Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.33am.

The Committee agreed to have Hansard cover the briefing on the draft Programme for Government, draft Investment Strategy and draft Economic Strategy.

1.  Apologies

The apologies are noted above.

2.  Draft Minutes of Meeting held on 12 January 2012

The Committee agreed the minutes of 12 January 2012.

Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 10.34am.

3.  Matters Arising

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Justice to DCAL to request a briefing on the World Police and Fire Games.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to inform the Committee for Education of any developments on dual use of schools.

Mr David Hilditch returned to the meeting at 10.35am.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the BBC Trust letter about the Committee’s response to the consultation ‘Delivering Quality First’ to the Director of BBC Northern Ireland and the representative from the National Union of Journalists.

Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 10.36am.         

Agreed: The Committee agreed to issue a press release that afternoon on the outcome to Libraries NI’s review of library opening hours. 

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to clarify where the additional funding for Libraries NI came from.   

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Committee for Social Development regarding the Lagan Canal Restoration Trust.

4. Assembly Research and Information Services Briefing on Programme for Government Commitments

Dr Dan Hull joined the meeting at 10.41am.

Dr Hull briefed the Committee.

Mr David Hilditch returned to the meeting at 10.42am.

Mrs Karen McKevitt joined the meeting at 10.42am.

A question and answer session followed.

Dr Hull left the meeting at 10.53am.

5.  Briefing from Department on Draft Programme for Government, Draft Investment Strategy and Draft Economic Strategy

The Committee noted the Committee Office memo and the correspondence the following organisations on Programme for Government, Investment Strategy and Economic Strategy: Arts Council; Foras na Gaeilge; Libraries NI; NI Screen; NI Museums Council; and Sport NI.       

Mr William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.55am.

Mr Michael McGimpsey joined the meeting at 10.57am.

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.58am:

Deputy Secretary, Ms Cynthia Smith;

Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Ms Deborah Brown;

Director of Sports, Recreation and Museums Division, Mr Mick Cory; and

Director of Culture Division, Mr Arthur Scott.

The officials briefed the Committee.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr Robin Swann left the meeting at 11.20am.

Mr Robin Swann returned to the meeting at 11.22am.

Agreed: The officials agreed to clarify to the Committee details of Sport NI’s capital budget during year 4 of the current comprehensive spending review period. 

Mr Dominic Bradley left the meeting at 11.48am.

Mr David Hilditch left the meeting at 11.50am.

Mr David Hilditch returned to the meeting at 11.55am.

Mr Dominic Bradley returned to the meeting at 11.59am.

The officials left the meeting at 12pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to consider its draft responses to the OFMDFM and ETI Committees regarding the draft Programme for Government, the draft Investment Strategy and the draft Economic Strategy and Action Plan at next week’s meeting.

6. Briefing from Newry/Portadown branch of Inland Waterways Association of Ireland

The following officials joined the meeting at 12.03pm:

Chairman, Mr Peter Maxwell; and

Hon Secretary, Ms Geraldine Foley.

The officials briefed the Committee.

A question and answer session followed.

The officials left the meeting at 12.28pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed: to forward the briefing paper on the Newry / Portadown Canal to the Minister for comment; to request the rationale for the exclusion of the Canal from Waterways Ireland’s remit; and to seek details on the mechanism for changing this remit.

7.  Correspondence

Agreed: The Committee agreed: to forward to the Minister correspondence from the Committee for Education regarding the inclusion of rugby coaching in schools as part of the Department of Education’s wider sports initiative; and to request information regarding Sport NI’s work to provide funding for rugby coaches to juniors.

Agreed: The Committee: noted the Minister’s Written Ministerial Statement on salmon conservation in DCAL’s jurisdiction; and agreed to schedule a briefing from the Salmon and Inland Fisheries Forum onto the Forward Work Programme.

The Committee noted the correspondence from the Minister on forecast and actual outturn to March 2012.

Mr Michael McGimpsey left the meeting at 12.32pm.

8. Chairperson’s Business

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the meeting on 26 January 2012 would start at 10am.

The following members indicated their intention to attend the Committee meeting on 26 January 2012 at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum: Ms Michelle McIlveen (Chair); Mrs Brenda Hale; Mr David Hilditch; Mr William Irwin; Mrs Karen McKevitt; Mr Cathal Ó hOisín; and Mr Robin Swann.

The Committee noted the itinerary of the Oireachtas’ Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht Affairs visit to Parliament Buildings on 26 January 2012.

The following members indicated their intention to attend the meeting with the Oireachtas’ Joint Committee on 26 January 2012: Ms Michelle McIlveen (Chair); Mr Dominic Bradley; Mrs Brenda Hale; Mr William Irwin; Mrs Karen McKevitt; Mr Cathal Ó hOisín; and Mr Robin Swann.

The Committee noted all invitations received by the Committee.

9.  Forward Work Programme

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

10.  Any other business

There was no other business.

11. Date and Time of Next Meeting         

The next meeting of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure will take place on Thursday 26 January 2012at 10am in Cultra Manor.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.38pm.

Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA

Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure

26 January 2012