COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 29 May 2008
Room 135, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Rev Robert Coulter MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
Mr Tommy Gallagher MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Claire McGill MLA
Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Hugh Farren (Clerk)
Ms Hilary Bogle (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Alister Strain (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Officer)
Apologies: Mrs Carmel Hanna MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.35 p.m. in public session.
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Apologies
Apologies as listed above.
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Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson welcomed Ms Claire McGill to her first Committee meeting and recorded her thanks to Ms Carál Ní Chuilín who has left the Committee.
The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with the Commissioner for Children & Young People. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
The Committee agreed to postpone the Committee meeting planned for Thursday 5 June due to an additional plenary session scheduled for that date. Members also agreed to postpone an informal meeting with the Participation Network.
2.37 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
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Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 22 May 2008
The draft minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2008 were agreed.
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Matters arising
The Committee noted a Response from the Minister to issues raised by Dr Maura Charlton.
Members noted a response from the Minister about Ambulance Service protocols.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the funding of the Fertility Counselling Service (NI)
Members noted a response from the Minister about the decision not to initiate an independent public inquiry into the circumstances of the injuries sustained by Mrs Maureen McGinley after her death.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the role of the Independent Health and Care Providers in the long term planning of community care and agreed to copy the Minister’s response to IHCP.
Members noted a response from the Minister about the Agenda for Change grading assigned to medical secretaries in the South Eastern HSC Trust and agreed to copy the response to the consultants who raised the issue.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about extending Trust-based Community Dental Services to those currently unable to access Health Service Dental care.
Members noted a response from the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust to issues raised by Mr McPeak and agreed to copy the response to Mr McPeak.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister to issues raised by the Shankill Stress & Trauma Group and agreed to copy the response to the group.
Members noted correspondence from the Mental Health and Learning Disability Alliance.
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Evidence session with the Mental Health and Learning Disability Board
Rev Robert Coulter made a declaration of interest, stating for the record that he is Chairman of the Board of Castle Tower Special School .
Members took evidence from the following witnesses:
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Chair of the Board for Mental Health and Learning Disability |
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Member of the Board for Mental Health and Learning Disability |
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Member of the Board for Mental Health and Learning Disability |
A question and answer session ensued. The chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
2.55 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
3.04 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
3.19 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
3.21 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan left the meeting.
3.27 p.m. meeting adjourned.
3.34 p.m. meeting resumed.
3.39p.m. Ms Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
3.42 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
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Evidence session with the Minister for Health, Social Services & Public Safety
The Minister was accompanied by:
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Bamford Response Unit |
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Investing for Health Unit |
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Chief Medical Officer |
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Permanent Secretary |
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Chief Medical Officer |
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Director of HSC Human Resources |
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Modernisation Unit |
The Minister briefed the Committee on the Bamford Review and took questions from Members
4.25 p.m. The meeting moved to private session.
4.25 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
4.25p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
The Minister briefed the Committee on proposals for Health and Social Care Reform and then took questions from Members. The Chairperson thanked the Minister and officials for attending.
4.42 p.m. Ms Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
4.51 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson left the meeting.
4.51 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan took the Chair.
4.51 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey rejoined the meeting.
4.55 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
5.04 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson rejoined the meeting.
5.04 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson took the Chair.
5.13 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
5.17 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
5.21 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
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Consultation on the future of tobacco control
Members noted a letter from the Minister informing the Committee that Northern Ireland will be included in a public consultation exercise about the future of tobacco control.
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Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Clerk to the Committee for Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister about the Together 4 all Project.
Members noted correspondence received from the Chairperson of the Committee for Employment & Learning about a report ‘ Diversity Works’ and agreed to forward a copy of the report to the Minister.
The Committee noted a copy of the responses from the British Medical Association Northern Ireland & BMA (NI) General Practitioners Committee on ‘Proposals for Health & Social Care Reform’.
Members agreed to send a letter from Mr Roy Bailie about Duchene Muscular Dystrophy to the Minister for a response.
The Committee noted a letter from Help the Aged in Northern Ireland forwarding a copy of their Spotlight Report
Members noted a Media Release from the UK Clinical Research Collaboration and an invitation to the launch of the Centre for Excellence for Public Health in Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a letter from Sue Vardy about the recruitment campaign on behalf of the GMC to appoint 12 lay and 12 registrant members.
Members noted an invitation to a seminar on Trauma, Health and Conflict in Northern Ireland.
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Any other business
Members noted correspondence from the Committee for Finance and Personnel about the Budget (No 2) Bill that is due to be introduced in the Assembly on Monday 9 June.
The Committee agreed to invite departmental officials to brief the Committee on the Special Education Needs Review.
Members agreed to write to the Department for details of penalties that would apply if contractors defaulted on PFI/PPP projects.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for an update on the funding and timetable for a new regional women’s and children’s hospital. Members also agreed to invite the Royal Jubilee Maternity Liaison group to meet with the Committee.
Members noted correspondence from the Education Committee about the Buddy Bear Trust and agreed to forward this to the Minister.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Beechgrove Glencregagh Residents Association and agreed to facilitate a meeting between the group and Departmental Officials to meet with the Committee.
Members noted the report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules and agreed that the Committee had no objection to the following Statutory Rules:
- Statutory Rule 2008/188 the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
- Statutory Rule 2008/167 the Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2008.
The Committee agreed a draft programme & travel plan for a Committee visit to Enniskillen & Omagh.
The Committee agreed a draft itinerary & travel plan for a Committee visit to the Mother and Baby Mental Health Unit in the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow.
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Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 19 June 2008 at 2.30 p.m. in room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.25 p.m.