Minutes of Proceedings

In attendance for a meeting with the Sports Council for Northern Ireland at 10:30am: Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chairman, Mr Eamonn McCartan, Chief Executive, Dr Shaun Ogle, Director, Mr Nick Harkness, Director, Mr Fergus Donnelly, Director, Ms Elizabeth Bailey, Secretary, Mr Ronnie Trouton, Chairman of the 2 and 4 Wheeled Motor Sports Strategy Working Group and representatives of the Governing Bodies.

The Chairperson opened the meeting, in closed session, at 10:15am.

1. Chairperson's business

1.1. The Committee agreed to hold the meeting in closed session.

1.2. The Chairperson advised members that the meeting would be recorded and requested that mobile phones were completely switched off.

Mr Shannon attended the meeting at 10:24am.

1.3. Members noted the letters of 24 January 2002 from Seaport Investments Limited to the Clerk and 25 January 2002 from The National Trust to the Minister of the Environment, copied to the Chairperson, about the sale of land at the Giant's Causeway. It was agreed to respond to Seaport Investments Limited advising that the Committee's position had not changed from that set out in the Clerk's letter of 14 January 2002 and that it did not consider it appropriate to meet with either of the bidders at present.

1.4. Members noted the response from the Fisheries Conservancy Board about the commission payable to licence distributors following the introduction of logbooks and tags, and also that the Board would consider a recommendation to increase the level of commission at its meeting on 11 March 2002. It was agreed that the Clerk would ask the Board to keep the Committee informed about developments.

1.5. Members received copies of the Department's Outline Work Programme, for the period up to June 2002, which highlighted the main areas of the Committee's involvement in policy developments, and other matters, over the coming months.

1.6. Members noted the copy of the Committee's spending report from April 2001 to December 2001.

2. Minutes of the meeting of 28 January 2002

2.1. The draft Minutes of Proceedings for 28 January 2002 were agreed.

3. Matters arising

3.1. Para. 4.1 - Members agreed to consider the draft response to the Minister on the Advisory Panel's Report on Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland and to forward their comments to the Clerk by Monday 4 February 2002.

4. Sports Council Consultation Documents

4.1. Members agreed to consider the draft response to the Sports Council on the Council's consultation documents - Draft Policy for the Development and Management of Training and Sport for Young People in Northern Ireland - and to advise the Clerk of any comments after the meeting.

5. Any other business

5.1. It was agreed that the Clerk would ask the Department about any delays in the processing time for applications for funding for the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, which are being assessed by the independent grant assessors.

5.2. It was agreed that the matter of tobacco industry sponsorship to motor cycle races would be raised with the Sports Council. It was also agreed that the Clerk would ask the Department about its policy on the issue.

6. Date of next meeting

6.1. The Committee agreed to hold a special meeting to continue consideration of the Cultural Tourism and the Arts Inquiry Report at 10:15am on Tuesday 5 February 2002 in Room 135.

6.2. The Committee will meet again at 10:15am on Thursday 7 February 2002 in Room 152.

Mr Hilditch attended the meeting at 11:20am.

7. Meeting with the Sports Council for Northern Ireland

7.1. Professor Saunders OBE and Mr McCartan warmly welcomed the Committee to the House of Sport.

7.2. The Committee received a presentation on the Sports Council's priorities in the context of the 2003 - 2006 spending review; Programmes for children and young people; Targeting Social Need; and Volunteering.

7.3. The Sports Council answered questions raised by members.

7.4. The issue of financial pressure on the Talented Athlete Programme was raised during the questions and the Chairperson noted that this was a possible issue for future exploration by the Committee.

7.5. The Committee also received a presentation on the Governing Bodies' Strategy for 2 and 4 Wheeled Motor Sports.

7.6. The Governing Bodies' representatives answered questions raised by members and agreed to provide the Committee with safety guidance material on the use of quad bikes.

7.7. Mr Trouton agreed to consider extending the consultation period for the draft Motor Sports Strategy to ensure that District Councils had the opportunity to respond.

7.8. The Chairperson thanked the Sports Council, Mr Trouton and representatives of the Governing Bodies.

The Chairperson brought the meeting to a close at 12:40pm.

E ONeill
Chairperson