 to forward to the DARD Committee. The members considered that the Statutory Rule should be scrutinised by this Committee and not DARD as the Rule concerns inland fishing.
- The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson will accept the invitation from the British Council in Dublin to the concert to be given by the Ulster Orchestra on 7 October.
- The Chairperson asked members to provide comments on the Fisheries Amendment Bill by next Thursday.
Agreed - that the Chairperson will write to the Business Committee seeking clarification.
3. Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were agreed.
TOP4. Matters arising
- The Chairperson asked the Committee Clerk to provide an updated list of all diary dates to include confirmed and non-confirmed arrangements.
- The members were advised that the environmental expert, Dr Martin O'Grady from the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) in Dublin, will give a presentation to members during the visit to the CFB, which is being rearranged. The 21 September is no longer a convenient date for the CFB.
- Agreed - that the Committee will visit Galway to look at best practice in the management of fisheries and lakes over the period Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 October.
- The Committee was advised that where they want to call up other Departments or their Agencies to give oral evidence, the Chairperson will write to the Chairperson of the relevant Committee requesting permission to invite other Departments or their Agencies to give oral evidence. The Committee Clerk of the relevant Committee will in turn notify the Department.
- The visit to the Inland Waterways on 29 September was discussed and final numbers of those going will be confirmed later.
- The Chairperson raised the issue of the request by Mr Bryan Johnston, who made submission to the Inland Fishing Inquiry, to give oral evidence to the Committee. Mr Johnston did not feature in the original choice by the Committee to give evidence. The Chairperson is aware that Mr Johnston has an ongoing dispute with the Department over fishing rights. The Chairperson requested an update on the position with the Department before a response is given.
5. Road Safety at Motor Bike Races
Agreed - after lengthy discussion that the Committee will await the outcome of the findings of the Task Force set up by the Minister.
Agreed - that the Chairperson will issue a Press Statement.
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11:45.
Private session ended at 11:49.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 11:49.
Public session commenced at 2:10pm
Mr McMenamin and Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 2:10pm.
TOP6. Public evidence session - Ballinderry River Enhancement Association
The Ballinderry River Enhancement Association gave oral evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Inland Fishing.
TOP7. Public evidence session - Sion Mills Angling Club
The Sion Mills Angling Club gave oral evidence, in public, to the Committee on its inquiry into Inland Fishing.
The public session ended at 4:05 and the Committee recommenced private session
TOP8. Any Other Business
Agreed - that the Committee seek to meet with journalists who are interested in covering Committee Business.
The Chairperson is unable to accept an invitation from the Golden Thread Arts Centre to launch their new programme on Friday 8 September.
Agreed - the draft Press Statement on Road Safety at Motor Bike Racing
TOP9. Date of next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 14 September at 10.15am in the Senate Chamber.
TOPThe meeting closed at 4:30pm
Mr E ONeill
(Chairperson)
6 July 2000 / Menu / 14 September 2000