COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP MLA (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
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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)
The meeting commenced at 2.04 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
No apologies were received
2.07 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
2.07 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill joined the meeting.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson reported that an informal lunchtime meeting had taken place earlier today with the Royal college of Speech & Language Therapists. A note of the meeting will be circulated in due course.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 2 October 2008
The minutes of the meeting held on 2 October 2008were agreed.
4. Matters arising
The Committee noted summary of the keys points from a meeting with Dr Ryan & colleagues about obesity issues.
Members noted a letter from the Department about changes to the Responsible Pharmacist Regulations.
The Committee noted the Report of the Examiner of Statutory Rules and his comments on two proposed Statutory Rules which had been considered by the Committee at previous meetings. Members agreed that they had no objection to the Statutory Rules.
Members noted an interim response from the Minister about recouping excess payments which arise from the implementation of Agenda for Change.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about consultant services at Altnagelvin Hospital. Members expressed further concern about the issue.
Members noted a copy of an article from the Antrim Times about the Committee visit to Muckamore Abbey Hospital.
5. Evidence session with the Minister for Health Social Services & Public Safety.
The Minister was accompanied by:
Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer
Martin Bradley Chief Nursing Officer
David Bingham Director of Human Resources
Julie Thompson Director of Finance
Miriam McCarthy Director of Secondary Care
2.35 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
Mr Alex Easton declared a personal interest in Agenda for Change.
2.53 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
2.55 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
3.13 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
3.35 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
4.08 p.m. Committee meeting adjourned.
4.18 p.m. Committee meeting resumed.
3. Clause by Clause consideration of the Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill
The following witnesses attended:
Bernard Mitchell Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Ivan McMaster Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Craig Allen Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety
Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer
The committee discussed the rationale for the proposed Regional Board and the separate Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Wellbeing.
4.19 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
4.19 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting
4.20 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna rejoined the meeting.
4.20 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher rejoined the meeting.
4.27 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
4.42 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan rejoined the meeting.
4.42 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
4.45 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
4.52 Dr Michael McBride left the meeting.
4.54 p.m. Mr Tommy Gallagher left the meeting.
The Chairperson referred Members to the legislation & copy of responses received from relevant bodies. The committee commenced clause by clause consideration of the Health & Social Care (Reform) Bill at Clause 7.
Clause 7 (The Regional Health and Social Care Board)
Clause 7 deferred.
Schedule 1 (The Regional Health and Social Care Board)
Schedule 1 deferred.
Clause 8 (Functions of the Regional Board)
Clause 8 deferred, officials advised that the Minister was considering an amendment to Clause 8(3) (b).
Clause 9 (Local Commissioning Groups)
Clause 9 deferred, The Department is to consider a proposed amendment.
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he is a member of a Local Commissioning Group.
Clause 10 (Power of Regional Board to give directions and guidance to HSC trusts)
Clause 10 deferred.
Clause 11 (Provision of information, etc. to Regional Board by HSC trusts)
Clause 11 deferred.
The Committee agreed to continue consideration of Bill at its next meeting. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
5.06 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna left the meeting.
4. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted a copy of the Departments Annual Progress on implementation of the Section 75 statutory duties and the new positive duties resulting from section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Order 2006.
Members noted a paper which outlines the background to the budget 2009-11 Strategic Stocktake.
The Committee noted a letter from Sainsbury’s about introduction of alcohol education information in its stores.
Members noted an invitation from the General Medical Council to a seminar on changes to the regulation of doctors.
The Committee noted an invitation from Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid to a seminar on the experiences of mothers experiencing domestic violence.
5.15 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
5.19 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
5.21 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
5. Any other business
Members agreed to invite Mr Kevin Taylor to an informal meeting with the Committee.
Member agreed to write to the Minister about the representation of Allied Health Professions within the Department.
Members noted that the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health were holding a conference in the Stormont Hotel on 13 October 08.
6. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 16 October 2008 at 2.00pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.26 pm.
Signed:
Chairperson
Date: