Minutes of Proceedings

The Chairperson opened the meeting, in private session, at 11:45am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in private session.

1.2. Members agreed a letter to Father Kennedy of the Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative in response to his recent letter about Lough Neagh's eel population.

1.3. Members noted the Minister's letter of 28 February 2002, acknowledging receipt of the Committee's contribution to the Soccer Strategy Report.

1.4. Members noted the Minister's letter of 1 March 2002, in response to concerns raised by the Committee, about the application of conservation measures to Lough Melvin, contained in the Fisheries (Amendment) Byelaws (NI) 2002. Members also noted that a meeting with the Northern Regional Fisheries Board would take place shortly to discuss the possibility of common measures for the Lough.

1.5. Members noted the Fisheries Conservancy Board's letter of 1 March 2002 in response to the Committee's letter of 28 February 2002 about the fish pass at Carnroe Weir and the introduction of freshets on the Lower River Bann.

Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 11:48am.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 28 February 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings of 28 February 2002 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. There were no matters arising.

4. Press release

4.1. The Committee agreed the issue of a Press release about the visit by the Joint Committee for Tourism, Sport and Recreation of the Oireachtas to Parliament Buildings on Thursday, 7 March 2002.

5. Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - draft report

5.1. The Committee completed its initial scrutiny of the draft report, prepared by the Specialist Advisor and agreed that the Clerk would redraft identified areas.

6. Any other business

6.1. Members welcomed Louise McCarron to the Committee office and thanked David McCabe for his valued contribution to Committee office work.

7. Date of next meeting

7.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 2:30pm on Thursday 7 March 2002, in the Long Gallery, following lunch with the Joint Committee for Tourism, Sport and Recreation of the Oireachtas, at 12:30pm in the Members' Dining Room.

The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 12:23pm.

E ONeill
Chairpeson