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COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

 

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 24 APRIL 2008
ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Present:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA

In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Alister Strain (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Officer)

Apologies:
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

The meeting commenced at 2.32 p.m. in public session.

  1. Apologies

Apologies as listed above.

  1. Chairperson’s Business

The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with the Royal College of Nursing. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.

Member noted that a Private Members motion about access to Health Service Dental treatment would be debated on Tuesday 29 April 08 and agreed that the Chairperson could speak on behalf of the Committee endorsing the motion.

  1. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 17 April 2008

The draft minutes of the meeting held on 17 April 2008were agreed.

  1. Matters arising

Members noted a response from the Minister about the use of PFI for the new hospitals in Omagh and Enniskillen. Members agreed to invite officials from the Trust and Department brief the Committee on the issue.

The Committee noted a response from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust about x-ray services at Bangor hospital.

Members noted the key points of the Committee’s informal meeting with Mr Richard Lowry. The Committee agreed to write to the Department for information about an opt out scheme for organ donation. Members also agreed to invite clinicians involved with organ transplant to meet with the Committee.

The Committee noted the key points of the Committee’s informal meeting with the British Medical Association.

Member noted a copy of ‘Healthy Living Centres – a model for delivery of neighbourhood health’.

Members agreed that the Committee response to the Departmental Stroke Strategy should be placed on the Committee Website.

  1. Evidence session on the Sexual Health Promotion Strategy.

Members took evidence from the following witnesses:

Dr Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer
Dr Naresh Chada Medical Officer
Janet Moore Population Health Directorate

A question and answer session ensued. Officials agreed to provide the Committee with further information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of a Committee response to the Strategy until it received further information from the Department.

2.43 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting.
2.43 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
2.46 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín rejoined the meeting

  1. Statutory Rules

Members were briefed on SR 2008/167: The Plastic Materials & Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 by Maria Jennings, Head of Consumer Choice and Food Standards Unit, FSA

The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/167: The Plastic Materials & Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

Members were briefed on SR 2008/171: The Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 by Maria Jennings, Head of Consumer Choice and Food Standards Unit, FSA

The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/171: The Specified Products from China (Restriction on First Placing on the Market) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.

3.52 p.m. the Committee adjourned.
4.06 p.m. the Committee resumed in closed session.

  1. Consideration of draft Report on the Committee Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm .

The Committee noted a report on the Committee visit to Dublin and agreed that this be included in an appendix to the Committee report.

The Committee considered the draft report from paragraph 57 to the end of the report.

4.44 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
4.52 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting
4.52 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagherleft the meeting
4.57 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting
4.57 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín left the meeting

Members agreed a Committee motion to have the report debated and approved by the Assembly.

  1. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.

Members noted a letter from Omagh District Council seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to arrange a meeting as part of a proposed Committee visit to Omagh and Enniskillen.

The Committee noted a letter from the Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland about their Business Plan 2008-09

Members noted a copy of letter sent to the Minister by medical staff at Altnagelvin Area Hospital about the current situation with Cardiac Surgery within Northern Ireland.

The Committee noted a letter from the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland about their Strategic Plan 2008-2011.

Members noted an invitation from the Hospital Catering Association to the Association’s Diamond Anniversary seminar.

The Committee noted an invitation from the Southern Trust to an open day on the Bluestone unit, Mental Health Facility at Craigavon Area Hospital.

  1. Any other business

Members agreed to meet with users of perinatal psychiatry services.

The Committee agreed that the evidence from Chief Executives of the Western and Eastern Boards about the Report of the inquiry into the deaths of Madeleine and Lauren O’Neill would be taken in public.

Members noted a paper from Assembly research providing background to the Ministers proposals for reform of the Health and Social Care system. The Committee agreed that staff would take this matter forward.

Members agreed to invite the Mental Health and Learning Disability Alliance to the next informal lunchtime meeting.

Members expressed concern that a response has not yet been received from the Minister about access for Members to visit health related facilities.

  1. Date, time and place of the next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 1 May 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in Knockbracken Hall, Knockbracken healthcare Park and will be preceded by a visit to the Northern Ireland Ambulance service Trust Headquarters, Knockbracken healthcare Park.

he Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.33 p.m.

Signed:

Chairperson

Date:

17 April 08 / Menu