Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance at 11:00am to brief the Committee on the draft Position Report on the 2002/03 Budget: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary, Dr Eddie Rooney, Acting Deputy Secretary, and Mr Noel Redmond, Head of Finance.

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

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Deputy Chairperson reminded members that mobile phones should be completely turned off.

1.2. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the Committee for its good wishes following the serious injuries sustained by her husband as a result of a road traffic accident.

1.3. The Committee recorded its concern and sympathy to Mr McMenamin on the recent attack on his home and property.

1.4. The Committee considered the letter of 25 March 2002 from ADSEA and agreed to write to the Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development passing on ADSEA's invitation to join the Association on a fact-finding visit to Funen in Denmark. It was agreed that, if Departments are represented on the visit, it would be helpful to have a report. The Committee also agreed to seek a briefing from the Department on its views about the ADSEA Project, in particular the related legislative difficulties, and to seek advice from the Assembly Legal Advisors and Research Service.

1.5. Members noted the itinerary for the visit by the Central and Western Regional Fisheries Boards.

1.6. The Committee agreed to accept the Sports Council's offer of a presentation on its Strategy on Sport for Young People.

Dr Adamson attended the meeting at 10:38am.

1.7. The Committee noted that the Fisheries Conservancy Board had agreed to make the minutes of its meetings available on the Board's website, subject to a 'reserved agenda' of confidential matters concerning individuals.

1.8. The Committee agreed to send a letter of congratulation to the Musical Director of the Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra on the occasion of the Orchestra's winning the Radio 2 National Big Band Competition under 22 section.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 21 March 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings of 21 March 2002 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para 7.1. - Manna Developments Kilroot Proposal - The Fisheries Conservancy Board has confirmed that it has not been notified of any proposed development in the area of the Muttonburn Stream, which is a nursery tributary for brown trout but not a salmon river.

4. Meeting with the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation

4.1. Members were asked to consider the report of the meeting with the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation and to notify any changes to the Committee Office by Tuesday 16 April 2002.

5. Correspondence from the Northern Ireland Pike Society

5.1. The Committee agreed to meet with the Northern Ireland Pike Society to permit the Society to present its case on illegal poaching of pike in Lough Neagh.

6. Follow up to proposed Foyle Area (Control of Drift Net and Draft Net Fishing) Regulations 2002

6.1. Members noted that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development had responded to the Committee's concerns about the proposed regulations. The Committee agreed to await the outcome of further consultation to be undertaken by the Loughs Agency with draft netsmen in the Foyle Area on the level of cap provided in the regulations and subsequent necessary agreement from the Department of Marine and Natural Resources, required because the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission is a North/South Implementation Body.

7. Department's response on co-operation between Northern Ireland Departments and ROI Authorities

7.1. Members noted the response received from the Department about the level of communication between the Department, the Fisheries Conservancy Board and the ROI Department and Regional Fisheries Boards on policy and other issues.

Mr Shannon attended the meeting at 10:49am.

8. Fisheries Conservancy Board response to Inland Fisheries Report - Flow control on the Lower River Bann

8.1. The Committee noted that the Fisheries Conservancy Board has agreed to pursue the use of freshets on the Lower River Bann on a trial basis this year. The Board intends to consult with a number of interests who will be affected by this proposal together with seeking the views of the Rivers Agency.

8.2. The Committee agreed to ask the Department to confirm who owns the fish pass at Carnroe Weir.

Mr Wilson left the meeting at 11:00am.
Mr ONeill attended the meeting at 11:04am and took the Chair.

9. Briefing by Departmental Officials on the draft Position Report on the 2002/03 Budget

9.1. Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the content of the draft Position Report on the 2002/03 Budget and answered questions.

9.2. The Department agreed to provide the Committee with copies of relevant material to enable members to carry out an effective scrutiny.

9.3. The Committee agreed to consider this documentation and to meet with the Department again on Tuesday 16 April 2002.

Mr Kelly left the meeting at 12:06pm.

10. Sports Council's response to Disability Sport Northern Ireland

10.1. The Committee noted the letter from the Chairman of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland to the Chairman of Disability Sport Northern Ireland.

11. Any other business

11.1. Mr Shannon raised the issue of conduct of fans at the Ireland v Denmark match in Dublin and the Celtic v Livingston match in Scotland. Whilst acknowledging that both matches took place outside Northern Ireland, the Committee reiterated its previous position on sectarian abuse occurring at any sporting occasion. The Committee agreed that this issue would be included on the agenda for the next meeting with the Joint Committee for Tourism, Sport and Recreation.

11.2. The Committee noted the response from the Minister about the arrangements for managing the work of the Ulster- Scots Agency in the absence of a Chief Executive. The Committee agreed to ask the Deputy Chief Executive and the Chairman of the Agency to give a briefing on the Agency's work to date and on its forward work programme.

Mr McCarthy left the meeting at 12:32pm.

11.3. The Committee noted the Minister's response to the Committee's letter about Castleward Opera's expectation that it would become the main provider of opera in Northern Ireland and agreed to accept the offer of a briefing from the Arts Council's Director of Performing Arts.

11.4. Mr McMenamin advised that he had not yet received a response from the Northern Ireland Events Company about funding for the Foyle Cup Tournament.

12. Date of next meeting

12.1. The Committee agreed to meet at 10:00am on Tuesday 16 April 2002 in Room 152 to begin the first formal reading of the report of the Inquiry on Cultural Tourism and the Arts.

12.2. The Committee will meet again at on Thursday 18 April 2002 in Room 152.

The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 12:35pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson