Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened at 10.02am in closed session.

1. FOI Correspondence

The Committee agreed that the correspondence should be released as part of the Department’s response to an FOI request.

Mr William Irwin joined the meeting at 10.04am.

The meeting moved into open session at 10.04am.

2. Apologies

The apologies are noted above.

3. Draft Minutes of Meeting Held on 15 September 2011

The Committee agreed the minutes of 15 September 2011.

4. Matters Arising

There were no items of matters arising.

5. Briefing from Irish Language Groups regarding Review of Core Funding.

The Committee noted the Clerk’s paper on the review of core funding.

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.08am:

Director of ULTACH Trust, Mr Aodan Mac Póilín; 
Chief Executive of Pobal, Ms Janet Muller; and 
Director of Forbairt Feirste, Mr Gearóid Mac Siacais.

The officials briefed the Committee.

Ms Karen McKevitt joined the meeting at 10.14am.

A question and answer session followed.

Mr Pat Sheehan left the meeting at 10.45am.

Mr Cathal Ó hOisín made a declaration that he was involved in projects which received funding from both Iontaobhas ULTACH and Pobal.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to express concerns regarding the process followed during Foras na Gaeilge’s consultation; ask her to refrain from taking decisions until this issue is resolved; and forward her the questions provided by the core funded groups for written answer.

The briefing concluded at 10.55am.

6. Briefing from representatives of The MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre)

The following officials joined the meeting at 10.58am:

Chief Executive, The MAC, Ms Anne McReynolds;

MAC Trustee, Mr Joris Minne; and

MAC Trustee, Mr Colm McGivern.

The officials briefed the Committee.

A question and answer session followed.

The briefing concluded at 11.24am.

7. Correspondence

The Committee noted DCAL’s Investment Activity Report for September 2011.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department to ascertain the status of outstanding post project evaluations.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Libraries NI to clarify if stakeholders are aware of the draft Rural Impact Assessment; the rationale for their decision to make the consultation questionnaires available online until 14 November; and to request that Libraries NI consider notifying all of their members about the consultation.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence from the Committee for the Environment on Departmental Energy Usage to the Department.

The Committee noted the National Museums Northern Ireland’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/10.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward the correspondence from the Bamford Monitoring Group onto the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

8. Chairpersons Business

The Committee noted the events attended by the Chair.

9. Forward Work Programme

Agreed: The Committee agreed to reschedule the Department’s brief on the Northern Ireland Olympics Strategy to 27 October; and to hold the meeting of 29 September at 2pm.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the Department’s briefing on monthly outturn and October monitoring should be covered by Hansard.

The following members indicated that they would attend the launch of the NI 2012 Our Time Our Place programme: Mr Dominic Bradley; Mrs Brenda Hale; Mr William Irwin; Miss Michelle McIlveen (Chairperson); Ms Karen McKevitt Mr Cathal Ó hOisín; and Mr Robin Swann.

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 29 September 2011 at 2pm in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.29am.

Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA 
Chairperson, Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure 
29 September 2011