Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for a briefing session at 10:30am on a proposed Statutory Rule - Fisheries (Amendment No 2) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2001: Fisheries Conservancy Board - Ms Karen Simpson, Chief Executive, and Mr Brian Finn, Deputy Chief Executive.

In attendance for a question and answer session at 11:00am on the Programme for Government: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - Mr Michael McGimpsey, Minister, Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary, Dr Eddie Rooney, Head of Policy and Evaluation, and Mr Colin Watson, Central Management Unit.

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

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Committee agreed that it would suspend the meeting at 10:45am to allow members to attend the Service of Remembrance in the Senate Chamber.

1.2. The Committee recorded its congratulations to Dr Adamson on his appointment as Chairman of Belfast Civic Trust.

1.3. The Committee agreed to meet with DTZ Pieda to put forward the Committee's views on the review of the Fisheries Conservancy Board.

Mr Davis joined the meeting at 10:30am.

1.4. The Committee considered the draft work programme and agreed that the Committee office would investigate the possibility of a visit to Scottish football grounds and a meeting with their counterpart Scottish Committee during either week commencing 3 or 10 December 2001.

2. Fisheries (Amendment No 2) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2001

2.1. The Fisheries Conservancy Board briefed the Committee on the details of the provisions of these proposed regulations and answered members' questions. The Committeeagreed that it was content, in principle, with the content of the proposed regulations.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45am and resumed at 11:15am.

3. Chairperson's business

3.1. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister attaching the consultant's report on the review of the Planetarium and agreed to acknowledge the letter, confirming the Committee's continued interest and asking that it is kept up to date on developments.

4. Minutes of the meeting of 25 October 2001

4.1. Minutes of the meeting of 25 October 2001 were agreed.

5. Matters arising

5.1. There were no matters arising.

6. FCILC Licences and permits

6.1. The Committee welcomed the response received from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development about the proposed Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Bill which will provide the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission with a power to charge concessionary fees in respect of licences and permits. Members agreed to respond to the Minister citing the Committee's desire to see the new Bill coming forward as soon as possible to provide for the harmonising of licencing arrangements in the remit of the Loughs Agency and Fisheries Conservancy Board.

Mr Wilson joined the meeting at 11:26am.
Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 11:30am.

7. Draft Programme for Government

7.1. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure answered members' questions on the draft Programme for Government. The Department agreed to meet the Committee on 22 November 2001 to discuss targets and performance indicators for the Public Service Agreements set out in the draft Programme for Government.

Mr Wilson left the meeting at 12:04pm.
Mr Davis left the meeting at 12:05pm.
Mr McCarthy left the meeting at 12:33pm.

8. Audit and Accountability in the Public Sector in Northern Ireland - Consultation paper

8.1. The Committee agreed that, since this paper had no specific relevance to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, there was no need for the Committee to comment.

9. Any other business

9.1. The Committee office confirmed that no response had been received yet from the Sports Council on the issue of the use of quads and scramblers by young people.

10. Date of next meeting

10.1. The next meeting will take place at 10:15am on Thursday 15 November 2001 in Room 152.

The meeting closed at 12:40pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson