Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.33 a.m.

1.    Draft Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on the 13 November 2008 were agreed.

2.    Matters Arising

The Chairperson advised members that the Committee would consider the issue of inviting talented young musicians, including Mr Shannon’s suggestion of Bradley Parker, to perform at Parliament Buildings at some future date.

3.    Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson advised the Committeethat he intended to accept the invitation to the launch of the report of the Chief Inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate, on Wednesday 28 January 2009.

The Chairperson advised Members that he had received an invitation from NI Environment Link to an event in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 9 December 2008 on European Environmental Policy. All Members of the Assembly have been invited to the event.

The Chairperson advised Members that he had received an invitation from St Jarleth’s Primary School to the launch of Sustrans ‘Rural safe routes to school project’ on Friday 5 December 2008. All Members of the Assembly have been invited to the event.

10.35 a.m. Mr Shannon and Mr Brolly joined the meeting.

The Chairperson reminded Members of an informal meeting arranged with ‘Cardiac Risk in the Young’ at 2 p.m. that afternoon.

The Chairperson reminded Membersof the round table meeting on the Theatre Initiative on Tuesday 25 November 2008.

10.40 a.m. Mr Ramsey joined the meeting. 
10.43 a.m. Mr Bradley joined the meeting.

The Chairperson advised that the President of the European Parliament would be making an address to Members at Parliament Buildings on Monday 24 November 2008. The Chair advised that he had accepted an invitation from the Speaker to lunch following the event.

The Chairperson informed the Committee that at his request, an informal seminar had been arranged for Tuesday 20 January 2009, with the Department’s Director of Finance, on the Department’s budgeting process.

4.    Ofcom Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Review

The Chairperson drew Members’ attention to a letter from the Minister advising that he will meet with his counterparts in the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament to discuss broadcasting issues.

The Committee noted the Clerk’s report of the Ofcom conference held on Thursday 13 November 2008.

Briefing from Research & Library Services

Ms Meadhbh McCann briefed the Committee on the Scottish Broadcasting Commission and the current Ofcom consultation. This was followed by a question and answer session.

Briefing from Ofcom

The following representatives from Ofcom joined the meeting:

Mr Adam Higgitt – Director of the Chief Executive’s Office 
Mr Denis Wolinski – Director of Ofcom Northern Ireland

The representatives briefed the Committee on the ongoing Ofcom review. This was followed by a question and answer session.

11.40 a.m. Mr McCarthy left the meeting.

Agreed : Ofcom agreed to write to the Committee in response to the Committee’s request for a short extension to the consultation.

Briefing from Northern Ireland Screen

The following representative from Northern Ireland Screen joined the meeting:

Mr Richard Williams - Chief Executive

The representative briefed the Committee on the ongoing Ofcom review. This was followed by a question and answer session.

Briefing from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)

The following representatives from NUJ and BECTU joined the meeting:

Mr Séamus Dooley – Irish Secretary NUJ
Ms Mary Curry - Mother of the Chapel NUJ UTV
Mr Patrick Styles – National Official BECTU
Mr Luke Crawley – Assistant General Secretary BECTU

The representatives briefed the Committee on the ongoing Ofcom review and staffing issues within UTV. This was followed by a question and answer session.

12.30 p.m. Mr Shannon left the meeting.

Briefing from UTV

The following representative from UTV joined the meeting:

Mr Michael Wilson - Managing Director

The representative briefed the Committee on the ongoing Ofcom review and staffing issues within UTV. This was followed by a question and answer session.

13.02 p.m. Mr Robinson left the meeting.

Committee discussion

Agreed : The Committee agreed that the Clerk would summarise the key points from the meeting and from the Assembly debate on Monday 24 November 2008, to produce a draft response for consideration at the Committee’s meeting on Thursday 27 November 2008.

Agreed : The Committee agreed to ask the Minister to forward the Committee a copy of the response he makes to the Ofcom consultation.

5.    Correspondence

Agreed : The Committee agreed that correspondence be carried over to the meeting on Thursday 27 November 2008.

6.    Forward Work Plan

The Committee noted its forward work plan.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the briefing on the evaluation of the Currriculum Development Unit for the Ulster Scots Academy be deferred.

1.39 p.m. Mr Bradley left the meeting.

7.    Date and time of the next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will be on Tuesday 25 November 2008 at 2 p.m. in the Members Dining Room, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 1.41 p.m.

Mr Barry McElduff MLA 
Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure