Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for a presentation at 10:30am on the work of the organisation: Northern Ireland Events Company - Mr Ronnie Spence, Chairman, Mr John Walker, Chief Executive and Ms Janice McAleese, Company Secretary.

The meeting opened, in public, at 10:25am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1 The Committee noted the very encouraging reply from the Department and its enthusiasm to become involved in the proposed seminar with the French Ministry of Culture. It also noted that the Education Committee had responded advising that the Chairperson would be happy to participate.

1.2 Members agreed to meet with representatives of the Library Association to receive a presentation on the document: Libraries: A Service for Life.

1.3 Members noted the letter from the Minister advising the Committee about how the Department plans to deal with the bids that were not met in the September Monitoring Round and also noted how successful the Department had been in the second round of the Executive Programme Funds, having secured funding for three of its four bids.

1.4 Members noted the Minister's response to the Committee's queries on the openness of the meetings of the Arts Council and Museums and Galleries Northern Ireland.

1.5 The Chairperson reminded members of the need to switch off mobile telephones completely during Hansard recordings of proceedings.

Mr Agnew joined the meeting at 10:35am.

2. Presentation from the Northern Ireland Events Company

2.1 The Northern Ireland Events Company gave a presentation on the work of the organisation. This was followed by a question and answer session.

Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 10:55am.

2.2 It was agreed that the Events Company would meet with the Committee towards the end of January 2002 and again when the Company's Annual Report was published.

3. Minutes of the meeting of 29 November 2001

3.1 Minutes of the meeting were agreed.

4. Matters arising

4.1 Para 1.2: Members were advised that the Motorsports Working Group were unable to meet with the Committee today. The meeting will be rescheduled and the issue of irresponsible quad and scrambler use will be raised at that meeting.

5. Examiner of Statutory Rules Report on SR 397/2001 - The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licencing of Fishing Engines) Regulations 2001

5.1 The Committee, having examined the regulations in draft on 25 October 2001, formally considered the Rule.

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure has considered the Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licencing of Fishing Engines) Regulations 2001 (SR 397/2001) and has no objection to the Rule.

6. Visit to Scotland 12 - 13 December 2001

6.1 The Committee agreed to forgo a meeting with the Scottish Committee due to the importance of visiting the full range of grounds proposed in the programme.

6.2 The Committee approved a press release about the visit, which will be issued next week.

7. Visit by Central and Western Regional Fisheries Boards

7.1 Members noted that the Committee Office were working on a revised programme which would include visits to the Loughs Agency and Sion Mills and that letters would issue soon to all those organisations which were scheduled to be involved.

8. Correspondence from Hillmount Properties Ltd

8.1 The Committee noted the most recent correspondence from Mr AD Fraser, Hillmount Properties Ltd about Section 7 of the Report on the Committee's Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland and discussed a response.

9. Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) - Consultation Document on Bill of Rights

9.1 The Committee discussed a response to Section 13, 'Language Rights', of the NIHRC Bill of Rights.

10. Any other business

10.1 The Committee welcomed the response from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) informing the Committee on measures that have been put in place since the escape of farmed salmon at Glenarm. It also welcomed DARD's commitment to undertake an electro-fishing operation before the next spawning period, to ensure that no escapees remain in the river.

10.2 The Committee agreed that the Report on Cultural Tourism and the Arts would include only written submissions from those who also gave oral evidence to the Committee. The remaining written submissions would be placed in the Assembly Library.

Mr Shannon left the meeting at 12:29pm.
Dr Adamson left the meeting at 12:29am.
Mr McCarthy left the meeting at 12:30pm.

10.3 Mr Wilson presented the paper he had commissioned from Research and Library Services on 'Administration of Angling in Northern Ireland - The Complexities' to the Committee, in advance of his meeting with the Ulster Angling Federation at Templepatrick, which the Committee Chairperson will also attend.

10.4 Members noted documentation about the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) Aquaculture Grant Scheme which is to be considered at the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee meeting on 7 December 2001. This scheme is to be administered jointly by DARD and DCAL. The Committee agreed to seek clarification on the Department's position on this issue.

11. Date of the next meeting

11.1 The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 10:15am on Thursday 10 January 2002 in Room 152.

The meeting closed at 12:43pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson