COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2007
THE BOARD ROOM, CRAIGAVON AREA HOSPITAL
Present:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Ms Michelle O’Neill (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Mrs Elaine Farrell (Assistant Clerk)
Mrs Noelle Bourke (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Mark McQuade (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Rev Robert Coulter MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.40 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as listed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson welcomed Members to the Committee’s second formal meeting outside Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson referred to the earlier visit to A/E and the site of the new mental health facility in the Craigavon Area Hospital and expressed her thanks to the Southern HSC Trust for accommodating the visit and for the use of their Board Room to facilitate the Committee meeting.
Ms O’Neill reported that she had represented the Committee at the Launch of Stroke Awareness Week on Monday 17 September 2007. She advised Members that the Minister had announced that there would be a public consultation in December 2007 to inform the update of the Stroke Strategy for the Provision of Stroke Services in Northern Ireland. Members agreed to write to the Minister to remind him of this commitment in this area.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 September 2007
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 13 September were agreed.
4. Matters arising
Members noted a summary of key points arising from the lunchtime meeting with Autism (NI) PAPA held on 13 September 2007.
5. Committee Stage of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
The following witnesses attended:
Christine Jendoubi Director of Primary and Community Care
John Farrell Assistant Director, Primary and Community Care
Robert Kirkwood Departmental Bill Team
The Chairperson referred the members to a clause by clause briefing paper provided by the Department explaining the purpose of each clause, along with a copy of responses received from relevant bodies, which issued on 29/8/07 and the Clerks briefing paper and suggested questions.
The committee commenced formal clause by clause consideration of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill at Clause 4, 9 and 10 as they had been deferred for further consideration at the previous meeting.
Clause 4 (Charges for Dental Services)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.
Clause 9 (Local Optical Committees)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.
Clause 10 (Pharmaceutical Services)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.
Clause 15 (Smoking: Exemption for Performers)
Question: That the Committee is opposed to the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.
Clause 16 (Interpretation)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.
Clause 17 (Supplementary Provision)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.
Clause 18 (Repeals)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to
Clause 19 (Commencement)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to
Clause 20 (Short Title)
Question: That the Committee is content with the clause as drafted, put and agreed to.
Schedule 1 – Amendments to Schedule 11 to the 1972 Order
Question: That the Committee is content with the schedule as drafted, put and agreed to.
Schedule 2 – Repeals
Question: That the Committee is content with the schedule as drafted, put and
agreed to.
6. Motion for Extension to the Committee Stage of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill
Members agreed the motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Bill to 7 November 2007.
7. Statutory Rule SR 2007/307: The Bovine Products (Restriction on Placing on the Market (No2) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Committee was briefed by officials from the Food Standards Agency, on the background and purpose of the regulation. Members considered the content of Statutory Rule 2007/307.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has considered the Statutory Rule, The Bovine Products (Restriction on Placing on the Market (No2) (Amendment) Regulations(Northern Ireland) 2007, and has no objection to the rule.
8. Statutory Rule SR 2007/349:The Nutrition and Health Claims Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Committee was briefed by officials from the Food Standards Agency, on the background and purpose of the regulation. Members considered the content of Statutory Rule 2007/349.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has considered the Statutory Rule, The Nutrition and Health Claims Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007and has no objection to the rule.
9. Statutory Rule SR 2007/339: The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Committee was briefed by officials from the Food Standards Agency, on the background and purpose of the regulation. Members considered the content of Statutory Rule 2007/339.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has considered the Statutory Rule,The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
10. Statutory Rule SR 2007/352: The Food (Suspension of the Use of E128 Red 2G as Food Colour) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Committee was briefed by officials from the Food Standards Agency, on the background and purpose of the regulation. Members considered the content of Statutory Rule 2007/352.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has considered the Statutory Rule, The Food (Suspension of the Use of E128 Red 2G as Food Colour) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007and has no objection to the rule.
11. Proposals for Statutory Rules by the Food Standards Agency
Members were briefed by Mr Jim Ross, Head of Meat Hygiene and Meat Imports Unit, Ms Kirsten Dunbar, Head of Primary Production, Feeding Stuffs and Science and Ms Maria Jennings, Head of Consumer Choice and Food Standards Unit on proposals for Statutory Rules.
3.07 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting
Members agreed that the Food Standards Agency proceeds to prepare the relevant Statutory Rules for the following:
The Feed (Corn Gluten Feed and Brewers Grains) Emergency Control (Revocation) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Miscellaneous Food additives and Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Feed (Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Draft Official Feed and Food Controls Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (No 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2007
The Fishery Products (Official Controls Charges) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Plastic Materials & Articles in Contact with Food (Lid Gaskets) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Meat Products Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Infant Formula and Follow on Formula Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Plastic Materials & Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Food Hygiene (Amendment) Regulation ( Northern Ireland) 2008
The Materials & Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
The Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007
Deferred consideration of The Food Labelling (Declaration of Allergens) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2007. Officials agreed to provide further details.
3.17 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey returned to the meeting
12. Inquiry on Suicide – Draft Terms of Reference
Members agreed the Draft Terms of Reference for the Inquiry on Suicide as amended.
Members agreed a Draft Press Release for the Inquiry on Suicide as amended.
Members noted that the Minister will attend the Committee meeting on 4 October 2007 to provide an update on the work of the Ministerial Co-ordination Group on Suicide and deal with other issues.
Members agreed to undertake a visit to Scotland in November in connection with the Inquiry on Suicide.
13. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases
Members agreed that a letter from Mr Jonathan Craig MLA in which he raises an issue regarding the delay in the development of the proposed Health and Social Care Centre at the site of the former Banbridge Hospital, should be passed to the Department.
Members agreed to meet with the Long Term Conditions Alliance at a future lunchtime meetings.
Members noted correspondence from the Minister regarding the Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe.
Members noted correspondence from the Minister in which he seeks the Committee’s support for an aspect of the Draft Criminal Justice Bill to extend to Northern Ireland. Members agreed to defer their consideration of this matter and agreed that an official from the Department should be invited to attend the next meeting of the Committee to explain the provision.
14. Any other business
Members noted the correspondence from the Minister which details a proposed consultation on the Findings of the General Medical Services Global Sum Review Formula Review. Members were content to note the consultation.
Members agreed a Draft Press Release indicating the Committee support for the Delegation to Washington on Autism, as amended.
Members agreed to meet with Carers Northern Ireland at the lunchtime meeting on 4 October 2007.
Members congratulated the Chairperson on her recent “Arthritis Politician of the Year” award by Arthritis Care.
Members noted that motion on Heart Defect Screening Service had been welcomed by the McAnallen family.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 27 September 2007 at 2.30 pm in Room 135, Parliament Buildings
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.50 pm.
Signed:
Chairperson
Date: