COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 12 November 2009
Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present: Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA
In Attendance: Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr David Irvine (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson thanked members for messages of support following a recent family illness.
The Chairperson informed members that The Speaker would be holding a Christmas reception on Thursday 3rd December for cancer charities and asked members to attend if possible.
The Committee noted a weekly briefing on swine flu from the Chief Medical Officers.
The Committee agreed that the Committee meeting being held in the Northern Ireland Hospice on Thursday 3rd December 2009 would start at 2.30pm to allow members to attend the inaugural NCT Northern Ireland Maternity and Family Service Awards. Members agreed that transport would be provided from Parliament Buildings to the Hospice.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Department regarding the statutory instrument ‘The Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc) Amendment Regulations 2009’ which was to have been co signed by the Minister but will not now be a co signatory piece of legislation. The legislation was signed by Mike O Brien Secretary of State under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.
The Committee noted that a freedom of information request had been received for a submission from the Coalition of Nursing Recruitment Agencies considered by the Committee on 15 October 2009.
The Chairperson informed members that the debate on the Committee report on obesity will take place on Monday 16th November.
2.04 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
2.05 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner joined the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 5 November 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a letter from the Department informing the Committee that it would not be proceeding with the Ophthalmic Services Bill until the 20011/12 legislative programme and agreed to postpone a briefing on the bill. The Committee also agreed to request a briefing on swine flu on 3rd December.
The Committee noted a response from Minister for Social Development about proposed Autism legislation and agreed to forward this to the All Party Assembly Group on Autism to allow them to organise a meeting with the Minister.
The Committee noted a response from Northern Ireland Office Minister Paul Goggins MP regarding the Northern Ireland Community Fund.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the availability of prescription drugs.
5. Departmental briefing on mental health legislation.
Members took evidence from:
Ms Linda Brown Deputy Secretary, Social Policy Group
Dr Maura Briscoe Director, Mental Health & Disability Policy
Ms Christine Smyth Acting Assistant Chief Social Services Officer
Dr Ian McMaster Medical Officer
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.13 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
2.27 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
2.35 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson joined the meeting.
3.30 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
3.30 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
3.36 p.m. Meeting resumed.
6. Evidence session with the Infertility Network.
Members took evidence from:
Ms Clare Lewis-Jones Chief Executive of I N UK and Chair of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign
Ms Sharon Davidson Regional Organiser for N. Ireland, Infertility Network UK (I N UK)
Dr Anthony Traub Senior Consultant Regional Fertility Centre
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding fertility services in Northern Ireland.
3.42 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
3.49 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
7. Consideration of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services.
The Committee considered the need for an air ambulance service for Northern Ireland and agreed to seek further information on the operation of existing services.
8. SR 2009/348: The Feed (Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
The Committee considered SR 2009/348: The Feed (Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
Mr John McCallister made a declaration of interest that he was a shareholder in an agricultural feed company.
4.39 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson left the meeting.
9. Proposed Statutory Rules
The Committee considered the Foodstuffs Suitable for People Intolerant to Gluten Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
The Committee considered the Health & Personal Social Services (Prescribing and Charging Amendments Relating to Pandemic Influenza) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
4.45 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson rejoined the meeting.
The Committee considered the Health and Personal Social Services (Primary Medical Services Performers Lists) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2009 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule. Members also agreed to request further information from the Department on the operation of this statutory rule.
10. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the publication of the UK Government response to the Stakeholder Advisory Group on extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (SAGE) First Interim Assessment Report. The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting that the Department for Social Development be involved in drafting a paper for the Executive and seeking a timescale for this issue to be brought to the Executive.
The Committee noted correspondence from Arthritis Care seeking a meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite Arthritis Care to an informal lunchtime meeting.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee on Procedures providing departmental performance on answering written questions.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Regional Development Committee seeking submissions to its inquiry into sustainable transport.
The Committee noted a report from the British Heart Foundation regarding the provision of children’s food in leisure venues.
4.53 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
4.55 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
11. Any other business
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding issues raised by Macmillan Cancer Services regarding the Cancer Service Framework.
The Committee agreed that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson should seek a meeting with the Minister regarding information being provided to the Committee.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department regarding the implementation of Agenda for Change in the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust.
12. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 19th November 2009 at 2.00pm in the room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.03 p.m.