Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance at 10:30am to brief the Committee on the background to the current dispute between the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - Dr Eddie Rooney, Acting Deputy Secretary, and Mr Alan Hunter.

In the absence of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson, the Clerk opened the meeting in private, at 10:24am, and called on members to propose an Acting Chairperson. Mr Davis was proposed by Mr Wilson and seconded by Dr Adamson. There were no other nominations. Mr Davis assumed the chair at 10:25am.

1. Chairperson's business

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

1.2. The Committee noted the Minister's letter of 25 April 2002, providing an update on the action the Department has taken to implement some of the recommendations contained in the Report on Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland. In particular, the Committee noted that the Department is considering a request for funding from the Fisheries Conservancy Board to carry out a study on the fish pass at Carnroe Weir. The Committee agreed to ask the Department how long it would take before a decision would be reached on the matter of making the necessary funding available to the Fisheries Conservancy Board.

1.3. The Committee noted the Minister's letter of 13 May 2002 advising that he had agreed to the transfer of functions relating to the licensing of fish farming operations in inland waters, and the grant-aiding of those operations, from the Department to the Agriculture and Rural Development. The Committee agreed to advise the Minister of its surprise that agreement had already been reached and to ask him to take the matter no further until he had met with the Committee.

Mr Shannon attended the meeting at 10:34am.

1.4. The Committee noted the Minister's response to ADSEA regarding the visit to the Funen coastal sea trout fishery.

1.5. The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in relation to the legal problems associated with the ADSEA project on 30 May 2002.

1.6. The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel about the recent Executive Programme Funds Infrastructure bids.

1.7. Members were reminded about the seminar on the Supply Estimates Process which is to be held in the Long Gallery at 10:00am on Wednesday 22 May 2002.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 9 May 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings for the meeting of 9 May 2002 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para.9.2: The Foyle Cup - Mr McMenamin was advised that the Committee office was not yet in possession of complete information about the total running costs of the Milk Cup.

Mr Hilditch attended the meeting at 10:38am.

4. Briefing from Department Officials on Problems between the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust

4.1. Dr Rooney briefed the Committee and answered questions on the current position regarding the difficulties which have arisen between the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust. 
4.2. Dr Rooney undertook to provide a written update on the position after the Department meets with the Sheridan Group, a map of the relationships involved in the Odyssey complex and information about the review of the Board of the Odyssey Trust.

Mr Wilson left the meeting at 10:58am.

4.3. The Committee agreed to meet with Sheridan Millennium Limited and the Odyssey Trust.

Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 11:05am.

5. Second formal reading of the report on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry

5.1. The Committee continued its second formal reading of the report on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry and read the report paragraph by paragraph:

Focal Agencies -
Paragraphs 5.1 to 5.5 read and agreed

Mr Agnew attended the meeting at 11:28am.

Community Involvement, Relationships and partnerships -
Paragraphs 6.1 to 6.3 read and agreed
Strategic Planning and Development -
Paragraphs 7.1 to 7.6 read and agreed
Communication and Information Technology -
Paragraphs 8.1 to 8.2 read and agreed
Learning -
Paragraphs 9.1 to 9.3 read and agreed

Mr McMenamin left the meeting at 11:50am.

Funding -
Paragraphs 10.1 to 10.4 read and agreed
Summary of Recommendations -
Recommendation 1 to recommendation 56 read and agreed

6. Date of next meeting

6.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 10:15am on 23 May 2002 in Room 152.

I Davis
Acting Chairperson