COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday 25 February 2010
Room 30, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Mr Jim Wells MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Thomas Buchanan MLA
Dr Kieran Deeny 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
Mrs Michelle O’Neill MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
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:
The meeting commenced at 2.00 pm in closed session .
1. Apologies
There were no apologies.
2. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland
Evidence session with Professor Alan France
The Committee took evidence from
Professor Alan France - Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
2.02 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
2.11 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill joined the meeting.
2.22 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt joined the meeting.
2.23 p.m. Mr Alex Easton left the meeting.
2.35 p.m. Mr John McCallisterjoined the meeting.
2.42 p.m. Ms Sue Ramsey left the meeting.
2.44 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kellyjoined the meeting.
3.09 p.m. Meeting moved to public session.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Committee agreed that the Chairperson would speak at a conference organised by Volunteer Development Agency on ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People in the Digital Playground: A Practical Response’ on Friday 26 th March 2010 and the Arthritis Care Northern Ireland Professional Lecture 2010 on Tuesday 8 th June.
The Committee noted that the meeting on 4 th March will be starting at 11am.
The Chairperson asked members to indicate to staff if they were available to attend a visit to Bradford & Bolton to examine Safeguarding best practice on Thursday 15 th April.
The Committee agreed to rearrange an evidence session with the RQIA on Intrapartum care and maternity services to 13 th May 2010 and to take evidence on GP out of Hours services on 25 th March 2010. The Committee agreed additional evidence sessions on GP Out of Hours services.
It was noted that the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development have taken a stall at the Balmoral Agricultural Show on 12 – 14 th May and its offer to other Committees to make use of this facility. The Committee agreed not to take up this offer on this occasion and agreed to review this prior to next years Balmoral Agricultural Show.
Mr John McCallister made a declaration of interest that he was a member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society.
Mr Jim Wells made a declaration of interest that he was a member of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society.
4. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 18 February 2010.
The minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2010 were agreed.
5. Matters arising.
The Committee noted responses from all Trusts about the use of taxis and changes to the number of porters employed by the Trusts and agreed to forward this to the Minister seeking his views. The Committee also agreed to write to the Western Health & Social Care Trust for further information.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Minister to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister regarding the Committee motion calling for a public inquiry into McElhill-McGovern tragedy.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the paper going to the Executive about the victims of child abuse and agreed write to the Department of Education regarding its contribution to the paper.
The Committee agreed to invite the Minister to discuss his Executive paper on this issue with the Committee.
The Committee agreed to ask researchers to provide information on the Ryan Inquiry.
The Committee agreed that Committee staff should prepare information on possible work on this matter.
The Committee agreed to seek legal advice on the Committee remit to carry out work in this area.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about the use of anti TNF drugs and agreed to forward this to Arthritis Care who raised the issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a response from the Minister about palliative care services and agreed to forward this to Marie Curie Cancer Care who raised this issue with the Committee.
The Committee noted a report on an informal meeting with Carers NI and agreed to follow up on the issues raised.
3.39 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
3.39 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the chair.
6. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland
Evidence session with the Regional Child Protection Committee
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Tony Rodgers Chairperson, Area Child Protection Committee
Mr Martin Quinn Principal Social Worker, Health & Social Care Board
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
3.44 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
3.57 p.m. Mr Jim Wells rejoined the meeting and resumed the chair.
4.09 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
4.16 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
4.33 p.m. meeting adjourned.
4.41 p.m. meeting resumed.
Evidence session with the NSPCC
The Committee took evidence from
Mr Colin Reid, Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Mr Colm Elliott Assistant Director Children’s Services
A question and answer session ensued. The witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with further information. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
The Committee agreed to write to the Court Service about its involvement in safeguarding. The Committee also agreed to write to the Department for further information regarding the proposed Safeguarding Bill.
5.00 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill rejoined the meeting.
5.13 p.m. Mr Jim Wells left the meeting.
5.13 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill took the chair.
5.13 p.m. Mr John McCallister rejoined the meeting.
5.20 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kellyleft the meeting.
7. Correspondence.
The Committee noted a letter from the Minister regarding a consultation being carried out on to improve information provided on alcohol labelling and agreed to endorse the position of strengthening the agreements regarding alcohol labelling and to ask for a written update from the Minister when the results of the consultation are available.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Committee for Employment and Learning regarding the use of automated communication systems and agreed to forward this to the Minister.
The Committee noted a letter from the Ulster Cancer Foundation containing their response to the Consultation Document ‘Service Framework for Cancer Treatment and Care’ and agreed to request a written briefing from the Department on the outcome of the consultation.
The Committee noted a copy of correspondence from Parent’s Education as Autism Therapists (PEAT) to the Department of Education regarding the Middletown Autism Centre.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the British Heart Foundation to the Minister regarding the impact of proposed budgetary cuts on crucial heart disease services and agreed to ask the Department to copy its response to the Committee.
The Committee noted correspondence from the Family Group Conferencing Forum seeking an informal meeting with the Committee and agreed to invite the group to an informal lunchtime meeting on 10 th June 2010.
8. Any other business
The Committee agreed that it would no longer consider the weekly swine flu update from the Department at Committee meetings.
The Committee noted correspondence from Precious Life regarding the re-issuing of the Departments Guidance on Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland and agreed to write to the Department for further information.
The Committee agreed to write to the Department about the availability of neurological physiotherapy for multiple sclerosis sufferers.
5.32 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting.
9. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 4 th March 2010 at 11.00am in the Senate Chamber , Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.37 p.m.