COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2007
THE SENATE CHAMBER, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present: Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Rev Robert Coulter MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Tommy Gallaher MLA
Mr John McAllister MLA
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance: Mrs Debbie Pritchard (Principal Clerk)
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: Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.33 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as listed above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee noted that Alan Patterson, Principal Clerk, had returned to the Civil Service and has been replaced by Debbie Pritchard.
The Chairperson reported that a meeting had taken place earlier today with Carers Northern Ireland, who had voiced concern about the delay in publishing the Social Services Inspectorate Report on Services for Carers of Older People. They also had concerns about the absence of a Northern Ireland voice on the Review of the National Carers Strategy. The Committee agreed to raise these issues with the Minister. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
The Chairperson reported that she met with the Minister on Tuesday 2 October 2007 and he sought to reassure the Committee that he no wish to undermine the work of the Committee.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 September 2007
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2007 were agreed as amended.
4. Matters arising
The Chairperson reported that following her participation in the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership visit to Washington, a statement had been received from Senator Hillary Clinton commending the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Assembly and the Autism Caucus in the US Congress and welcoming the coming together of the political parties on this important issue. The Committee expressed its appreciation of this support.
5. Evidence Session with the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety
The Minister was accompanied by:
Dr Andrew McCormick Permanent Secretary
Dr Miriam McCarthy Director of Secondary Care
Mrs Patricia Osbourne Health Development Directorate
Members were briefed on the Department’s Suicide Strategy and work on the Ministerial Co-ordination Group on Suicide.
A question and answer session ensued. The Minister and officials agreed to report back on a number of issues raised in relation to the Suicide Strategy.
3.49 p.m. Ms Carál Ní Chuilín, Ms Sue Ramsey and Ms Michelle O’Neill left
the meeting.
Members questioned the Minister on hospital services at Tyrone County and
Erne Hospitals and the ambulance service in these areas. Due to volume of issues raised, Members agreed to forward their concerns in writing to the Minister for reply.
3.56 p.m. Ms Carál Ni Chuilín, Ms Sue Ramsey and Ms Michelle O’Neill returned to the meeting.
3.56 p.m. Rev Robert Coulter left the meeting.
4.02 p.m. The Chairperson left the meeting.
4.02 p.m. Ms Michelle O’Neill took the Chair.
The Committee agreed to the Minister returning at a future date to deal with the other issues not covered in the meeting.
The Chairperson thanked the Minister and the officials for attending.
4.15 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
6. Statutory Rule 2007/325: The Miscellaneous Food Additives and Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2007.
The Deputy Chairperson explained that at the meeting on 20 September 2007 Members had been briefed by officials from the Foods Standards Agency on the background and purpose of the regulation. Members considered the content of Statutory Rule 2007/325.
Question put and agreed: That the Committee for Health, Social Services and
Public Safety has considered the Statutory Rule 2007 No 325: The
Miscellaneous Food Additives and Sweeteners in Food (Amendment)
Regulations (NI) 2007 and has no objection to the rule.
7. Correspondence/Press Cuttings/Releases
Members agreed that Anachem should be added to list of organisations requesting a meeting with the Committee.
The Deputy Chairperson reported that the Chairperson will be hosting the
Arthritis Care Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Volunteer Awards on 11 October
2007 in Parliament Buildings and advised that an invitation had been extended
to Members.
8. Any other business
Members agreed that the Regulation and Quality Improvement authority will brief the Committee at the meeting on 11 October 2007.
Members agreed that the Royal College of Psychiatrists will brief the Committee at the meeting on 18 October 2007.
Members agreed that the Committee will visit the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Ulster Hospital on 25 October 2007.
Members agreed that the Committee will visit the Northern Health and Social, Antrim on 22 November 2007.
Members noted that the programme for the visit to the Ayrshire and Arran Trust on 8/9 November 2007 would be circulated in due course.
Members agreed that Speechmatters would be invited to attend a lunchtime meeting on 11 October 2007 and the Community Development and Health Network would be invited to attend on 18 October 2007.
Members noted a recent newspaper article had suggested there had been more MRSA linked deaths in Craigavon Area Hospital group than any other area. Members voiced concern that this was in contradiction with the information given during the Committee’s visit to Craigavon on the 20 September 2007. The Committee agreed to write to the Trust to seek clarification.
9. Date, place and time of the next meeting.
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 11 October 2007, Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Deputy Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.00 p.m.