Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for public evidence session at 10:30am: Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - 
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board - Mr Roy Bailie, Chairman, Mr Alan Clarke, Chief Executive, Mr Feargal Kearney, Marketing Cultural Tourism Officer and Ms Isabel Jennings, Director of International Marketing.

In attendance for a briefing session at 11:30am on a proposed Statutory Rule - Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licencing of Fishing Engines) Regulations 2001: Loughs Agency- Mr Derick Anderson, Chief Executive, Loughs Agency and Mr Nigel Quinn, Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

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

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Committee agreed that the BBC would film proceedings during the meeting.

1.2. The Committee noted a letter from the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board clarifying for the Committee why he had had difficulty agreeing a date to give evidence as part of the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry and assuring the Committee of his co-operation.

1.3. The Committee noted that the Chairperson and Committee staff had attended the launch of the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation's Blueprint for Tourism on Tuesday 16 October 2001.

1.4. The Committee noted the invitation to attend the launch of the report 'Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland' on Tuesday 30 October 2001.

1.5. The Committee noted the reminder to Clerks of the need to have an audio record of all public sessions as a matter of good practice.

1.6. The Committee noted the Department's response of 18 October 2001 on the issues surrounding the recent escape of farmed salmon at Glenarm. It particularly noted that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was taking forward proposals to develop a contingency plan with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and others and agreed to write to the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee asking that the Committee is kept informed of developments.

1.7. The Committee noted the Department's response of 23 October 2001 on the erection of telecommunication masts on departmental property.

Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 10:40am.
Mr McElduff joined the meeting at 10:44am.

2. Public evidence session - Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry - The Northern Ireland Tourist Board

2.1. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board gave evidence, in public, to the Committee on the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry.

Mr Wilson left the meeting at 11:22am.
Mr McElduff left the meeting at 11:50am.
Mr ONeill left the meeting at 12:00noon and Mrs Nelis took the chair.

3. Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Licencing of Fishing Engines) Regulations 2001

3.1. The Loughs Agency and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development briefed the Committee on the details of the provisions of these proposed regulations.

4. Minutes of the meeting of 18 October 2001

4.1. Minutes of the meeting of 18 October 2001 were agreed.

5. Matters arising

5.1. There were no matters arising.

6. MAGNI New TSN Action Plan

6.1. The Committee noted MAGNI's response to the Committee's comments on MAGNI's draft New TSN Action Plan and agreed that the Clerk would write to MAGNI to clarify the position with regard to two issues.

Mr ONeill rejoined the meeting at 12:16pm and resumed the chair.

7. Sports Council of Northern Ireland Response - IMS Report

7.1. The Committee noted the response from the Sports Council addressing issues raised at the meeting of 20 September 2001. It agreed that the Committee would be involved in the working group, initiated by the Sports Council, which would be tasked with the aim of producing a shared strategic plan for 2 and 4 wheel motor sports and discipline specific feeder plans.

7.2. The Committee agreed that it would respond to the Sports Council's letter voicing its concern that a full consultation process did not take place with all of the interested Clubs, that assumptions had been made which were not always supported by evidence and that the IMS report is at variance with support for the sport already recorded by the Minister.

7.3. The Committee agreed that it would raise with the Sports Council problems relating to quad-bike and scrambler use.

8. Any other business

8.1. The Committee noted the Department's letter of 18 October 2001 providing further clarification on recommendations in the Committee's Report on its Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland. The Committee agreed to discuss this in greater detail after recess.

8.2. The Committee agreed that its visits to the Scottish Committee and soccer and rugby grounds in Scotland should be organised in the near future to allow it to gather information in relation to the soccer strategy consultation process.

9. Date of next meeting

9.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 10:15am on Thursday 8 November 2001 in Room 152.

The meeting closed at 12:30pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson