Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance at 11:10am to brief the Committee on the difficulties that the Sheridan Group is facing: Sheridan Group - Mr Peter Curistan, Chairman, Mr Peter Holmes, Chief Executive, and Mr Patrick Carr, Senior Surveyor.

The Chairperson opened the meeting, in public, at 10:25am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Chairperson reminded members of the need to have mobile phones completely turned off.

1.2. Members were reminded that the Minister would be hosting the reception for the Manuscript Society in the Long Gallery at 7:00pm on Monday 27 May 2002.

1.3. Members noted the invitation to the launch of the Royal National Institute for the Blind Northern Ireland's "Right to Read Campaign" at 2:00pm on Wednesday 29 May 2002, at 40 Linenhall Street, Belfast.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 16 May 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings for the meeting of 16 May 2002 were agreed.

Mr Kelly attended the meeting at 10:29am.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para.3.1 - Foyle Cup. The Committee was advised that the Committee office staff are continuing to pursue the information requested to enable a comparison to be made between funding provided for the Milk Cup and the Foyle Cup. Members noted that the Northern Ireland Events Company has agreed to provide funding up to £17,500 to cover the costs of bringing three school teams from France and one from Holland across to the tournament. It was agreed to advise the organiser that the Committee was pleased that the matter had been resolved, and that it wished the event every success.

3.2. Mrs Nelis thanked the Committee, on behalf of the organisers, for its assistance in resolving the matter.

Mr Agnew attended the meeting at 10:35am.

4. Transfer of fish farming functions from DCAL to DARD

4.1. The Committee noted the Minister's letter of 22 May 2002, apologising that the Committee was not consulted in confidence in advance of seeking agreement from the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to the proposal to transfer inland aquaculture functions to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Committee also noted that the Minister would meet with the Committee to discuss the matter on Thursday 30 May 2002.

Mr Hilditch attended the meeting at 10:40am.

5. Proposed Fisheries (Amendment No 2) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2002

5.1. The Committee noted that officials from the Fisheries Conservancy Board would attend a future meeting to brief the Committee on the detail of the proposed Fisheries (Amendment No 2) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2002.

6. Programme for Government 2002/03, Service Delivery Agreement - Minister's response

6.1. The Committee noted the Minister's response to points raised by the Committee about the Programme for Government 2002/03, Service Delivery Agreement in its letter of 11 April 2002.

7. Report on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry

7.1. The Committee agreed that the information obtained from District Councils on visitor attractions and festival events would not form part of the report but would inform member's input to the report debate.

7.2. Mr Hilditch agreed to raise the issue non-responses from councils in its area to the Committee's inquiry for information with the Causeway Coast umbrella body.

7.3. The Committee agreed -

- Appendix 1: The list of witnesses who gave oral evidence.

- The list of memoranda submitted which have been printed as part of the report (ie written submissions from those who gave oral evidence).

-The list of memoranda submitted which have not been printed as part of the report (ie written submissions from those who did not give oral evidence.) These submissions will be placed in the Assembly Library.

-Appendix 2: The itineraries for Boston, Paris and Barcelona and summaries of the key issues which emerged from the visits.

7.4. The Committee agreed -

"That the Report be the Third Report of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure to the Assembly and that it should be printed."

7.5. The Committee agreed that copies of the report would be sent to all those organisations and individuals who submitted evidence, whether written or oral.

7.6. The Committee agreed that the debate on the report should be scheduled for two hours on Tuesday 11 June 2002 and that members would bring this to the attention of Party Whips. The Committee also agreed the wording of a Motion to be tabled in the Business Office for the debate -

"That this Assembly approves the Third Report of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, on its Inquiry into Cultural Tourism and the Arts, and calls on the Executive to ensure that the Committee's recommendations are evaluated and implemented at the earliest opportunity."

Dr Adamson attended the meeting at 11:05am.

7.7. The Committee agreed the guest list for the media lunch on Thursday 6 June 2002 in the Members' Dining Room.

The Committee moved into private session at 11:10pm.

8. Update on dispute between the Sheridan Group and Odyssey Trust

8.1. The Committee were advised that the Department's Acting Deputy Secretary, Dr Eddie Rooney had met with the Sheridan Group on Tuesday 21 May 2002 and has undertaken to seek the Minister's approval for the Department to act as facilitator in resolving the dispute between the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust.

9. Meeting with the Sheridan Group

9.1. Representatives of the Sheridan Group gave a short presentation on the background of the Sheridan Group's involvement with the Odyssey complex and the Odyssey Trust and a summary of the straightforward problems and higher-level concerns that have arisen and that remain unresolved. Representatives answered questions raised by members.

9.2. The Committee advised the representatives that it would be meeting with the Odyssey Trust on 30 May 2002.

Mr ONeill left the meeting at 11:49am and Mrs Nelis assumed the Chair.
Mr Davis left the meeting at 12:08pm.

10. Any other business

10.1. The Committee office undertook to provide an update on outstanding business for the meeting on 30 May 2002.

10.2. The Committee agreed to inquire from Belfast City Council about the Council's proposed plans to sell off a facility at Newtownabbey which will have an impact on a council tenant, Mallusk Golf Club.

11. Date of next meeting

11.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 10:15am on Thursday 30 May 2002 in Room 152.

The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 12:22pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson