Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for a meeting at 10:30am to discuss issues relating to the Report on the Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland: Ms Hilary Heslip, Planning Service, Department of the Environment and Mr Clifford Henry, Environment and Heritage Service, Department of the Environment.

The Chairperson opened the meeting, in public session, at 10:20am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Chairperson reminded members that the meeting would be recorded, and asked them to ensure that mobile phones were completely switched off.

1.2. The Committee considered and agreed Mr Rab McConaghy's request for the Committee's authority to publish on the intranet background briefing papers prepared by him.

1.3. The Committee noted Lord Laird's response to its letter concerning the failure to invite a representative from the Committee to the Secretary of State's Burns Night and welcomed his undertaking to make a presentation to the Committee.

1.4. The Committee agreed that the Chairperson or another member would represent it at the Ulster Angling Federation's AGM on Thursday 21 February 2002 in the House of Sport, Upper Malone Road, Belfast.

1.5. The Committee agreed that the Clerk would liaise with the Department to draft a protocol which would address the issue of Non-Department Public Bodies failing to inform the Committee prior to making any announcement to the press.

1.6. The Committee agreed to accept the Department's offer of briefing on the Erne Salmon Management Programme Report and the Erne Eel Enhancement Programme Report.

1.7. The Committee noted the Department's response about the EPF Children's Fund bid and the safeguards that it intends to put in place.

1.8. The Committee agreed to make material available to Mr John Edmund on an 'in confidence' basis.

1.9. The Committee noted the letter of 30 January 2002 from Father Kennedy of Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative and agreed to issue a holding reply, pending liaison with the Department on issues relating to commercial fishermen on Lough Neagh.

1.10. The Committee noted the response from the Belfast Telegraph about the failure to invite a representative of the Committee to the Sports Star of the Year event.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 5 February 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Paragraph. 1.3 - The Committee agreed to thank the Department for the invitation to nominate representatives to attend the Geographical Information Conference at Lusty Beg Island from 20-22 February 2002 and to indicate that it would be interested in receiving feedback on the outcome of the conference.

Mr Shannon attended the meeting at 10:52am.

4. Inland Fisheries Report Follow-up

4.1. Ms Heslip and Mr Henry addressed areas of concern raised by members surrounding Recommendation 20 of the Inland Fisheries Report.

Mr ONeill left the meeting and Mrs Nelis assumed the chair at 11:43am.

Mr Kelly left the meeting at 11:49am.

5. Mr Henry addressed areas of concern raised by members surrounding Recommendation 24 of the Inland Fisheries Report.

5.1. SR 433/2001 Fisheries (Amendment) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2001

6. The Committee, having examined the regulations in draft on 8 November 2001, formally considered the rule.

Question put and agreed.

That the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure has considered Statutory Rule 433/2001 the Fisheries (Amendment) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2001 and no objections to the Rule.

6. SCNI - Safe Sports Grounds Programme

6.1. The Committee considered the documentation received from the Sports Council for Northern Ireland relating to their consultation paper on the Safe Sports Grounds programme. The Committee agreed to ask the Sports Council for a presentation on the responses to the paper in due course.

7. Millennium Forum Theatre and Conference Centre

7.1. The Committee considered the letter of 22 January 2002 from Mr Michael Poyner, Chief Executive of the Millenium Forum Theatre and Conference Centre in Londonderry, outlining the Forum's financial position to 31 March 2002. The Committee agreed to ask the Minister for his comments.

8. Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland

8.1. The Committee agreed the draft response to 'Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland' subject to an insertion of a sentence dealing with the issue of Sunday observance.

9. Letter from Stadia Management

9.1. The Committee considered a letter from Mr Kip Hewitt, the Northern Ireland Director of Stadia Management proposing a meeting with the Committee to outline how the company envisages becoming involved in the development of sports facilities in Northern Ireland, particularly soccer. The Committee agreed to meet with Stadia Management.

10. Any other business

10.1. The Committee discussed the issue of the rising costs of insurance for soccer clubs and how this could force some clubs to close. The cost of insurance could also have an effect on the proposed new soccer league structure. The Committee agreed to ask the Department for comments.

10.1. Mr Wilson sought an update on progress on the Ulster Canal project. The Clerk indicated that she had already contacted the Department on this matter.

11. Date of next meeting

11.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 10:15am on Thursday 14 February 2002 in Room 152.

The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 12:30am.

E ONeill
Chairperson