COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present: Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner, MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance: Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Rodney Aiken (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
The meeting commenced at 2.06 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies as listed above.
14.07 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
14.07 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
14.07 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher joined the meeting.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Deputy Chairperson reported that a reception had been held in the Long Gallery on Tuesday 30 September 2008, in which a number of health-related groups attended and met with Committee Members. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the Members for attending and helping to make the event a success.
The Deputy Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with Dr Michael Ryan and colleagues about obesity issues. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 25 September 2008
The minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2008 were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted the Minister’s announcement regarding the abolition of Prescription charges.
The Committee noted that an event to highlight attacks on the Ambulance and Fire & Rescue Services has been arranged for Tuesday 7 October and agreed to a press invite for the event.
Members welcomed the Western Health & Social Care Trust’s decision to reinstate payments of ‘Reward Money’ to adults with learning difficulties.
14.11 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
14.16 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
5. Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill.
Evidence session with the Royal College of Nursing
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Mary Hinds Director, Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland
Ann Marie O'Neill Chair, Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland Board.
A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
6. Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill.
Evidence session with the British Medical Association
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Dr Brian Patterson British Medical Association (NI), Chairman of Northern Ireland Council
Dr Brian Dunn British Medical Association (NI), Chairman of the General Practitioners Committee
Mr Danny Lambe British Medical Association (NI), Deputy Secretary
Mr Ivor Whitten British Medical Association (NI), Assembly & Research Officer
A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Mr Sam Gardiner made a declaration of interest that he is a Local Councillor.
Mrs Claire McGill made a declaration of interest that she is a Local Councillor.
14.50 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
15.02 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
15.02 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
15.12 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
15.14 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
7. Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill.
Evidence session with the Allied Health Profession Federation
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
Mrs Liz Cavan Committee Member, Allied Health Professions Federation UK
Ms Liz McKnight Chair, Allied Health Professions Federation NI.
Mr Tom Sullivan Policy Officer, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy NI.
A question and answer session ensued. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he is a member of a Local Commissioning Group.
15.44 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
15.44 p.m. Committee meeting adjourned.
15.56 p.m. Committee meeting resumed.
8. Clause by Clause consideration of the Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill
The following witnesses attended:
Ivan McMaster Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Bernard Mitchell Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Craig Allen Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
The Deputy Chairperson referred Members to the legislation & copy of responses received from relevant bodies.
Clause 1 (Restructuring of administration of health and social care)
Clause 1 deferred. The Department is to provide further information.
Clause 2 (Department’s general duty)
Clause 2 deferred.
Clause 3 (Department’s general power)
Clause 3 deferred.
Clause 4 (Department’s priorities and objectives)
Clause 4 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
Clause 5 (The framework document)
Clause 5 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
Clause 6 (Power of Department to give directions to certain bodies)
Clause 6 deferred. The Department is to consider proposed amendment.
15.57 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
15.59 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan rejoined the meeting.
16.01 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
16.25 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
16.50 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
16.53 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
9. Statutory Rules
Statutory Rule 2008/381 The New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/381 The New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (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
Statutory Rule 2008/382 The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/382 The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Amendment) Order (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
Statutory Rule 2008/391 The Traveling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/391 The Traveling Expenses and Remission of Charges (Amendment No. 3) 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
Statutory Rule 2008/395: General Dental Services (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
The Committee considered the content of SR 2008/395: General Dental Services (Amendment) 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
10. Consultation
The Committee agreed a response to Committee for Finance & Personnel inquiry into the role of the Assembly in scrutinising the Executive’s Budget & Expenditure.
11. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted a report from the Southern Health & Social Services Council on Catering Services at Craigavon & Daisy Hill hospitals.
Members noted a letter from Andrea McCormick about the Commissioning of Complementary Therapies in Northern Ireland and agreed to write to the Minister about the issues raised.
The Committee noted a press release from Speechmatters.
Members noted a letter from Lisburn City Council confirming that the Council has approved its submission to the Committee consultation on the Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill.
The Committee noted a letter from consultants at the Erne and Tyrone County hospitals seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed that they should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Members noted a report from the Department on Statistics for Scientific Procedures for Living Animals.
The Committee noted an invitation to a Lifeline event to be held in the long Gallery on Monday 6th October.
Members noted an e mail from the RNIB about Eye Health Action Week.
12. Any other business
The Committee agreed a date in principle for a Committee Visit to Wales to examine the work being done there on the Wales Autism Strategy. Two members will be unable to attend and other Members may wish to take later flights.
The Committee welcomed additional funding announced by the Minister for Ambulances; however one Member raised concerns that the announcement was not made in the Assembly.
Members agreed that Speechmatters should be invited to an informal meeting with the Committee.
13. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 9 October 2008 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.13 pm.
Signed: ______________________________
Chairperson
Date: ________________________________