CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
TUESDAY 8 MAY 2001 AT 11:05AM,
IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mr E ONeill (Chairperson)
Mrs M Nelis (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr I Adamson
Mr D Hilditch
Mr E McMenamin
Mr J Wilson

Apologies:
Mr K McCarthy

In Attendance:
Ms L Gordon (Committee Clerk)
Mrs L Gregg (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Ms M Higgins (Administrative Support)

In attendance for a discussion on the Minister's comments during the debate on the Report of the Committee's Inquiry into Inland Fishing in Northern Ireland concerning the evidence published in the Report; the Department's written response to the Report into Inland Fishing in Northern Ireland; compliance with Foot and Mouth Disease precautions; and the Minister's announcement on 25 April that consultants had been appointed to carry out preliminary work on a Review of Community Arts provision:- Mr Michael McGimpsey MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Hazel Campbell, Inland Fisheries, Mr Gary O'Neill, Inland Fisheries, Mr David Houston, Inland Fisheries and Mr Mark Mawhinney, Arts.

The meeting opened, in private, at 11:05am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1 Members agreed that a letter would issue to the Department addressing the comments made by Mr Fraser, Hillmount Properties Limited in his communication to the Minister regarding the Committee's Report into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland. The letter would reflect, that whilst the Committee noted Mr Fraser's criticisms, the position was, that the Committee published all the evidence collected and based its recommendations on this broad body of information.

2. Discussion with the Minister and Departmental representatives at 11:07am

2.1 The Committee and the Minister discussed the issue of the Minister's remarks during the debate on the Report on Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland about the evidence that was published in the Report.

Mr Wilson joined the meeting at 11:10am
Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11:41am

2.2 The Committee, the Minister and the Departmental delegation had a detailed discussion regarding the Department's written response to the Report on Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland. It was agreed that the Department would provide the Committee with a detailed action plan setting out its proposals for taking forward the implementation of the Report's recommendations.

2.3 The Minister and the Departmental delegation answered questions concerning the use of disinfectant to curtail the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease and its possible effects on the quality of water in loughs and rivers in Northern Ireland.

2.4 The Committee questioned the Minister and the Departmental delegation regarding the Department's forthcoming Review of Community Arts provision and, in particular, how it would align with the Committee's Inquiry into Cultural Tourism and the Arts. The Minister undertook to keep the Committee informed of any future reviews being planned by the Department.

3. Presentation on the Social Economy

3.1 The following members confirmed that they would be attending the presentation on the Social Economy in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 15 May 2001, Dr Adamson, Mr McMenamin, Mrs Nelis and Mr ONeill.

4. European Cities visit

4.1 The following members indicated their availability to visit Paris and Barcelona commencing 25 June 2001, Dr Adamson, Mr McMenamin, Mrs Nelis, and Mr ONeill.

Mr Hilditch rejoined the meeting at 12:08pm.

5. Date of the next meeting

5.1 The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 10 May 2001 at 10:15am in Room 152.

The meeting ended at 12:10pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson

3 May 2001 / Menu / 10 May 2001