COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 18 February 2010
Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Mr Alex Easton MLA
Mr Sam Gardiner MLA
Mrs Dolores Kelly MLA
Mr Conall McDevitt MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
Mr John McCallister MLA
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
In Attendance:
Mrs Stella McArdle (Clerk)
Mr Mark McQuade (Assistant Clerk)
Mr Neil Sedgewick (Clerical Supervisor)
Mr Joe Westland (Clerical Supervisor)
Mrs Jessica Golden-Alexander (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Dr Kieran Deeny MLA
The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in public session with the Deputy Chairperson in the Chair.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above.
2 Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson informed members that an informal meeting had taken place with Carers Northern Ireland and a report would be prepared for the next Committee meeting.
The Committee noted that the next Committee meeting would be preceded by a research briefing on proposals for a Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland.
The Committee agreed to cancel a proposed visit to the forensic psychiatric unit at Knockbracken Healthcare Park.
The Committee noted that a recent request for legal advice on the proposed private members Autism Bill would take additional time to prepare.
3. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 11 February 2010.
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2010 were agreed.
2.02 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey joined the meeting.
4. Matters arising.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the bowel cancer screening programme and agreed to seek an update from the Department in May 2010.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister about proposals to regulate the sun bed industry and agreed to be briefed on the proposed legislation by Departmental officials.
The Committee noted a response from Mr Lee Wilson to the Ministers reply to the Committee about Trust management costs and agreed to forward this to the Department for a response.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister providing the Committee with a summary of the key points from a strategic review of health inequalities in England post 2010.
The Committee noted a report on its reception for healthcare related groups on Tuesday 9 th February has been prepared for member’s information and agreed to follow up on the points raised.
The Committee noted an Assembly Research paper comparing proposals for a Northern Ireland autism bill with the Autism Act 2009 and agreed to forward this to Assembly Legal Services and Mr Dominic Bradley MLA. The Committee also agreed to write to educational psychologists for each of the Education & Library Boards regarding their work with autistic children.
The Committee noted a response from Parents’ Education as Autism Therapists (PEAT) about the proposed autism bill and agreed to forward this to Assembly Legal Services and Mr Dominic Bradley MLA.
2.06 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt joined the meeting.
5. Statutory Rule: 2010/22. The HPSS (Superannuation Scheme Compensation for Premature Retirement and Additional voluntary Contributions) and HSC (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010
The Committee were briefed by:
Mr Phil McCusker Human Resources Directorate
Mr Russell McGowan Human Resources Directorate
Mrs Dolores Kelly made a declaration of interest that she was a member of the HPSS Superannuation scheme.
The Committee considered 2010/22 the HPSS (Superannuation Scheme Compensation for Premature Retirement and Additional voluntary Contributions) and HSC (Pension Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
6. Evidence session with the Youth Justice Agency
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Andrew MacQuarrie Youth Conference Co-ordinator, Priority Youth Offender Project
A question and answer session ensued. The witness agreed to provide the Committee with additional information. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending. The Committee agreed to request briefing papers from Assembly Research on related issues.
2.59 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
7. Departmental Briefing on Gender Equality
The Committee took evidence from
Ms Linda Devlin Director, Equality and Human Rights
Mr Gerard Collins Health Improvement Policy Branch
Dr Maura Briscoe Director, Mental Health and Disability Policy
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to send the Committee an update on the strategy for gender equality when this became available. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.00 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
3.10 p.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
3.50 p.m. Ms Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
3.57 p.m. Ms Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting.
8. Committee discussion on PSA target on Children in Care
The Committee discussed responses received from children’s charities about the Departments plans to change the PSA target for children in care and agreed to forward the responses to the Department to respond to the issues raised.
4.02 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill left the meeting.
9. Correspondence.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding funding for the Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme and agreed to forward this to the Minister.
The Committee noted a consultation document from the Department on the Nursing and Midwifery Strategy 2010-2015 and agreed to ask the Department to provide the Committee with an update on the result of the consultation.
The Committee noted a letter from the BMA (NI) Consultant’s Committee seeking an informal meeting with the Committee to discuss concerns over the impact of CSR efficiency savings and agreed to invite them to an informal meeting on Thursday 3 rd June 2010.
The Committee noted an invitation from Belfast Healthy Cities to an event the Health and Health Equity in All Local Policies: Reality or Aspiration lecture on 22 nd February 2010.
The Committee noted letter from Michelle McIlveen MLA seeking a meeting with the Committee regarding a proposed private members bill on runaway and missing children and agreed to arrange this for Thursday 4 th March 2010.
The Committee noted a briefing on Swine Flu from the Department and agreed a press release encouraging people to be vaccinated.
10. Any other business
No other business was discussed.
11. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 25 th February 2010 at 2.00pm in room 30 , Parliament Buildings .
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.07 p.m.