Minutes of Proceedings

1. Opening remarks from the Chairman

The Chairperson welcomed members to the first meeting of the Committee. He said he had read the briefing material provided by the Department and believed there were a number of important issues for the Committee to examine over the forthcoming months.

2. Declaration of interests

The Chairperson reported that all the members of the Committee had declared their interests in accordance with paragraph 48 of the "Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members". Each of the members' interests was circulated to the other members of the Committee. Some additional interests were reported by members - Mr J Shannon - member of Ards Borough Council; Ms M Nelis - member of Derry City Council; Mr I Davis - member of Lisburn Borough Council; and Mr I Adamson - member of Belfast City Council, Chairman of the Ulster/Scots Language Society, and the Somme Association.

3. Draft press release

The members suggested that the draft press release should be amended to include issues which might be considered by the Committee in its future programme of work.

4. Draft work programme

i. The members agreed that the Permanent Secretary and senior officials from the Department and the Chief Executives of Ordnance Survey (NI) and Public Records Office (NI) should be invited to the next meeting of the Committee. It was agreed that they should address the Committee as a group rather than individually.

ii. The Committee Clerk reported that a Statutory Rule was in the process of being sent to the Committee by the Department and would need to be dealt with urgently by the Committee. It was agreed that the Statutory Rule could be considered at next week's meeting. The members requested a written explanation setting out the different procedures for this particular type of rule (negative resolution). They also requested more background information on the proposals contained in the rule.

iii. The members discussed the briefing material provided by the Department. They agreed that there was an extensive range of important issues to be examined. Issues which might be considered by the Committee over the forthcoming months include language promotion, salmon fishing, and sport and leisure.

5. Handling of subordinate legislation

The members agreed that - the Examiner of Statutory Rules should be asked to examine the technical aspects of a statutory rule and report his findings to the Committee; the Committee should consider the merits of any such rule; and the Committee should then report to the Assembly.

6. Language Promotion

The Chairperson advised that he considered language promotion to be an important issue for the Committee. He reported that he had received some information from the Department on the progress that had been made on language promotion since the signing of the Belfast Agreement (this information will be circulated to the other members of the Committee). It was agreed that some additional information should be obtained from the Department, in particular with regard to the funding of Irish Language and Ulster Scots groups. It was also suggested that it may be useful to invite some experts on languages to address the Committee at a future meeting.

7. Any other business

i. Football Trust - the members requested more information from the Department about the money allocated by the Government for upgrading sports grounds following the Taylor Report on the Hillsborough disaster.

ii. Salmon fishing - the Chairperson circulated a letter he had received from the North Atlantic Salmon Fund. It was agreed that the Committee should remain open to a range of views on this issue.

iii. Carrowdore 100 - Members requested information from the Department on whether any assistance was available to the Motor Cycle Club to help meet the cost of road improvements following the introduction of new regulations by the Motor Cycle Union.

iv. The members also requested information from the Department on "Cinemagic" and on shooting season regulations.

8. Date of next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee will be on Thursday 16 December at 9.30am in Room 152 Parliament Buildings.

Mr E O'Neill
(Chairperson)