Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for a presentation on the work of the Association at 10:30am: BASC, British Association for Shooting and Conservation - Mr Ronan Gorman, Director and Mr Robert Irvine, Chairman.

In attendance for a presentation on the Public Service Agreement for the Draft Programme for Government at 11:00am: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure - Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary and Dr Eddie Rooney, Policy and Management Division.

The meeting opened, in public, at 10:15am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Committee noted Mr Reynolds' minute of 19 November 2001 about interference of mobile telephones during Hansard recordings of public evidence sessions.

Mrs Nelis joined the meeting at 10:18am.
Mr Wilson joined the meeting at 10:19am.

1.2. The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for the Environment about the 'Proposed Development at the Giant's Causeway' and that the decision by Moyle District Council on the sale of the Visitor Centre site would be delayed.

1.3. Members were advised that the Specialist Adviser for the Inquiry would attend next Thursday's meeting to discuss the key themes that the Report would reflect.

1.4. The Committee noted that work had begun on organising the proposed seminar with the French Ministry of Culture which is being planned for March 2002.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 15 November 2001

2.1. Minutes of the meeting were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para. 3.1: Visit to Scottish football stadia - Members were advised that no response had been received from the Scottish Committee and that a programme for the visit would be available for discussion at next week's meeting. 

Para 7.1: Visit by Central and Western Fisheries Boards - Members agreed to re visit this issue next week.

4. Presentation by BASC, British Association for Shooting and Conservation

4.1. The BASC, Northern Ireland Ireland Branch gave a presentation on the Association's work to the Committee, followed by a question and answer session.

5. Presentation by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

5.1. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure gave a presentation to the Committee on the Department's Public Service Agreement (PSA) for the Draft Programme for Government, followed by a question and answer session. The Committee approved the targets set out in the PSA.

Mr Wilson left the meeting at 11:51am.
Mr Shannon left the meeting at 11:57am.

6. Committee for Finance and Personnel - Accomodation Review

6.1. The Committee was advised that Statutory Committees had been invited to comment on the key dimensions of the review of Northern Ireland Civil Service accommodation which the Department of Finance and Personnel had committed itself to carrying out. Members were also advised that an Interim Report would soon be available and agreed to defer consideration of the Department's position until then.

7. Committee of the Centre - European Inquiry

7.1. The Committee was advised of the Terms of Reference of the inquiry, begun by the Committee of the Centre into the European area of its remit. Members agreed to ask the Department to provide details about the percentage of its total budget that is made up by European funding and how often the Minister attends European Council of Minister meetings before considering a response to the Committee of the Centre.

8. Any other business

8.1. The Committee agreed to invite the Northern Ireland Events Company to meet with it to discuss its work programme.

9. Date of the next meeting

9.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 10:15am on Thursday 29 November 2001 in Room 152.

The meeting closed at 12:12pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson