Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for public evidence session at 10:30am: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Environment and Heritage Service, DOE - Mr Nick Brannon, Head of Built Heritage in EHS, Dr Chris Lynn, Assistant Director (EHS) Protecting Historic Monuments.

In attendance for public evidence session at 11:20am: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Centre for Migration Studies, Ulster American Folk Park - Dr Brian Lambkin, Director.

In attendance for public evidence session at 12:00noon: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Glass Ceiling Theatreworks - Ms Janice Kennedy, Company Manager.

The meeting opened, in public, at 10:45am

1. Chairperson's business

1.1 The Chairperson reported to members that the Department had advised that the meeting of the North South Ministerial Body on languages, scheduled to take place on Friday 18 May 2001, had been cancelled due to its proximity to the elections and that it will be rescheduled in due course.

1.2 The Chairperson thanked members for their contributions to the Soccer Strategy debate. Members agreed that the Committee would ask the Department to consult with it in advance of the release of the draft Strategy document for public consultation.

1.3 The Chairperson referred members to a letter from the Chair of the Committee for Finance and Personnel concerning the new format of estimates and budgetary process. Members agreed to send any comments to the Committee Office by Thursday 24 May 2001.

Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 10:46am.

1.3 The Chairperson referred members to a letter from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in which the Minister agreed that the Rivers Agency would be represented at the proposed meeting between Bann System Ltd and the Ulster Angling Federation to discuss the wider issues of fish migration. The Agency would provide input to the meeting on the implications of the Inland Fisheries report on flow management on the Lower Bann and Lough Neagh system.

1.4 The Chairperson referred members to a letter from the Minister of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in which he advised the Committee of the disappointing news regarding the closure of the Navan Centre in Armagh. Members agreed that the Committee would write to the Department expressing the Committee's disappointment and offering support.

Mr Davis joined the meeting at 10:54am.

2. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Environment and Heritage Service, DOE

2.1 The Environment and Heritage Service, Department of the Environment gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

Mr McElduff left the meeting at 11:21am.

3. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Centre for Migration Studies, Ulster American Folk Park

3.1 The Centre for Migration Studies, Ulster American Folk Park gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

4. Minutes of meeting of 17 May 2001

4.1 Minutes of the meeting of 17 May 2001 were agreed.

5. Matters arising

5.1 There were no matters arising.

6. SR 158/2001 Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Angling) Regulations 2001

SR 159/2001 Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Tagging and Logbook) Regulations 2001

SR 160/2001 Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Close Seasons for Angling) Regulations 2001

6.1 The Committee indicated at an earlier meeting that it was content with the proposal for the Statutory Rules. The Examiner for Statutory Rules had no comments to make, therefore the Committee could complete its scrutiny by approving the Rules. The resolution proposed by Mr McMenamin and seconded by Mr Hilditch was that:- "The Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee has considered the Foyle Area and Carlingford (Angling) Regulations 2001 (SR 158/2001); the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Tagging and Logbook) Regulations 2001 (SR 159/2001); and the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Close Seasons for Angling) Regulations 2001 (SR 160/2001) and has no objection to the Rules."

Dr Adamson joined the meeting at 12:00noon.

Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 12:02pm.

7. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - Glass Ceiling Theatreworks

7.1 The Glass Ceiling Theatreworks gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

8. Date of the next meeting

8.1 The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday 24 May 2001 at 10:15am in Room 152.

The meeting closed at 12:35pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson