COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 1 October 2009
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
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)
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:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.01 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee noted details of the forward work programme and agreed to arrange evidence sessions with Mr G Bond, the RQIA & the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust regarding hospital hygiene.The Committee noted a press release regarding the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report and agreed to invite the Chief Medical Officer to brief the Committee on the report.
The Committee agreed to invite the Province of Ulster Air Ambulance to the Committee event on Tuesday 13 th October 2009.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister requesting that he makes a statement to the Assembly regarding the safety of cervical cancer immunisation in Northern Ireland.
The Committee agreed to investigate the need for a specialist advisor at a future Committee meeting.
2.14 p.m. Mrs Carmel Hanna joined the meeting.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 24 September 2009.
The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2009 were agreed.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a letter has been received from the Minister regarding plans to replace the PSA 6 target to reduce the number of children in care.
The Committee noted correspondence from Ms A McCullough regarding the Autism Bill proposed by the All Party Assembly Group on Autism and agreed to reply to Ms McCullough.
The Committee noted a copy of the equality screening document for Statutory Rule 2009/ 266: the Working Time (Doctors in Training) (Amendment) Regulations ( Northern Ireland) 2009.
The Committee noted an interim response from the South Eastern Trust regarding the number of staff currently suspended.
5. Departmental briefing on proposed Autism Bill
Members took evidence from:
Michael McBride Chief Medical Officer, DHSSPS
Maura Briscoe Director of Mental Health and Disability Policy, DHSSPS
Stephen Bergin Chair and Regional ASD Network Coordinator
Kieran McShane Regional Health and Social Care Board.
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Deputy Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.18 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
3.18 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the Chair.
Mr John McCallister made a declaration of interest that he was a member of the All Party Assembly Group on Autism.
3.39 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
3.39 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kellyleft the meeting.
3.44 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting.
3.53 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
4.00 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
4.05 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill rejoined the meeting.
4.08 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
4.21 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
4.22 p.m. Committee adjourned.
4.29 p.m. Committee resumed.
6. Departmental briefing on the Safeguarding Board Bill
Members took evidence from:
Fergal Bradley Senior Principal, Child Care Policy Directorate, DHSSPS
Isobel Riddell Child Care Policy Directorate, DHSSPS
Pat McGlew Child Care Policy Directorate, DHSSPS
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed that the Department should proceed with this legislation.
4.42 p.m. Mr Sam Gardiner left the meeting.
5.00 p.m. Mrs Iris Robinson left the meeting.
5.03 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
5.03 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
7. Correspondence / Press Cuttings / Press Releases.
The Committee noted a letter from the MS Society seeking to brief the Committee on its recent study of physiotherapy provision in Northern Ireland and agreed to invite the group to the next Committee event for healthcare related groups.
The Committee noted a report ‘Priorities for European Engagement – End of Year Report 2008-2009.’
The Committee noted the DHSSPS Annual Progress report on Section 75 of the NI Act 1998 and Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Order (DDO) 2006 to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted a report “Implementing Gender Equality Strategy” and agreed to request an update from the Department on its action plan on Implementing Gender Equality.
8. Any other business
The Chairperson reminded members that the Committee had agreed to hold its meeting on 22 nd October 2009 in the offices of the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Allied Health Professions and agreed to forward this to the Department for a response.
Dr Kieran Deeny made a declaration of interest that he was a member of a Local Commissioning Group.
The Committee noted correspondence from Playboard and agreed to forward this to the Minister for information.
The Committee noted correspondence from Blue Training Solutions.
5.20 p.m. Mr Alex Easton rejoined the meeting.
5.22 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
5.22 p.m. the meeting moved to closed session.
9. Consideration of Committee report on obesity
The Committee considered the draft report on its Inquiry into obesity.
The Committee considered and agreed amendments to paragraph 22, 62, 83, 95, 96, 97, 100, 108, 114, 120, 129,134, 135 and 152 of the draft report.
The Committee agreed the summary of recommendations
The Committee agreed that Appendix 1 to 6 be included in the report.
The Committee ordered the Report on the Inquiry into obesity to be printed.
The Committee agreed that an extract of today’s Minutes of Proceedings should be included in Appendix 1 of the report and were content that the Chairperson agrees the minutes relating to this to allow them to be included in the printed report.
The Committee agreed that a printed copy of the report be sent to each of the witnesses who gave oral evidence and those organisations who made written submissions to the inquiry.
The Committee agreed that the Department should be provided with a copy of the report in advance of the debate in the Assembly.
The Committee noted that a motion for the debate of the report in Plenary would be discussed at the next Committee meeting.
10. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 8 October 2009 at 2.00pm in room 144 , Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.36 p.m.