COMMITTEE FOR CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2002 AT 10:30AM, AT COLBY HOUSE, HEADQUARTERS OF ORDNANCE SURVEY NORTHERN IRELAND

Present:
Mr J Kelly (Deputy Chairperson)
Dr I Adamson
Mr D Hilditch
Mr K McCarthy
Mr M Murphy
Mr J Shannon
Mr J Wilson

Apologies:
Mr E ONeill (Chairperson)
Mr I Davis

In attendance:
Ms L Gordon (Clerk)
Mrs L Gregg (Assistant Clerk)
Ms M Higgins (Administrative Support)
Ms H Graham (Administrative Support)

In attendance to brief the Committee on the work of Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland: - OSNI officials - Mr Mick Corey, Chief Executive, Mr Stan Brown, Business Development Director, Mr Gareth McGrath, Consultant on the Pointer Project, Mr Trevor Steenson, Director of Operations and Technical Strategy; and, Mr Craig Mitchell, Record Engineer, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), Mrs Tanya Wishart, Asset Manager, NIE and Mr Tim Stevens, Engineering Support Supervisor, Phoenix Gas.

The Deputy Chairperson opened the meeting, in public, at 10:30am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. Members agreed that additional meetings to consider the draft budget 2003-04, in closed session, would be held on Tuesday 1 October 2002 and Tuesday 15 October 2002 in room 144.

1.2. Members noted that Foras na Gaeilge would be attending the meeting on Thursday 3 October 2002 to make a presentation on the work of their organisation.

1.3. Members also noted the visit to Londonderry on Thursday 10 October 2002.

1.4. The Committee noted the Minister's letter of 23 September 2002 providing an update on progress on the ADSEA sea trout project on Strangford Lough and agreed to revisit this issue at a future meeting.

1.5. The Clerk advised the Committee that the Minister was considering his response to the Committee on the editorial which appeared recently in 'Angling Ireland'.

1.6. The Committee noted the Minister's letter of 24 September 2002, in which he advised that, as an interim measure, until agreement is reached between the Fisheries Conservancy Board and authorities in the Republic of Ireland on a common conservation policy for Lough Melvin, the Board proposed to amend the current Byelaws to bring the Northern Ireland restrictions into line with those applying in the Republic of Ireland.

2. Minutes of the meeting on 12 September 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings of the meeting on 12 September 2002 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para 9.1. The Committee was advised that a response from the Sports Council for Northern Ireland on the draft Strategic Plan for 2 and 4 Wheeled Motor Sport 2002-2007 was expected next week.

4. SR 274/2002 - Fisheries (Amendment No 2) Byelaws (NI) 2002

4.1. The Committee formally considered the Statutory Rule and agreed that, subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, which was not expected to raise any issues of concern, that it was content with the proposals.

The question was put and agreed.

'Subject to the report from the Examiner of Statutory Rules, the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure has considered the Fisheries (Amendment No 2) Byelaws (NI) 2002 (SR 274/2002) and has no objections to the Rule'.

5. Appointment of FCB Chairman

5.1. The Committee noted the Minister's letter of 18 September 2002 about the appointment of a new Chairman to the Fisheries Conservancy Board.

Mr Shannon attended the meeting at 10:40am.

6. EHS consultation document on discharge consents

6.1. The Clerk advised the Committee about the background to the consultation document. The Committee noted that it was not proposed to levy an annual charge on householders who have a septic tank or treatment plant serving a single domestic dwelling at present. It was agreed that such charges would be unfair in cases where there would be no alternative to a septic tank and that, where appropriate, as many domestic dwellings as possible should be connected to the main sewerage infrastructure.

6.2. The Committee agreed a response to the Department of the Environment.

7. Press release on visit to OSNI

7.1. The Committee agreed a press release about the visit to Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland.

8. Paper on River Basin Planning by Dr Kevin Pelan

8.1. The Committee noted Dr Pelan's paper on River Basin Planning which was forwarded for information and agreed to the paper being published on the Assembly Intranet and also to receive a presentation from Dr Pelan at a future meeting.

9. All-Ireland Football Final

9.1. The Clerk advised members that, following the success of the Derry and Armagh Gaelic Football teams, the Minister would host a reception to which the Committee would be invited. Mr Murphy proposed, and it was seconded by Mr McCarthy, that letters of congratulations should be sent to both teams.

9.2. Mr McCarthy proposed and the Committee agreed to send a letter of congratulations to Dermott Lennon to mark his recent show-jumping achievement at the World Championships in Spain.

10. Any other business

10.1. Mr Wilson circulated documentation to members which he had received from Mr Paul Murphy about Mr Murphy's participation in the Eco-Challenge to be held in Fiji in October 2002. It was agreed that members would consider and discuss at a future meeting.

11. Date of next meeting

11.1. The Committee will meet at 11:30am, in room 144, with Departmental officials on Tuesday 1 October 2002 to discuss the draft budget.

11.2. The Committee will meet again at 10:15am on Thursday 3 October 2002 in room 152.

12. Presentation on the work of OSNI

12.1. OSNI officials provided an overview of the work and product range of Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland and the Committee saw at first hand 3D Mapping and Satellite Positioning Systems.

Mr Shannon left the meeting at 11:49am.

Mr Wilson left the meeting at 11:50am.

12.2. Mr Gareth McGrath, the PricewaterhouseCoopers' consultant working on the Pointer project - Common Address File, provided an overview of the project, detailed the problems faced by organisations and individuals using the current system and emphasised the associated benefits to government and others, which the project will provide. He highlighted the Committee's report on Cultural Tourism and the Arts, which drew attention to the need to preserve 'Townlands', and the Assembly motion on the subject.

12.3. Mr Corey outlined the draft strategy for Geographic Information which will be the subject of future consultation.

12.4. Mr Mitchell and Mrs Wishart, NIE, and Mr Stevens, Phoenix Gas demonstrated how the OSNI Mapbase is used in their respective organisations.

12.5. Officials answered questions raised and OSNI staff provided displays and demonstrations.

The Deputy Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 1pm.

J Kelly
Deputy Chairperson