COMMITTEE FOR HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings
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)
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: Ms Sue Ramsey MLA
The meeting commenced at 11.09 pm in public session.
1. Apologies
Apologies as above
2. Safeguarding Board Northern Ireland
Evidence session with Children in Northern Ireland
The Committee took evidence from
Ms Pauline Leeson Director, Children in Northern Ireland
Ms Elaine Conway Policy Officer
Ms Ethel McNeill Children Services Trainer
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending.
Evidence session with Professor Jan Horwath
The Committee took evidence from Professor Jan Horwath Sheffield University
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witness for attending.
11.55 a.m. Mr John McCallister joined the meeting.
12.05 p.m. Dr Kieran Deeny joined the meeting.
12.13 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
12.46 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
3.03 p.m. Meeting resumed.
3.03 p.m. Mr Thomas Buchanan joined the meeting.
3.03 p.m. Mrs Claire McGill joined the meeting.
3. Chairperson’s Business
The Chairperson provided members with details of the new Committee website.
The Committee discussed the cost of the swine flu vaccination programme and agreed to request a written briefing from the Minister.
The Committee discussed the increase in waiting lists and agreed to write to the Minister and Health & Social Care Trusts for further information.
The Committee noted that the Chairperson would be interviewed by Agenda NI about the work of the Committee.
3.06 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly joined the meeting.
3.15 p.m. Mr John McCallister left the meeting.
4. Draft Minutes of the Meetings held on 25 February 2010.
The minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2010 were agreed.
5. Matters arising.
The Committee noted responses from the Health & Social Care Trusts about performance related pay. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister and each Trust about the implementation of Agenda for Change.
Mr Alex Easton made a declaration of interest that he was a former health service employee.
The Committee noted contact details for child protection Gateway Teams for each Trust.
6. Evidence session with Cooperation and Working Together
The Committee took evidence from
Ms Bernie McCrory Chief Officer, Cooperation & Working Together
Mr Colm Donaghy Chief Executive, Northern Health & Social Care Trust/CAWT Director General
Mr Tom Daly Regional Development Dept, HSE West/CAWT Management Board
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting a copy of a feasibility study carried out by CAWT.
4.28 p.m. Mrs Michelle O’Neill left the meeting.
4.28 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly left the meeting.
7. Briefing regarding Proposed Private Members Bill on Runaway and Missing Children
The Committee were briefed by:
Ms Michelle McIlveen MLA
Ms Margaret Kelly Barnardos
A question and answer session ensued. The Chairperson thanked the witnesses for attending. The Committee agreed to write to the Minister and RQIA for further information.
4.34 p.m. Mrs Dolores Kelly rejoined the meeting.
4.53 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt left the meeting.
4.57 p.m. Mr Conall McDevitt rejoined the meeting.
8. Statutory Rule. SR 2010/29: The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
The Committee considered SR 2010/29: The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
9. Statutory Rule. SR 2010/33: The Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
The Committee considered SR 2010/33: The Food for Particular Nutritional Uses (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and had no objection to the Rule subject to the Examiner of Statutory Rules being content with the technical aspects of the Rule.
10. Proposed Statutory Rule
The Committee considered the Health and Personal Social Services (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Department should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
The Committee considered the Feed (Sampling & Analysis & Specified Undesirable Substances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed that the Food Standards Agency should proceed to prepare this Statutory Rule.
The Committee deferred consideration of the Fire and Rescue Services (2006 Order) (Commencement No 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and agreed to invite officials to brief the Committee at its next meeting. The Committee also agreed to request a written briefing from the Institute of Licensing.
Mrs Dolores Kelly made a declaration of interest that she was a local councillor.
11. Correspondence.
The Committee noted a consultation document from the Health and Social Care Board on the involvement of Service Users and carers in the planning and delivery of adult mental health services.
The Committee noted correspondence from the BMA on the need to protect healthcare in the current financial environment and agreed to invite the BMA to an informal lunchtime meeting.
The Committee noted a copy of a letter from the Stroke Association to the Finance Minister.
The Committee noted the Annual Report and Accounts of the NI Social Care Council.
The Committee noted the Annual Report and Accounts of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.
12. Any other business
The Committee agreed to request a briefing paper from Assembly Research on cross border cooperation on Safeguarding.
The Committee also agreed to write to the North South Ministerial Council for information on Safeguarding.
The Committee agreed to write to the Minister regarding access to GP services for disabled people.
13. Date, time and place of the next meeting
The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 11th March 2010 at 2.00pm in room 30, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 5.24 p.m.