Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance at 10:30am to brief the Committee on the proposed transfer of licensing functions from DCAL to DARD and the failure to consult about the proposals: Mr Michael McGimpsey, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms Hazel Campbell, Inland Waterways and Inland Fisheries, and Mr David Wright, Inland Waterways and Inland Fisheries.

In attendance at 11:00am to brief the Committee on the legislative constraints affecting the ADSEA Project: Ms Hazel Campbell, Inland Waterways and Inland Fisheries and Mr David Houston, Inland Waterways and Inland Fisheries.

In attendance at 11:30am to update the Committee on the dispute between the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure's Acting Deputy Secretary, Dr Eddie Rooney, and Mrs Veronica McKenna, Finance.

In attendance at 11:50am for a discussion about the dispute between the Odyssey Trust and the Sheridan Group: Odyssey Trust - Mr Alex Bell, Chief Executive, and Mr Tony Payne, Financial Director.

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. The Committee noted that the Minister has confirmed that there are no proposals for any primary legislation within the current session.

1.3. The Committee agreed to include a meeting with Rainbow Arts Unit in the work programme and to inform the Arts Unit that it would take place after the summer recess. 
1.4. The Committee noted the Department of the Environment's response to the request about implementation of the recommendations in the report on the Committee's Inquiry into Inland Fisheries in Northern Ireland.

1.5. The Committee agreed to offer its support to the Ulster Angling Federation to encourage the Environment and Heritage Service to change its policy on issuing warning letters when a pollution incident occurs and agreed to pass the letter and accompanying video to the Committee for the Environment to follow up with their Department

1.6. Members were reminded of the media pre-brief on the report on Cultural Tourism and the Arts at 1:00pm on Thursday 6 June 2002 in the Members' Dining Room. Members were also reminded to liaise with colleagues on the Business Committee in relation to the timing of the debate on Tuesday 11 June 2002.

1.7. The Committee agreed to issue letters to the editors of the Newsletter and the Sunday World asking that they rectify, as soon as possible, the impression that the Committee's report on Cultural Tourism and the Arts was at fault, which was conveyed in articles in both papers last week about the omission of "Derry's Walls" from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's top-twenty list of tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.

1.8. Members noted that copies of the Loughs Agency Corporate Plan 2002-2004 and Business Plan 2002 were available for members' information.

Mr Shannon attended at 10:45am.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 23 May 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings for the meeting of 23 May 2002 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para. 3.1: Foyle Cup: Details of funding available for the Milk Cup and Foyle Cup were provided to members. It was agreed that the Committee office would seek information about bed nights arising from the Milk Cup and also establish whether the funding provided by the Northern Ireland Events Company represented 100% of the travel costs of European and other international visiting teams.

4. Transfer of inland aquaculture licensing functions from the Department to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

4.1. The Minister noted the list of examples of instances where the Department did not consult or inform the Committee and undertook to respond in due course.

4.2. The Minister and officials briefed the Committee and answered questions on the proposed transfer of licensing functions from the Department to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The failure of the Department to consult or inform the Committee was also discussed.

4.3. The Minister and officials informed the Committee that the Department has advised the Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB) of its willingness to support the proposed study of the fish pass at Carnroe Weir and agreed to forward a copy of the Department's letter to the FCB to the Committee.

5. Minister's response re NI Schoolboys' Football Association funding

5.1. The Committee noted the Minister's detailed response to the concerns raised by the Committee about the allocation of funding for youth football. It was agreed that the Committee office would ask the Department for a copy of the criteria, when available from the Sports Council, which will be applied to the distribution of this funding.

6. Diversity 21 Awards ceremony

6.1. Members noted the invitation to the Diversity 21 Awards ceremony on Tuesday 11 June 2002 at Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.

7. Outstanding commitments in Forward Work Programme

7.1. Members noted the outstanding commitments in the work programme and agreed, that in order to progress as many as possible outstanding requests from organisations wanting to meet with the Committee, where possible three 30 minute sessions would be included in each meeting up to the recess.

8. Report on Cultural Tourism Conference

8.1. Members noted the report on the recent Cultural Tourism Conference held in Co Cork and thanked the Clerk for her input.

The Committee moved into private session at 11:25am.

9. Departmental briefing on the legislative constraints affecting ADSEA Project

9.1. Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the legislative constraints affecting the ADSEA Project and answered questions.

10. Update from the Department on dispute between the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust

10.1. Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the most recent developments in the dispute between the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust and answered questions.

Mr Hilditch left the meeting at 12:08pm.

11. Meeting with Odyssey Trust

11.1. The Odyssey Trust briefed the Committee on the detail of the issues associated with the dispute and answered questions.

11.2. The Committee agreed to write to the Department about the discussions that it had with both sides in the dispute and recommending that the Department should provide whatever assistance is possible in organising an independent arbitration.

11.3. The Committee voiced its concern that the costs of any protracted litigation may have to be borne by the Trust, and consequently, that monies intended for the running of the Odyssey might have to be diverted towards legal fees and agreed to ask the Minister for comment.

11.4. The Committee also expressed its concern that, despite the fact that the Department has observer status at Odyssey Trust Company Board meetings, the situation had deteriorated to the present stand-off position. It was agreed to ask for details of attendances at Board meetings by the Department over the past 12-month period.

Mr Shannon left the meeting at 12:54pm.

11.5. Members also agreed to thank the Sheridan Group and the Odyssey Trust for meeting with the Committee to discuss the problems.

12. Any other business

12.1. There was no other business.

13. Date of next meeting

13.1. The next meeting of the Committee will take place at 10:15am on Thursday 6 June 2002 in Room 152.

The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 1:21pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson